Sailing ships with a new twist

The Economist (Paid subscription required) ^ | Sep 15th 2005

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Here's an update following the test of the prototype kite (now called a "traction kite")

"Earlier this year SkySails trailed a kite on an 800-ton former buoy tender in the Baltic Sea. Using a towing kite of only 80-square-meters the Beufort reached five knots in low winds.

While this doesn't sound very impressive, add to it engine propulsion and Wrage and his team believe that a saving of between ten and 35 percent could be made on fuel costs and in better wind conditions, perhaps even 50 percent."

More at this site:

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/TECH/science/10/27/ft.kiteships/