Nice Try Yanko, but Already Done!

by Des Ryan on 12 Nov 2007 As the price of fuel gets higher and higher and the Global Warming message is better and better promulgated, more and more effort will go into finding energy economical solutions.

So it's nice to see Yanko Design this week offering a new kite powered sailing boat as a design concept. The principle behind this 'sailing' vessel is that the higher the altitude, the faster and steadier the wind blows.

The wind behind this Kite Sailing Katana Yacht is presumed to raise a kite high enough to catch winds that might not even exist at the water level. Designed by Stephani Krucke, the yacht is also big enough to pamper eight people in the lap of luxury.

Yanko adds that the kite might get in the way under some conditions, but even if it weren't the sole source of locomotion, on windy days it would still be highly efficient to augment engine power with such a high-flying sail.

They also state: 'The Kite Sailing Katana Yacht doesn't exist yet, but aren't these some spectacular renderings?'

BUT Stephani, and Yanko, the technology DOES already exist!

There's a Californian based company looking to augment tradition ship propulsion systems with kites, called Kite Ship

Kiteship tells us:

KiteShip Corporation builds wind power for ships. And for yachts, transoceanic deliveries and support craft. And for Aerospace and industrial - any application where large amounts of controlled, inexpensive power from in situ wind energy is needed.

Kite on catamaran © SW

We are a group of forward-thinking sailors, designers and visionaries. We've been using the fundamental advantages of traction kites for three decades. Our goal is to bring this technology to the world. KiteShip holds multiple world records and patents for our products and accomplishments.

Our Mission
KiteShip develops and markets Very Large Free Flying Sails (VLFFS) and control systems, technology and techniques for launching, controlling and recovering same aboard boats, ships, industrial and aerospace applications. Such craft may include pleasure and racing yachts, small and large commercial vessel builds and refits, life and vessel saving devices, research and commercial vessels and aerospace / industrial applications both inshore and at sea.

KiteShip is also working on marine applications as diverse as towing oil rigs and other large marine structures, diverting icebergs from oil platforms in high latitudes and in autonomous robot towing of relatively safe cargo such as bagged water,liquid fructose and the like.

There's also a German company called Sky Sails, who has been working on this innovation for years:


Sky Sails tells us:

SkySails is now offering a wind propulsion system based on large towing kites, which, for the first time, meets the requirements of shipping companies.

By using the SkySails-System, a ship‘s fuel costs can be reduced by 10- 35% on annual average, depending on wind conditions. Under optimal wind conditions, fuel consumption can temporarily be reduced by up to 50%. Even on a small, 87 metre cargo ship, savings of up to 280,000 euros can be made annually.

So, Stephani, there may be no Santa Claus, but there are certainly early models of Kite sails for both pleasure and commercial craft already in existence.

The good news is that so much effort is being dedicated to finding the best solutions before we run out of time...