Videos of Beluga Skysails Kite-Powered Cargo Ship
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 03.31.08
Not so long ago, we reported that the Beluga Skysails' maiden voyage was a success. But that was just a first step for Skysails. We've learned that the next cargo ship to have a kite auxiliary propulsion system will have a sail twice as big (320 square meters), and "two additional larger ships are currently under construction that are to be equipped with 600 square-meters of sail". Wow!
Here are two videos that show you the Beluga Skysails' kite in action. The second one is in German, but the images speak for themselves.
i hope I'm not the only one that finds it ironic that the ship was carrying the parts for a prefabricated Log and wood products processing factory, to a country which is mostly rain forest?!?!?!
It looks to me like they don't control the kites at all. They just do a down winder Just like the square riggers.