SAIL CARGO IN OUR TIME
By Jillian Blackall 2023
The year was 1976. The day was 29th December. The yachts had been racing in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, beginning at midday on Boxing Day.
The yacht Ballyhoo crossed the finish line and won line honours with an elapsed time of 3 days, 7hours and 59 minutes.
As the yachts were racing to Hobart, was racing into the world. I arrived in Sydney (born) on the same day that Ballyhoo reached the line in Hobart.
I am very aware that the yachts usually arrive in Hobart much faster now and it can all be over by the 29th – sailing technology constantly improves.
Keeping in mind that sail technology constantly improves, why are we not using it more effectively to delivery goods?
This question was addressed on the Low-Tech Magazine website in 2009 and I discovered this extract from an article 10 years later.
“Low-Tech Magazine questions the blind belief in technological progress, and talks about the potential of past and often forgotten knowledge and technologies when it comes to designing a sustainable society.”
“There is the potential to use the traditional concept of sail in conjunction with 21st century automation. This is particularly relevant to the international shipping industry.”Source Note: Low Tech Magazine website is solar driven so may be slow to access
https://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2009/04/sailing-ships-large-crew-automated-control.html
International shipping accounts for 2.2% of global CO2 emissions. The UN’s International Maritime Organisation (IMO), has a long-term goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% from 2008 levels by 2050. This will require the fast tracking of zero emissions fuels and commercially viable ships by 2030.
Sail cargo is the use of traditional sailing vessels for transport of cargo around the world, using the renewable force of the wind.
There is also an emerging high tech green shipping, including hybrids (part renewable, part fossil fuels). These are particularly relevant to the…….
Sail Cargo Example 1. EcoClipper
• Noach will be built as the first of a line of fast traditional built, emission free cargo ships to be operated around the world: A steel replica of the Dutch clippers ship Noach originally built in 1857.
• She will have 3 square rigged masts, carrying a total of 976 m2 of sail area, and without mechanical propulsion.
Source: https://ecoclipper.org/prototype/
Sail Cargo Example 2: Sail Cargo Inc
• Sail Cargo Inc is building Ceiba at their “Jungle Shipyard in Costa Rica.
• A wooden cargo tallship with a 100% electric engine, to sail sustainably sourced cargo along the Pacific Coast of the Americas. The electric engine will be coupled with the most modern solar batteries, panels and wind turbines to make all auxiliary power 100% renewably sauced.
• Blog about the wood used https://www.sailcargo.inc/blog/harder-than-steel?rq=harder
What if there is no wind?
Eco Clipper: Sometimes that does happen, and we will set all the sails we have. But fortunately with the knowledge we have of wind patterns throughout the year, we will be able to plan our routes accordingly and avoid being becalmed as much as possible. Check out our post about wind here: https://ecoclipper.org/news/free-energy/
In the Southern Ocean is a band of sea which stretches unbroken around our globe. This is where predominantly the Westerly winds blow. During the great age of sail this route was used by every deep-sea ship sailing around the world. The more South you go, the stronger the winds. The more Southerly latitudes are called the Furious Fifties and Screaming Sixties.
More information
- Newly released book ‘Trade Winds’ by Melbourne academic and sail crew member Christiaan de Beukelaer
- Viability of Sail Cargo https://ecoclipper.org/News/replacing-motor-by-sail/
- Sample list of websites:
Eco Clipper – https://ecoclipper.org/
Fairtransport – https://fairtransport.eu?
Sail Cargo – https://www.sailcargo.org/
Timbercoast – https://timbercoast.com/en/
