>I still prefer the "regenerative" and self contained idea of the
>solar-cell/battery combination but if anyone can think of a simple way of
>implementing a reliable sail system I would be interested. The redundancy
>would be great.


I thought about a simple and rugged sail system that would be inefficient as
efficiency was less important than survival.

Imagine  a squarish sail either on two horizontal booms on a mast or even on
twin side by side masts.
The whole mast can be lowered to the deck. The sail may possibly never be
furled as such but by simply having a lower angle this reduces its effect.
In any conditions where it is too violent for a full sail then no sail at
all may well be OK.
Sail direction can be steered within reason using either scheme above.
Rudder and keel arrangements assist.
IO envisaged the sail being so robust that breakage was no more likely than
for the hull etc.
I have seen craft with tall vertical solid blades as sails. I am not a
sailor and have minimal appreciation of the concepts and factors involved
but imagine something that would work adequately would be achievable.
Getting there is far more important than going fast.
At an average of 5 knots one can circumnavigate the world at the equator in
about 6 months!




Russell

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