“But in a gale, the silent machinery of a sailing-ship would catch not only the power, but the wild and exulting voice of the world’s soul.” – Joseph Conrad

We are witnessing a revolution. As we awaken to the realities of climate change, the current means of powering our lives are being discarded and replaced by renewable, cleaner alternatives. Led by youth, societies around the world are slowly accepting that things need to change to leave future generations with a liveable planet . This has been followed by policy. Between 2008 and 2016 the number of countries with policy targets for renewable energy use went from 79 to 176, causing global renewable energy capacity to double in those eight years.

On the seas and in the skies, however, this change is yet to happen. Carrying on as we are, by 2050 global shipping’s emissions will have increased between 50% and 250% and aviation’s by 300% and 700%. These emissions are not only CO2, but in the case of shipping; sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter and aviation; carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, lead, and black carbon. Understandably there is a scramble taking place to devise a new generation of fuels that have a less substantial environmental impact, and this is where we come in.

Solution

We believe the solution already exists and is all around us. We believe in utilising the power of the wind. In fact, we and others are already using it. As a collective we have shown that sailing ships have the potential to make our supply and travel networks emission-free. We are striving to provide people with the option to travel consciously, make their supply chains transparent and emission free. We will not only show that it is the best means of transport for the environment, but for human health as well. The longer journey time and increased exposure to the elements create a mindful, rooted experience of travel, whilst negating pollutants that are detrimental to humanity. By using a completely renewable energy source there is no hidden environmental cost. It has the potential to adjust the prices of shipping to its real value, meaning the global population will no longer have to pay the difference of aviation and shipping’s low prices.

Direct wind propulsion has a rich history, providing all the worlds overseas freight and travel before the invention of steam. This was the point where the cost of transport and travel started to be paid by the environment. With it we can provide near emission-less travel and freight and a welcome in new golden age of sail. Using a combination of the knowledge passed to us from sailors and shipbuilders past and modern ingenuity we can create a fleet of vessels capable of taking over from today’s motorised marine and aviation fleet. It is going to take a significant change in mindset, but one that is already starting to form.