Alternative Marine Power

If Sailboats can average 22 knots around the planet the viability of sail power for military and commercial application seems closer to reality. Imagine a fleet of sail powered vessels spanning the globe to hunt for submarines, collect weather and water data and follow whale herds for research. The following article discusses the kind of sailing performance needed to perform military and commercial functions.

Orange II Smashes RTW World Record

(Wednesday, March 16, 2005) Bruno Peyron and his 13-man crew have crossed the finish line at Ushant setting a new world speed record of 50 days, 16 hours, 20 minutes and 4 seconds, achieving an average speed of 22.2 knots. Not only have they broken Olivier de Kersauson's Jules Verne record by 12 days but have totally annihilated the outright record set by Steve Fossett and team aboard Cheyenne last year by seven days. - Sue Pelling/Yachting World