4 ms·

It's a fascinating subject, precisely because the exercise of sailing was so highly developed (due to both the length of its history and functional importance)

by ethbr0 4y ago

It's a fascinating subject, precisely because the exercise of sailing was so highly developed (due to both the length of its history and functional importance) and then... effectively disappeared. The mind boggles imagining the number of crew they had on large ships, including up in the rigging, adjusting the boat in real time as a team. Even moreso, under battle conditions! I guess a cautionary tale for companies to be aware of the fundamental value their businesses are built on, should the world start to shift. Something was able to go faster... and freight sailing was no more.

ggm 4y ago
It may come back in niche spaces. Semi-automated rigid sail wind power has been a nice idea for a while now. It doesn't suit short time-line supply chain dynamics but if your goods are capable of being delivered more slowly, it has lower TCO overall per weight carried, against a green economic outcome. If you don't care about CO, CO2 or fly-ash, its never going to win. A biassed but interesting source: https://reneweconomy.com.au/wind-powered-cargo-ships-are-the-future-debunking-four-myths-that-stand-in-their-way/ https://reneweconomy.com.au/wind-powered-cargo-ships-are-the... I had no idea Ariane was going to use it. Sweet!