I wonder how navigation changes if your ship has a set of these.
You've got one movement source - sails - whose power is based on the relative wind speed and direction and has near-zero variable cost. You have a second movement source - your engine - with fewer limitations but a higher variable cost (fuel cost + CO2 emission costs). You have a whole ocean with at least a week of predicted wind speeds and directions.
You've got a schedule to keep, but maybe not one that requires you to be there as quick as possible- after all, ships are slow-steaming now, right?
All together, a straight line often won't be the most economical route anymore. Tacking a little bit to get better wind could make the investment in these sails pay off faster.
You've got one movement source - sails - whose power is based on the relative wind speed and direction and has near-zero variable cost. You have a second movement source - your engine - with fewer limitations but a higher variable cost (fuel cost + CO2 emission costs). You have a whole ocean with at least a week of predicted wind speeds and directions.
You've got a schedule to keep, but maybe not one that requires you to be there as quick as possible- after all, ships are slow-steaming now, right?
All together, a straight line often won't be the most economical route anymore. Tacking a little bit to get better wind could make the investment in these sails pay off faster.