Join the Irish Navy and go kite-sailing.

[Astral Peaks]

I know there is a recession but is this for real?

The navy is going back to basics in a bid to cut its soaring fuel bill — wind power.
Commodore Mark Mellett confirmed the navy was collaborating with the Irish Maritime and Energy Resource Cluster, UCC, and CIT to develop "kite sails" which would be used to save fuel when a ship was carrying out surveillance.

The sails will have an added hi-tech edge which the service hopes to sell to other navies around the world.

"The kites would be used to reduce our energy bills, as we use 40% of the fuel allocated to the Defence Forces," said the commodore. "They could provide us with a speed of up to eight knots, which is as fast as a normal trawler."

Read more: High hopes: Navy airs fuel-saving idea | Irish Examiner

Maybe our more nautically minded will explain better, but wouldn't this be counterproductive in cases of fishing surveillance?

Or am I being silly? Some here will know I have offshore sailing experience so I am not a total idiot in this but apart from raising antennae to greater heights I cannot see this as being a runner.

[Odyessus]

I know there is a recession but is this for real?



Read more: High hopes: Navy airs fuel-saving idea | Irish Examiner

Maybe our more nautically minded will explain better, but wouldn't this be counterproductive in cases of fishing surveillance?

Or am I being silly? Some here will know I have offshore sailing experience so I am not a total idiot in this but apart from raising antennae to greater heights I cannot see this as being a runner.

I am not an expert on the subject, but if the Navy think this is a good idea, I would defer to their expertise in the matter.

[Boggle]

I know there is a recession but is this for real?



Read more: High hopes: Navy airs fuel-saving idea | Irish Examiner

Maybe our more nautically minded will explain better, but wouldn't this be counterproductive in cases of fishing surveillance?

Or am I being silly? Some here will know I have offshore sailing experience so I am not a total idiot in this but apart from raising antennae to greater heights I cannot see this as being a runner.

Could you mount a 360 degree camera on top of the kite to offset that problem?

[Boggle]

Double post

[FakeViking]

Would you prefere if they went back to shovelling coal into boilers?

[Ribeye]

Ha,

Protecting our shores, but only if it's windy!

[TimBuckII]

Should the Navy be selling to Other Navies?

[FrankSpeaks]

I know there is a recession but is this for real?



Read more: High hopes: Navy airs fuel-saving idea | Irish Examiner

Maybe our more nautically minded will explain better, but wouldn't this be counterproductive in cases of fishing surveillance?

Or am I being silly? Some here will know I have offshore sailing experience so I am not a total idiot in this but apart from raising antennae to greater heights I cannot see this as being a runner.

I know very little about sailing but I do think this technology has potential, obviously it's useless for covert surveillance but in normal overt situations it could save an awful lot of fuel. Every fishing trawler must have a device on board that must be switched on so that the Navy knows their whereabouts at all times. If the sail permits over the horizon radar and the Navy notices trawlers without this device switched on then they can go an investigate them.

[Boggle]

Ha,

Protecting our shores, but only if it's windy!

In fairness, it's a clever idea if it allows them to save on their fuel bills without diminishing their ability to do their job.

[Sailor]

I know there is a recession but is this for real?



Read more: High hopes: Navy airs fuel-saving idea | Irish Examiner

Maybe our more nautically minded will explain better, but wouldn't this be counterproductive in cases of fishing surveillance?

Or am I being silly? Some here will know I have offshore sailing experience so I am not a total idiot in this but apart from raising antennae to greater heights I cannot see this as being a runner.

The idea of using sail as a supplementary source of power is not new. It would be ideal for ships on patrol when the winds are favourable - obviously you're not going to go beating up the west coast in a northerly. The proposal seems to envisage a type of sail that could be easily and quickly lowered when you need to go chasing the bad boys. And more important, it looks fun - cruising along at 8 knots under power of what looks like an out of control spinnaker