Solent Windship Co
Our Ship
Our ship will be the largest wooden sailing ship constructed in more than a hundred years (to the best of our knowledge). It will boast one of the highest cargo capacities among primary sail cargo vessels.
Specification Highlights
Length on Deck: 65 metres (213ft)
Draught: 5.5 metres (18ft)
Displacement: Approx 1580 tons
GRT (tonnage): 800-900 tons
Estimated Hull Speed: 18.75 knots
14 knots sailing speed easily reachable
Ship Design
Our ship's design is inspired by the traditional Tea Clippers from the 19th century, but we have applied over 150 years of design evolution to create a modern concept.
The ship's appearance is in the "Spirit of Tradition" - classic, but with modern touches seen on closer inspection.
We have utilised advanced knowledge, materials, technology, and hydrodynamic understanding to design a versatile vessel that will have excellent sailing performance, handling, and in-port manoeuvrability.​​
Construction
We believe the most environmentally sustainable way to build our ship is in laminated timber. It provides a lighter and stronger construction-alternative to traditional timber ships (Jubilee Sailing Trust's ship Tenacious was built with this method).
The laminated frames offer notable strength to weight gain over traditional sawn frames, and will be planked in multi-layered and directional planking (double diagonal planking). This will create a single monolithic hull skin, which will then be sheathed in a layer of GRP to protect against rot and wood-boring worms, and eliminate the need for caulking maintenance.
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With glue technologies also continuing to advance, we intend to use Bio Epoxy, subject to classification society and insurance approvals. ​
Rig Design / Sails
Our goal is to create a sail plan that is adaptable and easy to handle, enabling the ship to sail on all points of sail.
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At first glance the sail plan will appear to be traditional, but on closer inspection you will notice the application of 150 years of sail, rig and deck-gear advancements, which imbue a sense of traditional values and aesthetics.
Despite its traditional appearance, we believe that modern materials offer significant advantages / efficiencies in terms of sailing performance and maintenance costs. We are already collaborating with OneSails, who we believe are currently the only sail makers capable of meeting our requirements.
Technology
Our goal is to utilise the advancements in sailing technology to create a fast but safe, easy-to-handle ship that requires fewer crew members to sail.
We aim to prioritise environmental sustainability and efficiency, by incorporating innovative technology wherever possible. We also hope to use the ship as a research platform, carrying technology on board to collect data on the ocean's health.
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With modern weather routing technology, wind-shipping can have a competitive edge and be a viable, sustainable option for companies seeking clean sea cargo transportation.
Auxiliary Propulsion
Our goal is to utilise wind power to navigate our ship whenever possible, but we acknowledge the need for auxiliary propulsion in certain situations, such as entering ports or during emergencies.
We aim to minimise the use of auxiliary propulsion by utilising modern weather routing and radar technology. Having the ability to motor a short distance to get the ship closer to another wind system however, could make a big difference on arrival times compared to sitting becalmed.
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Our auxiliary propulsion system will be environmentally friendly, with electric systems powered by a large battery bank and supplemented by solar and wind generators. To meet current coding and safety requirements however, we will need a backup generator on board for emergencies.
We are also exploring alternative battery solutions to ensure the sustainability of our ship. There are a number of promising solutions coming to market and we will continue to explore these to find the most environmentally sustainable solution.​