I think there may be merit to using wind again, as an assist. Even a few knots in assist can save thousands of gallons of fuel over a cruise.
“I think there may be merit to using wind again, as an assist.”
Absoutely, but unless the wind can push them beyond 15 knots or so (as I remember it from my days in the MM), they won’t get much.
But, even so, if they can get some help for essentially no cost, then HAVE AT IT!
Japanese coasters (coastal cargo vessels) were using wind assist propulsion 30-40 years ago. I forgot what % it saved in fuel but the number 14 just popped into my head. Or maybe that was the number of days in two weeks:)