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To not take up deck space, it looks like they'll be more like this than sails:
The next idea someone will have will be the ability to angle the 'kite'. This enables you to direct thrust when the wind isn't blowing the perfect direction. This might require something new and rigid, like a 'mast'.
They don't really want to sacrifice deck space though. It'd be more efficient that way, but would mean they can carry much less cargo
So will these "kite boats" have engines as well, with kites being used to reduce the time for it cross the alantic and thus carbon emmissions. Or is the aim that the kite boats won't need engines.
Right now it's just to decrease fuel consumption
How do you account for wind direction with something like that? With a sail you can steer into the wind.
Fore and aft rigged ships sail into the wind pretty well, but square rigged ships were better outfitted for running with the trades. This design would probably do something similar, but yeah, next they'll invent masts and yardarms and booms, and then we'll be back to squabbling over trade routes in the Caribbean.