You have to hand it to the French

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garymalmgren
garymalmgren
1447 posts
1447 posts
12 Nov 2026 4:11pm
The wind powered ro-ro vessel has just completed a year of trans-Atlantic operation.
Think of the investment (and risk) that they were prepared to put into this thing.
Well done. I say
maritime-executive.com/article/wind-powered-ro-ro-neoliner-origin-proves-70-fuel-reduction-in-first-year
gary
Toph
Toph
WA
1922 posts
WA, 1922 posts
12 Nov 2026 4:46pm
I hope they didn’t neglect to put in that additional forward keel bolt. I heard Benetaeu had enough spare bolts to share with them.




Ok, I’ll shut the door on my way out 🚶‍♂️‍➡️
JonE
JonE
VIC
679 posts
VIC, 679 posts
12 Nov 2026 9:27pm
Toph said..
I hope they didn’t neglect to put in that additional forward keel bolt. I heard Benetaeu had enough spare bolts to share with them.




Ok, I’ll shut the door on my way out 🚶‍♂️‍➡️

Troll can't get a meal round here.
Toph
Toph
WA
1922 posts
WA, 1922 posts
12 Nov 2026 8:14pm
JonE said..

Troll can't get a meal round here.



No JonE, that appears to be the case 😂😂
JonE
JonE
VIC
679 posts
VIC, 679 posts
12 Nov 2026 11:50pm
Toph said..

JonE said..

Troll can't get a meal round here.




No JonE, that appears to be the case 😂😂


Where were you when i was proposing speedos as the ultimate offshore safety wear?
garymalmgren
garymalmgren
1447 posts
1447 posts
12 Nov 2026 9:23pm
Jon, Toph.
What do you think of the financial backers who put their money up front for this risky and daring maritime experiment?

gary
Toph
Toph
WA
1922 posts
WA, 1922 posts
12 Nov 2026 9:48pm
JonE said..


Where were you when i was proposing speedos as the ultimate offshore safety wear?


I only wear board shorts so I was probably sinking in the deep end.


Toph
Toph
WA
1922 posts
WA, 1922 posts
12 Nov 2026 9:51pm
garymalmgren said..
Jon, Toph.
What do you think of the financial backers who put their money up front for this risky and daring maritime experiment?

gary


Fortune favours the brave Gary. Just ask Henry Ford, the Wright Brothers or even Benjamin Benetaeu…
JonE
JonE
VIC
679 posts
VIC, 679 posts
13 Nov 2026 8:44am
Gary,

Sorry for the thread-jack.

It's a bloody good idea. One would think the current fuel price would help justify it.

jon
shaggybaxter
shaggybaxter
QLD
2711 posts
QLD, 2711 posts
13 Nov 2026 8:14am
Toph said..

JonE said..


Where were you when i was proposing speedos as the ultimate offshore safety wear?



I only wear board shorts so I was probably sinking in the deep end.




That made me think of this….








Quixotic
Quixotic
ACT
267 posts
ACT, 267 posts
13 Nov 2026 9:25am
garymalmgren said..
The wind powered ro-ro vessel has just completed a year of trans-Atlantic operation.
Think of the investment (and risk) that they were prepared to put into this thing.
Well done. I say
maritime-executive.com/article/wind-powered-ro-ro-neoliner-origin-proves-70-fuel-reduction-in-first-year
gary





Good on them. Here’s hoping they can prove it as commercially advantageous. Be interesting to know how the financials stack up and who the backers were, and indeed what the rig problems were. It’d be great if use of sails on commercial scale freight became commonplace. Back to the future say I!
And as an afterthought, I wonder if you could combine it with electric motors, batteries and prop based regeneration to do the end of trip, in-harbour manoeuvring?
julesmoto
julesmoto
NSW
1621 posts
NSW, 1621 posts
13 Nov 2026 1:38pm
Quixotic said..

garymalmgren said..
The wind powered ro-ro vessel has just completed a year of trans-Atlantic operation.
Think of the investment (and risk) that they were prepared to put into this thing.
Well done. I say
maritime-executive.com/article/wind-powered-ro-ro-neoliner-origin-proves-70-fuel-reduction-in-first-year
gary






Good on them. Here’s hoping they can prove it as commercially advantageous. Be interesting to know how the financials stack up and who the backers were, and indeed what the rig problems were. It’d be great if use of sails on commercial scale freight became commonplace. Back to the future say I!
And as an afterthought, I wonder if you could combine it with electric motors, batteries and prop based regeneration to do the end of trip, in-harbour manoeuvring?


Solar collector sails? Get Elon on the job.
sparau
sparau
QLD
139 posts
QLD, 139 posts
13 Nov 2026 5:43pm
That looks like an impressive test and it is certainly an impressive ship.

Mast height 76 m
Air draught 88.2 m
Total sail area 3,000 m²
Number of masts 2
Normal sailing speed 11 knots
Maximum reported sailing speed 16.6 knots

Yikes that would make you feel small in our little recreational boats !

sparau
sparau
QLD
139 posts
QLD, 139 posts
13 Nov 2026 5:47pm
I always thought if you came across one of the maxis on the water you'd feel small but that is next level.

Commanche
Mast Height (Air Draft): 46.0 m to 47.0 m (150.9 ft)
shaggybaxter
shaggybaxter
QLD
2711 posts
QLD, 2711 posts
13 Nov 2026 6:03pm
sparau said..
I always thought if you came across one of the maxis on the water you'd feel small but that is next level.

Commanche
Mast Height (Air Draft): 46.0 m to 47.0 m (150.9 ft)


On a Sth Molle race, I hear one of the crew call out "Wind shadow coming."
I'm driving and I'm like, huh? Wind shadow? What wind shadow?

Oh.





garymalmgren
garymalmgren
1447 posts
1447 posts
13 Nov 2026 4:38pm
Yeah. but you wouldn't be in the wind shadow for long, would ya.
Woosh!!!!

As for passengers, the Neoliner Origin has 6 double cabins and is fully booked out. Has carried 170 people so far.

Neoliner Origin has shown it can regularly sail at more than 15 knots on wind alone, and it hit a peak of 16.6 knots in June with its engine stopped. But faults in the rig cut the time the sails could be used, especially with all of them set.
gary
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