http://s2.streamingfarm.tv/streamingfarm/skysails_clips/2007...


you have to see this

very interesting! I've seen this idea being floated around for ages...
160sqm sail i'd like to try one
I'm glad they finally got one into production!
Can it really make that much difference on such big boats though? crazee

i'd like to have a kite fly all by its self. Reading my mind as to the moves I want to pull, the kite will fly perfectly. If they've built the kite right, the line weighs 90lbs/ 100ft. and it flies on 1000ft of line that's 900lbs of kites line. It's legit!

Let's see- 10% reduction in bunker cost on a 10000 dwt general cargo carrier. Yep that make a significant impact on the charter day rate. If they ever actually get to mid range target (say 25-30% bunker reduction) would be huge savings. Yes it does look like it will work. According to their site Beluga is soing a test into Houston from the continent end year - will be interesting to find out how they do. If there's any interest, I"ll follow this with Beluga and let everyone know how it went.

Besides, who wouldn't love the chance to fly a 5000m kite?!?

I thought Dean had a company startup that was doing this. he was telling me about it at nabx last year

oh no. man this is the latest state of the art rig. Fully automatic programmable 160 meter kite flying on 900 lbs of line. I think dean is making big kites for Sail Boats.