wind yacht

The 2 classes of Windstar ships, explained

Windstar Cruises has a surprisingly varied fleet for a cruise line with only six small ships.

The cruise line was known for years for its fleet of three-masted sailing yachts (imagine a hybrid of a small cruise ship and a large four- or five-masted sailing vessel). But in the mid-2010s, in a bid to expand without building new ships, the line acquired three small, aging cruise ships from luxury line Seabourn and completely refurbished them.

Windstar's fleet is now equal parts sailing ships (known as the Wind class) and yachts (the Star Plus class), tied together by a casual-yet-upscale vibe, friendly crews and port-intensive itineraries.

While Windstar loyalists happily cross from masted yacht to regular ship, depending on the itinerary, newcomers will want to understand the differences between the line's two classes of ships because the onboard amenities are different enough to affect your vacation experience.

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An introduction to Windstar ships

Windstar Cruises specializes in small ships carrying between 148 and 342 passengers each. Though the line calls them yachts, the ships are structured more like tiny cruise ships with indoor lounges and communal dining rooms.

The Wind-class sailing ships come in two sizes: the 5,307-ton Wind Spirit and Wind Star and the 14,745-ton Wind Surf. The non-sail motor yachts are all identical at 12,995 tons.

Most of Windstar's fleet was not originally built for Windstar. Wind Surf originally sailed as a Club Med cruise ship. The motor yacht trio started their lives as Seabourn vessels.

That does not mean you should expect worn-out ships. Windstar recently spent $250 million to not just update but also lengthen the three motor yachts of its Star Plus class. The ships were cut open and a new midsection was added to create more space for additional cabins (Windstar calls them suites, even if they have only one room), new dining venues and expanded outdoor deck areas.

The ships function more as a comfortable home base than destinations by themselves. Onboard attractions are limited to a few restaurants, a small spa and fitness center, a pool and hot tub, and a tiny boutique. You'll find two or three bars, rather than a large assortment. There's no kids club because children younger than 8 aren't allowed onboard.

Related: 5 cruise lines to try if you just can't stand being around kids on vacation

The biggest difference between the classes, besides the sails, is that cabins on Star Plus-class ships are marketed as suites. While most aren't true, multiroom suites, the cabins are spacious with separate living and sleeping areas, French (step-out) balconies on most rooms and good-size bathrooms. The cabins on Wind-class ships are more compact and nautical in design, with porthole windows and small living spaces tricked out with hidden storage to maximize space.

What all the ships have in common is a water sports platform. On select days when the ship is anchored (not docked at a pier) and the weather and government regulations align, crew members can offer water sports, such as swimming and kayaking, right off the back of the ship.

Ships in class: Wind Surf (1989), Wind Spirit (1988) and Wind Star (1986).

Size: 5,307 tons (Spirit and Star) to 14,745 tons (Surf).

Technically, Windstar's Wind-class ships comprise two different types of ships, but the line categorizes all of its ships with sails together.

The 148-passenger Wind Spirit and Wind Star are the only ships in the current fleet custom-built for Windstar. Each has four decks and as many masts for sails. The ships each feature one 220-square-foot Owner's Suite, and the rest of the cabins are 188-square-feet rooms. Each cabin, including the suite, features a window; you will not find a private balcony on these ships.

Most of the public areas are found on the upper two decks with cabins on the lower two, with the exception of a small gym and the exit to the water sports platform on Deck 2. Deck 3 features the majority of the indoor spaces, including the Amphora main restaurant, boutique, reception desk, library, tiny spa, main lounge and a cafe serving coffee drinks and small snacks.

The topmost deck features the indoor-outdoor buffet restaurant Veranda, which transforms into the waiter-served Candles restaurant in the evening. A pool, hot tub and pool bar round out the alfresco offerings.

The 342-passenger Wind Surf joined the Windstar fleet in 1998 after sailing for Club Med. It follows the same basic idea as its two sailing sisters, but with more space and a few more attractions.

It's got six decks, five masts and four types of cabins (again all with windows only, no balconies). These include 188-square-foot regular cabins and 18 suites measuring 376 square feet, which are essentially double cabins with two bathrooms, two vanities and a sitting area where the second bed should be. These rooms are found throughout decks 1 through 3.

One 242-square-foot Officer's Suite and two 495-square-foot Bridge suites are located on Deck 5 (Bridge Deck).

Like its smaller sisters, Wind Surf contains the Amphora Restaurant and Veranda/Candles, main lounge, Yacht Club Cafe, pool and hot tubs, boutique, spa and fitness center. In addition, the ship adds a third dining venue – Stella Bistro – and the Terrace Bar, both on the ship's top deck.

Windstar deploys its sailing ships to destinations with more concentrated routes, where the romance factor is high (to complement the ships' beautiful sails). These include Tahiti and French Polynesia , Costa Rica and the Panama Canal, and Greece.

Related: 5 things to love about Windstar's stretched and refurbished Star Pride

Star Plus class

Ships in class: Star Legend (1990), Star Breeze (1988) and Star Pride (1988).

Size: 12,995 tons.

The Star Plus-class ships are all pre-owned cruise ships. They debuted in the late '80s and early '90s for luxury cruise line Seabourn and Windstar purchased them and brought them into the fleet 25 years later in 2014 and 2015.

The trio came to Windstar as 212-passenger, 9,975-ton cruise ships. Windstar refurbished the ships to clean them up and add the line's branding before they debuted but quickly realized more was needed to bring the ships in line with modern standards, both under the hood and in passenger-facing venues.

So the line announced a $250 million refurbishment project that included lengthening the ships by adding a new midsection. Extensive below-decks work was done to replace the existing engines with more efficient ones, as well as improve environmental standards. Above decks, each ship received 100 new cabins and suites, additional restaurants and expanded deck space to host a new infinity pool and more space for the line's famous deck barbecues.

Work on the project began in 2019, with the renovated ships debuting in 2021 and 2022.

Similar to Wind Surf, the Star Plus-class ships feature six passenger decks, a water sports platform, Amphora and Veranda/Candles restaurants and a boutique.

Each ship has a lounge that serves as an excursion assembly station and a theater for live entertainment and talks, as well as the large Compass Rose bar and lounge for dancing, drinking and whiling the evening away. Dining venues exclusive to this class include the alfresco Star Grill by Steven Raichlen and the Spanish Cuadro 44 by Anthony Sasso.

The spa and fitness center is much larger on these ships, featuring a complimentary thermal suite with heated lounges and saunas, as well as a separate workout room and fitness studio for group classes. A tiered infinity pool and hot tub are the focal point of Deck 7, but there's a somewhat-secret hot tub on Deck 5 forward, as well.

The Yacht Club is a gorgeous circular hangout and library space with board games and a little cafe area, and the Star Bar is surrounded by comfortable patio furniture one deck above the pool. There's also a screening room on Deck 5.

Related: Everything you need to know about Windstar Cruises' loyalty program

Cabins come in nine varieties. Five of them are the same size — 277 square feet — with two key differences. The first is whether the room offers a porthole, picture window or French balcony (which is big enough for one person to step out onto, but too small for a seating area); the second is whether the room has the original furnishings and the bed by the bathroom or is a newly built cabin with more modern furnishings and the bed by the window.

You can tell which style of cabin you're getting by the name. Star porthole, ocean-view and balcony suites are the new suites; plain ocean-view and balcony suites are the originals.

All cabins have updated bathrooms, some with tub-shower combos and others with shower only.

True suites range from 400 to 820 square feet, and include the Classic, Deluxe, Owner's Suite Forward and Owner's Suite Midship. The latter can be combined with surrounding standard suites to transform into a three-bedroom, 1,374-square-foot Grand Owner's Suite.

Related: The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship

The Star Plus-class ships are the line's traveling class, taking the longer, more sightseeing-focused routes in places like Alaska , Asia, Australia and northern Europe. With more indoor space, these ships can better handle destinations like Iceland and Alaska where the weather may prevent passengers from spending large amounts of time outdoors when sailing.

Bottom line

Windstar's two classes of ships can be quickly summarized as either sailing ships with smaller cabins and limited public spaces or upscale small ships with spacious cabins and more choices of restaurants and hangouts.

No matter which you choose, you'll get a similar experience. That's because each of the six ships honors the brand's themes of a casual onboard vibe with adult-focused upscale touches, fine dining in partnership with the James Beard Foundation, low-key outdoor fun, destination exploration and a friendly, helpful crew.

Windstar's fleet is so small that many cruisers find that the destination guides their vacation choice more than the ship. As the line carefully matches ship style to the itinerary, you'll likely find yourself content with whichever class of ship you find yourself sailing.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise

The ZEN50 is a game changer. World’s first series production catamaran equipped with a wingsail, it defines a new distinctive class of its own, where genuine zero-emission meets high comfort and performance, limitlessly. 

Designed from scratch for ZEN Yachts by award-winning naval architect Julien Mélot , this full carbon catamaran is the ultimate essence of technology driven, high performance and luxurious, eco-friendly leisure yachting. 

The blue water capable ZEN50 lightweight racing carbon hulls are combined with a huge solar roof for an unrivaled solar power vs. displacement ratio above 1:1 (18 kW / 17 tonnes), making this yacht completely energy self-sufficient. A revolutionary, fully automated, wingsail - by Ayro© - can be added as a range and speed extender. The yacht’s high capacity battery bank powers a powerful silent electric propulsion, allowing the ZEN50 to achieve 14 knots and maintain high continuous speeds in unrivaled safety and comfort, indefinitely… 

The ZEN50 is offered with or without wingsail and comes in 3 main different versions: Racer, Cruiser and Explorer, each dedicated to a different usage and owner profile. We use these versions as a basis to define a final, bespoke specification for each of our valued clients and ZEN Community Members. Scroll down for more details, specifications and prices.

1st WINGSAIL series production yacht in the world!

The OceanWings32 - by Ayro© - was initially developed for Team Oracle, for the America’s Cup 2010 in Valencia. Over years, it has further been developed and automated by VPLP and was installed on Energy Observer in 2019. Two years of field feedback have allowed the Ayro team to fine tune the algorithm commanding the wingsail. The ZEN50 is the first series production leisure craft to be equipped with this fully automated wingsail. It is controlled at the touch of a finger on screens, is automatically adjusted and has several safety modes and features. The two parts of the wingsail can be hoisted and lowered independently and with the simple touch of a button. The wingsail OceanWings32 is the ideal complement for the solar roof for those wishing to cruise long distances off-shore with zero-emissions.

Greatest ratio SOLAR POWER / weight on the market

At 17 tonnes lightweight and 18,000 W of peak solar power, the ratio of the ZEN50 is at over 1 kW per displaced tonne of water or beyond 1:1 which is far beyond any other blue water CE Cat A yacht in this size range. Lots of solar power for little water to displace is the strong and healthy foundation the energy self-sufficient ZEN50 is built upon.

Performance CARBON sandwich hulls

The hulls of the ZEN50 have been designed from a blank screen for ultimate efficiency - understand minimum drag or minimal energy consumption for a range of speeds from 6 to 10 knots. Their shape is aggressive, sharp and slender. Their reverse bows cut through water like a sword cuts through butter and their curvature is reminiscent of graceful dolphin bodies. These hulls are undoubtedly of the performance type and are built with the best available composites: Carbon fibre and Corecell™. The combination of high strength, low weight and performance design allow the ZEN50 to reach speeds of up to 14 knots.

INFINITE range at high CONTINUOUS speeds

With maximized solar and wind power and minimized energy consumption… the ZEN50 can sail continuously at speeds varying between 6 and 10 knots. Thorough simulations in various sea states and weather system have consistently shown the ZEN50 will be able to achieve performance catamaran speeds continuously without using a genset. With the ZEN50, the world is your oyster and the wildest destinations are within your reach with this self-reliant vessel!

True ZERO-EMISSION operation

The first ZEN50 unit, whose construction started in March 2023, will not be equipped with a genset at all and will not have any fossil fuels onboard. The ZEN50 energy system with its very large capacity 160 kWh battery bank, has been designed to function for days in complete safety with minimal solar energy harvest and no wind. It is perfectly safe with no backup genset and operates 24/7 without any polluting emissions.

NO FUEL , no costs

Naturally, requiring no fuel to operate day in day out is great news for the environment, it is also fantastic news when sailing into remote areas where fuel bunkering might be near impossible or where the fuel quality might be an issue. Finally, it also makes a massive difference in this yacht’s costs of operation. Imagine the hundreds of liters of diesel saved over just a week, the obsolete engine maintenance schedules, the clogged filters and dirty tanks from another age… Welcome to a new burden-free, energy self-sufficient era, welcome to clean and graceful eco-yachting, welcome to ZEN Yachts.

Highest SAFETY & reliability

At ZEN Yachts, we have made some design choices to attain energy self-reliance with the ZEN50 that reduces the habitable volume in the hulls, similar to performance catamarans. Where we have not and will never compromise is on safety. Our main voltage system is 48V making it perfectly safe to work on. The level of redundancy of the batteries and solar panels is 10! The main electrical architecture is split in 2 so that should anything happen on 1 hull, the entire vessel can still operate normally. There are 2 independent helm stations and the ZEN50 is packed with special safety features, nonsubmersible compartments and we can even offer an in-depth practical course on safety equipment usage and management. Sailing with the ZEN50 is not only exhilarating and clean, it is ultra safe!

Unrivaled space & COMFORT

The ZEN50 offers the speeds of a performance catamaran, the comfort of a large motor yacht and the simplicity of an electric car. No less than 2 large day beds, 3 dining areas for over 10 people, 1 professional galley and 2 wet kitchens, 5 heads, up to 4 double ensuite cabins, 1 bunk double and 1 single together with both saloon and dining areas converting into extra sleeping areas, this is simply unrivaled on a 50 ft. catamaran. Add an electric tender, dive compressor, satellite internet, 2 helm stations (cockpit and flybridge), a solar roof that converts into a gigantic upper deck to enjoy the most epic sunrises and sunsets, welcome onboard the ZEN50!

SPECIFICATIONS

Main particulars.

• Length Over All: 15.7m

• Beam: 8.4m

• Depth Molded: 2.7m at midship

• Displacement (light) : 17 T

• Draft (design): 1.3m (4.3ft) incl. keel

• Passenger Capacity: 12

• Berths: 12 (4 x double + 2 x single + saloon)

• Building Material: Carbon Fiber - Corecell™ composite

• Certification: CE Cat A - Unrestricted with 12 persons

Note: Some of the above figures may vary between versions

PROPULSION & ENERGY

• Propulsion: 2 x 50 kW brushless DC motors

• Main Battery Pack Capacity: 160 kWh Lithium

• Solar Roof Peak Power: 18 kWp

• Wingsail: Oceanwings® OWS 3.2 by Ayro©

• Backup Battery Pack Capacity (Nav/Com/Wing): 5 kWh Lithium

• Main System Voltage: 48V - Low voltage for total human safety

• Accommodation Voltage: 110V or 220V

SPEED & RANGE

• Max. Speed on e-motor only: 10 kn

• Max. Speed on e-motor & Wingsail: 14 kn

• Cruising Speed for continuous operation - solar only: 4.5 - 5 kn

• Cruising Speed for continuous operation - solar and wing: 6 - 10 kn

• Cruising Speed day time: 8 - 10 kn

• Range Over 24 h: 180+ nm

Note: These values may vary between versions and sea / weather conditions

EQUIPMENT INCLUDED - RACER VERSION

• Integrated power management system

• Solar power & energy storage system

• Electric propulsion system

• By-wire steering system

• Helm stations at cockpit & flybridge

• Galley counters, storage, sink, oven, stove, fridge, freezer

• 4 en suite heads with enclosed shower, toilet, sink & faucet (in each head)

• All cabin furniture (as shown in layouts)

• Aft deck fixed dining table and aft sofa with collapsible back rest (as shown in layouts)

• Fore deck day bed and lateral seats (as shown in layouts)

• Outdoor marine cork decking / indoor saloon natural bamboo decking

• All cushions In/Outdoor upholstered with Sunbrella® fabric

• 6 deck hatches

• 2 x 500 liter (2 x 132 gal) fresh water tanks

• 2 x 100 liter approx. (2 x 26 gal) fresh water tanks + 1 fresh water pump

• 2 x 350+ liter approx. (2 x 92 gal) holding tanks

• Railings, cleats and fore deck trampolines

• Mooring equipment: 33 kg Rocna® stainless steel anchor + 50 m stainless steel chain 10 mm + 150 m nylon rope + e-windlass

• Regulatory navigation equipment including navigation lights & mast

• 2 x chart plotter 16”; 2 x VHF with DSC button

• Regulatory Life Saving Appliances

• Critical spare parts kit

Note: The above equipment is for the Racer version. Cruiser & Explorer versions carry additional equipment

ZEN50 Solar Wingsail Electric Catamaran - Solar Roof Layout

ZEN50 Solar Wingsail Electric Catamaran - Flybridge Layout

ZEN50 Solar Wingsail Electric Catamaran - Main Deck Layout - Asymmetric D (subject to changes)

ZEN50 Solar Wingsail Electric Catamaran - Cabin Layout - Asymmetric D (subject to changes)

ZEN50 Solar Wingsail Electric Catamaran - Cabin Layout - Asymmetric E (subject to changes)

SOLAR & WINGSAIL

OCEAN RACER

Solar & Wingsail, basic configuration ready to sail, navigation, safety, fridge, etc.

EUR 2 400 000

WORLD CRUISER

Solar & Wingsail, well equipped configuration with, among other options, electric tender, AC and water maker

EUR 2 650 000

ARCTIC EXPLORER

Solar & Wingsail ultimate configuration with all available options

EUR 2 850 000

Solar only, ready to sail basic configuration with navigation, safety, fridge, etc.

EUR 1 850 000

CONTINENTAL CRUISER

Solar only, well equipped configuration with, among other options, electric tender, AC and water maker

EUR 2 100 000

TROPICAL EXPLORER

Solar only, ultimate configuration with all available options

EUR 2 300 000

Ready to reserve your ZEN50?

Want more information .

The Southern Wind 96 is one of the latest additions to the SWS family. This composite yacht’s sleek hull lines designed by Farr Yacht Design and general concept drawn by Nauta Design express the company motto: “simplicity is the essence of good design”.

The project’s lightship displacement of 58,500kg grants excellent light wind speed with a manageable rig size. The hull has full waterlines and straight end diagonals, a wide, low transom and full forward sections. The deck hardware is optimized for both shorthand performance cruising and offshore racing. The Southern Wind 96 benefits from cutting-edge design and superb styling, which makes her a formidable opponent in any regatta. The SW96#01 Sorceress was custom-made for an owner who wanted a larger performance yacht to use in both transoceanic races and blue water cruises.

Southern Wind 96 composite yachts feature award-winning interiors, as in the case of SW96#02 Seatius. This yacht’s interior was designed by Nauta Design in collaboration with interior designer Jeroen Machielsen from Studio Hermanides and won the Best Interior Design Sailing Yachts award at the prestigious 2019 Boat International Design and Innovation Awards. SW96#03 Ammonite he has been conceived for a second time Southern Wind owner willing to alternate bluewater comfortable navigation with more performance-oriented experiences.

SW96 Sorceress >

SW96 SORCERESS yacht is the first unit in the SW96 mini-series of high-performance cruisers. She was commissioned by an owner looking for a performance yacht to use in coastal and oceanic races and for blue water cruises.

SW96 Seatius >

The award winning SW96 SEATIUS yacht is the second model in the SW96 mini-series. She represents the dream of an owner who wants to sail around the world with speed and safety with a short-handed crew most of the time.

SW96 Ammonite >

SW96 Ammonite yacht is the third unit of the SW96 miniseries. She has been conceived for a second time Southern Wind owner willing to alternate blue water comfortable navigation with more performance-oriented experiences.

SW96 NYUMBA >

SW96#04 Nyumba is the first hybrid sailboat in the Southern Wind fleet.

SW96 Liberty >

The SW96#05 is a further evolution of the successful SW96 series with an additional emphasis on racing.

Main Specifications

Additional information.

The project’s lightship displacement of 58,500kg grants excellent light wind speed with a manageable rig size. The hull has full waterlines and straight end diagonals, a wide, low transom and full forward sections. The deck hardware is optimized for both shorthand performance cruising and offshore racing. The Southern Wind 96 benefits from cutting-edge design and superb styling, which makes her a formidable opponent in any regatta. The SW96 SORCERESS, was custom-made for an owner who wanted a larger performance yacht to use in both transoceanic races and blue water cruises.

Southern Wind 96 composite yachts feature award-winning interiors, as in the case of SW96#02SEATIUS. This yacht’s interior was designed by Nauta in collaboration with interior designer Jeroen Machielsen from Studio Hermanides and won the Best Interior Design Sailing Yachts award at the prestigious 2019 Boat International Design and Innovation Awards. SW96#03 Ammonite he has been conceived for a second time Southern Wind owner willing to alternate bluewater comfortable navigation with more performance-oriented experiences.

“SW96’s interior layout features a large saloon above the engine room which is accessible through a full height control room. The owner’s cabin forward and four en suite guest cabins amidships offer privacy for all on board. Crew quarters include two crew cabins, two heads and a spacious galley that opens onto the crew mess.”

DECK CONFIGURATION: PERFORMANCE CRUISING AND CRUISING RACING

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This 100-Foot Sailing Yacht Concept Generates Its Own Power While Cruising

The vessel's propeller doubles as a hydro generator., rachel cormack.

Digital Editor

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Southern Wind’s latest concept was designed to encourage you to spend more time in the sunshine.

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Up top, meanwhile, the wheels and winches have been moved as far as possible to each side to create a flowing, open deck. The multipurpose aft lounge can be furnished with sunbeds, L-shaped seating, or even a coffee table. Beneath this, there’s a storage spot for a Williams 435 SportJet tender. Southern Wind says it developed this design in response to requests for larger swim platforms and more versatile sterns.

In terms of grunt, the SX100X will be equipped with a Cummins engine that can churn out 305 hp, though Southern Wind is also looking into other hybrid propulsion systems. Elsewhere, the yacht sports a 13-foot fixed keel, a telescopic keel that can expand to 18 feet, and a propeller that doubles as a hydro generator to produce power under sail. The vessel is also expected to use battery power for tasks such as docking to bring down emissions. 

Southern Wind is planning to start work on the first SW100X in April, with delivery expected as early as 2025.

Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…

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Wind Spirit Review

With its dramatic sails and yacht-like feel, the four-masted Wind Spirit is a natural fit for Tahitian waters, which it cruises year-round. There's a relaxed, feel-good vibe to this ship, in large measure due to the iconic destination and passengers who are there to chill.

Wind Spirit has a modest profile, 360 feet long at the waterline, and with just 148 passengers, the onboard experience is more river ship than ocean ship. What does that mean? You will never feel crowded, whether it's waiting for a tender to shuttle you to shore or lining up for the breakfast buffet. And with a staff-to-passenger ratio of 1 to 1.5, service across the ship is top-notch. You won't be watching movies under the stars or Broadway-style shows that are hallmarks of the large ocean ships -- but you will likely enjoy sail-away every afternoon.

Not surprisingly, these are active itineraries with an emphasis on water sports, although shore excursions and enrichment programs also highlight the culture and sacred spaces of the islands. Wind Spirit also knows how to throw a party, French Polynesian-style. Its "destination discovery" events on tiny, private islands called "motus" -- ranging from beach parties to feasts followed by fire-walking performances -- rival the best its competitors have to offer.

Polynesians use the word "mana" to refer to the spirit of their islands. The aptly named Wind Spirit does a terrific job bringing that mana to the passenger experience.

Bottom Line

Fellow passengers.

Due to the ship's active itineraries, most Wind Spirit passengers are in their 50s and early 60s. You will also find young honeymooners and retirees. Passengers are seasoned travelers, largely from the United States, New Zealand and Australia.

Windstar Wind Spirit Dress Code

Life onboard is casual -- no need for suits or fancy eveningwear. During the day, weather- and activity-appropriate clothing includes swimwear, shorts, T-shirts and tank tops. At night, jeans and shorts are not permitted in the main dining room although black or white jeans seem to get a pass. It's recommended that men don trousers with collared shirts or Polos and women wear sundresses, pants or casual cocktail attire. Also make room in your suitcase for lightweight rain gear or a travel umbrella. After all, it's the tropics.

Wind Spirit Inclusions

The cruise fare includes complimentary "discovery destination" events, nonalcoholic beverages, all meals in all venues, 24-hour room service, water sports off the marina platform, fitness classes, market tours with the chef, a Champagne welcome reception and afternoon in-cabin canapes upon request. On the 17-night itinerary, laundry is also included.

Wind Spirit charges a per-passenger gratuity of $13.50 per day. Gratuities are shared by crew members who serve you directly, such as waiters and stewards, as well as those whom you may never meet, such as galley and laundry staff. If service exceeds or fails to meet your expectations, you may adjust the amount accordingly at the conclusion of the cruise.

In addition, a 15 percent service charge is automatically added to all spa and bar charges, dining room wine purchases and beverage packages. Beverage packages, featuring wines, beers, cocktails, cordials and liqueurs, cost $32, $42 or $52 per passenger per day.

The U.S. dollar is the onboard currency.

Find a Wind Spirit Cruise from $2,399

More about windstar wind spirit, where does windstar wind spirit sail from, where does windstar wind spirit sail to, how much does it cost to go on windstar wind spirit, is windstar wind spirit a good ship to cruise on.

Great Cruise in Mediterranean

many 10+ Cruises

Trip of a lifetime

couple 2-5 Cruises

Great way to see the islands of the Mediterranean

Fabulous Windstar

few 6-10 Cruises

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5 Best Wind Generators For Sailboats (2024)

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

January 2, 2024

Wind generators, also known as micro turbines, have come a long way since their first appearance on the cruising scene back in the 1970's. Loud, relatively low output and large bladed, these forerunners of the modern day wind generators were both a mechanical marvel and a source of constant consternation. They were basically a small automotive alternator encased in an aluminum housing, with little thought into aesthetics or longevity. Cruisers equipped with an old Windbugger or K.I.S.S. wind generators come to mind as the loud boats in the anchorage no one wanted to be around.

As we all know, there are very few, if any, automotive products that last very long in a marine environment. A large stock of spare parts had to be stored in case of breakage, and daily maintenance consisted of checking the bearings, monitoring the voltage vs. wind speed for signs of decreased output, and rotating the blades into the wind when the boat position changed.

Today's best wind generators boast such features as CAD designed, self-feathering composite blades that are whisper quiet, brushless magnetic alternators, automatic braking and over-charge protection. Boxy aluminum housings have been replaced with sleek, carbon fiber and fiberglass nacelles.

While you may spend a small fortune on a wind generator that has all of these features and more, you can also opt for more budget friendly models, readily available from Amazon, Home Depot and other on-line retailers. The best wind generators are usually the most expensive, but when you are looking at the lower cost models, remember to add in the cost of wiring, mounting hardware, remote monitoring stations and installation, should you choose not to do the work yourself. Not all wind generators are purpose-built for the marine environment. Buyer beware: a turbine designed for the hobbyist on land will not stand up to the rigors of an offshore passage.

Table of contents

As with any mechanical device you are researching, it is a good idea to learn some of the terminology associated with the product. Not all of us know the meaning of 'swept area', 'power capture' or 'yaw error'. Likewise with the electrical side of the wind generator. Learning about output wattage, amps, and microprocessors can seem like a daunting task, but it is necessary to know these terms before you shell out hard earned cash for a quality wind generator.

Some features of wind generators, such as weather-proof coatings and low-noise operation, are common to all makes and models. The use of rare earth elements like Neodymium, (Nd2FE14B, used in magnetic rotors), can add hundreds of dollars to the price of some of these wind generators, but defiantly do add to the overall dependability of the unit.

Some of the more desirable things to look for in a wind generator are:

• Ease of Operation

Also known as plug-n-play, the simpler the set-up, the better. Choose a model that has built-in controllers, that ???makes for less complicated wiring runs. A remote monitor is handy to check on the status of the charging system without crawling into the battery room, or looking up to see if the blades are still turning. If you are ordering your generator and having it shipped, ask your salesman to be sure it has detailed assembly instructions and perhaps an owner's manual in either DVD or booklet form.

• Low Cut-In Speed 

Wind generators work best when the blades are humming along in 20 knots of wind, but that's not always the case. Low cut-in speed means your batteries are getting a charge in the lightest of airs, if only a trickle charge.

If you happen to be ashore when the wind kicks up, you don't want your turbine to spin wildly out of control. Some generators feature a type of automatic speed governor that slows the blades down before they self destruct. Back in the day, you had to pull down on a cord to apply the brakes, then climb up the mast or mounting pole and manually tie off the blades.

• Over-Charge Protection

A 'brake' also kicks in when the batteries are nearing or at full capacity, to prevent overcharging. Some controllers slow the rotation of the blades, others 'dump' the excess power generated through a resistor and heat sink. Wiring an in line reset-able fuse can prevent damage to your batteries should a malfunction occur within the charging system.

• Portability

If you are one of those part-time sailors who cruises for a few months, then dry-docks your vessel for the off-season, choose a light-weight portable wind generator you can set up at home to off-set your electric bill. In case of a hurricane or other emergency when there is no power for days at a time, your wind generator can power cell phone chargers, laptops and rechargeable battery stations. Removing your wind generator and locking it away in the cabin also deters thieves. Portable wind generators that are light can be mounted on higher surfaces without worrying about upsetting the balance of your boat. The heavier the generator, the lower it should be mounted, allowing for safe passage under and around those spinning blades, of course!

It is also a good idea to know your boat's needs and desires before settling for a low cost, low output wind generator. Everything that runs off a battery, including the DC to AC inverter, should be listed, along with their amp/hour draw, to determine how much power you will need to generate. Compare your toys with your reserve amps of your house battery bank. Do you just have a few LED bulbs and a masthead light to run at anchor? Then you can get by with a low output generator. Are you keeping a keg cooler, stereo, disco ball and Netflix going all night? When underway, are you powering SSB, weatherfax, VHF and radar? Then you need a rack full of batteries, and a wind generator with the capacity to keep them topped off.

Speaking of batteries, make sure the wind generator you purchase can charge all the different batteries available. Even if you only have wet-cell lead/acid marine batteries now, you may upgrade to AGM, Gel or even LiFeMgPO4 (Lithium Iron Magnesium Phosphate) batteries in the future. Some wind generators and their controllers are not advanced enough to charge these newer power sources.

Unless you are well versed in the application of electrical theory and DC current, you probably don't know much about wire size and current loss. Even the best wind generator will not function as advertised if the power can not get from the blades to the battery. If you have a long run from your generator to the battery bank you intend to charge, make sure your wires are correctly sized to prevent line loss from resistance and over heating. Most installation manuals will have a wire chart included for DIY installations, and there is always a help line to the manufacturer.

Here are four out of the dozens of wind generators out there that have positive reviews and some of the most desirable features.

1.) Superwind 350, 353

This German manufactured turbine features their patented Auto-Feathering Overspeed-Avoidance System. This is basically the same method a helicopter uses to gain lift, and settle back down. As the wind speed reaches 25 knots, the blades 'feather', or dump air, making them less efficient, and slowing their speed. As the wind lessens, the blades re-pitch, becoming more efficient. This action delivers a steady flow of charging current to the batteries, without going into a shut-down mode to prevent overcharging, as some models do. The Superwind generators also can be combined with solar panels and conventional diesel generators. The Superwind generator family also uses a brushless A/C stator for maximum control of noise and radio interference while the unit is producing power. Two sets of bearings in the 350 make for smoother operation and overall longer bearing life. Available in 12v, 24v, or 48v outputs. At close to 30 lbs, these units are well built and dependable. With a price tag right around $2,700 for the Superwind 350 kit, you can expect German Engineering at it's finest.  https://www.superwind.com/superwind-350-353/

2.) Automaxx

The Automaxx line of wind generators comes in 12v, 24v 48v models, in outputs from 400w up to 1500w. Survival wind speeds are listed at 110mph, but we hope you would never have to put that spec to the test. With very low cut-in speeds of less than 6mph, you will get charging amps on the slightest breeze. All their models come with auto-braking and manual braking system protection, over charge and over-speed protection. The 3600 rotation of the power head keeps the unit into the wind, even when you are docked or med-moored. Simple plug and play setup with an internal MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) charge controller makes the DB400 an easy to install unit, while their other models feature a remote charge controller. Works well when combined with solar chargers. At 16.75 lbs., it is lighter in weight than the Superwind, and it's seven times less expensive at around $400.00 for the DB400.

https://www.automaxxwindmill.com/

3.) MarineKinetix MK4

One look at this brand's marketing home page is like an advanced course in wind generator physics. The list of specs for it's models is truly impressive. Not only do they boast all the latest technologies featured in their product, they explain all the scientific jargon they use in terms us simple sailors can understand. They have been providing wind generators to the sailing community for 8 years now, and have a devoted following.

If you need to know the difference between $400.00 wind generators and $1,800 units, check out the product overview section of their website.

The MarineKinetix brand has the the industries best 3 year limited warranty, so they must be pretty sure about their product.

The 12v models of this brand are currently out of stock, due to parts supplier back-orders, but if you are in the market, there are plenty of 24v and 48v units in stock.  https://store.marinebeam.com/marinekinetix-mk4-marine-wind-generator/

4.) Rutland 1200

One of the quieter wind generators out there, the U.K. made Rutland has a long track record of dependability and customer satisfaction. A manual switch is used to stop the blades when high wind is expected, there is no auto-brake. The Rutland can be combined with solar panels up to 20A, and can be also be used with deep cycle gel or AGM batteries, and there is a remote digital display available. One of the Rutland's best features is it's Tri-namic Blade profile design, which achieves low start-up speeds, silent operation in any wind, and maximum power transfer from wind to rotor. Overall good performance and features for the $1,600.00 price tag. https://www.emarineinc.com/Rutland-1200-Wind-Turbine

5.) DuoGen-3

Wind generators are a fairly common sight in most anchorages, and towable generating devices have been around for some time. The DuoGen-3 combines the two into one multi-use charging system. Underway, the high strength carbon fiber mast is lowered down to submerge the blades. At anchor, the unit functions like a typical wind generator. The results are impressive. In the water mode, the DuoGen-3 generates 200 Watts @ 16 amps cruising at 8 knots. Wind generators do not do well sailing downwind, so this may just be the answer. Available in 12v and 24v versions. Charging regulators are not included, so monitors and controllers have to be matched to the unit and sourced locally. https://eclectic-energy.co.uk/

Choosing the right wind generator for your vessel should be a pretty straightforward process, once you have an idea of your needs, the area you will be cruising in, and how long you expect to be 'off the grid'. If one generator is simply not enough because of the size of your battery banks and the load you put on them, you may need to purchase a pair of turbines. Customer support and availability of parts may be the determining factor in your purchase. Talk to other wind generator owners, and get a feel for what they have experienced with their current of former wind generators.

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Blog » Meet the Summer Wind Yacht

Meet the Summer Wind Yacht

By isabella stark, may 7, 2017, enjoy casual elegance aboard the summer wind yacht.

The Summer Wind is a regal beauty that was once the private family yacht of the famous Bacardi family. This lovely lady has since been restored to her original classic beauty, and is reminiscent of a day and age when only the super rich had private yachts. Now she is yours for the asking; your very own private luxury yacht charter for the day. What a celebration you can host aboard ship while you and your guests sail along the beautiful South Florida waterways in luxury and style.

The Summer Wind yacht can easily accommodate up to sixty guests and has multiple decks, indoor and outdoor seating areas, and a covered sky deck. There is a full-service custom granite bar on the upper deck where guests can sit and drink cocktails while they enjoy breathtaking views of the Florida coastline. Guests can also enjoy air-conditioned, plush indoor lounge areas. The Summer Wind yacht also has a swim platform for those who enjoy being in the water.

Our party boat rentals offer you so much, and the Summer Wind yacht is no exception. This beautiful yacht boasts a gorgeous master stateroom and ensuite bathroom below deck. She also has a lovely guest stateroom and ensuite bathroom, and guest quarters with twin beds and ensuite bathroom. This yacht party rental will truly be your very own private yacht to relax on after the festivities are over.

This year do something extraordinary like having a celebration aboard the Summer Wind yacht. You will be so glad you did. You can begin making your party plans today by contacting Charter One, Inc. at: 954-771-0102 .

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A boat flotilla in protest of Vineyard Wind

A group of approximately 15 to 20 boats descended on the Vineyard Wind project site on Sunday afternoon in a show of peaceful protest against the offshore wind industry. 

The group, composed of commercial fishermen and concerned citizens, have been energized by the recent failure of a turbine blade that fractured and fell into the ocean, washing ashore debris including fiberglass and foam on Nantucket and Island beaches. 

The “flotilla,” as it was called, was organized by the New England Fisherman’s Stewardship Organization (NEFSA), a fishing industry alliance that has said its frustrations and concerns surrounding offshore wind have not been answered by Vineyard Wind or local officials. 

Vineyard Wind is building the nation’s first utility-scale offshore wind project, and has been met with significant resistance by both commercial fishermen and locals who are wary about the potential effects of large wind turbines on marine life, fisherman’s livelihoods and on the impacts to their views. The turbines stand as high as 837 feet, with blades as long as a football field. Following the recent blade failure, Vineyard Wind has been forced to halt construction while federal officials conduct an investigation. 

Construction on the project has resumed, though Vineyard Wind is not allowed to generate power. GE Vernova, the renewable energy subsidiary of General Electric that manufactures the turbines, has been conducting extensive examinations of the blades to determine the root cause of the failure, and says it will use new algorithms to monitor the health of blades in real-time. 

When completed, the 806-megawatt project is supposed to generate enough electricity to support 400,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts. 

On Sunday, protestors who made the approximately three-hour journey to the project site — roughly 15 miles from Martha’s Vineyard — to see the turbines for themselves remarked at just how large they appear up close. Vineyard Wind plans to ultimately build 62 turbines at the site, each spaced one mile apart. At least 12 are completed, according to a report from May, while another 35 are in various stages of construction. 

Offshore wind projects have experienced turbulence recently in part due to local resistance but also as a consequence of rising inflation, interest, and material costs which have made long-term contracts no longer viable. Avangrid, an offshore wind subsidiary of Spanish firm Iberdrola, canceled an agreement with Connecticut last year to supply the state electricity from an 804-megawatt project. At the same time, another project in Massachusetts was canceled over similar reasons. 

Proponents of offshore wind say the green energy resource is ideal because it uses minimal onshore land while preserving valuable ecosystems, and wind speeds are typically higher over the ocean than on land. Federal officials and marine researchers say that evidence of the long-term harm posed to marine life is inconclusive and requires more studying. Vineyard Wind has outlined ways it attempts to mitigate harm to marine life, including by dampening construction noise and pausing work during seasons when right whales may be in the area.  

  Otto Osmers, a commercial fisherman from  Martha’s Vineyard, made the journey from Menemsha at 7 am on Sunday, arriving at the Vineyard Wind site around 10:30 am. Osmers conceded that offshore wind projects like Vineyard Wind can block trawling and crab trap routes, but had other concerns about the project. “The ocean is one of the last undeveloped places on earth,” he remarked about the sight of so many large turbines peppering the horizon. “We put cables down there but it’s largely undeveloped. It’s sad to see that go away.” 

Others were more passionate in their displeasure. Sue Zarba, who along with her husband John who fish recreationally, said seeing the scale of the turbines was  emotional. “That was the first time I was up close to the turbines, and I was sobbing,” she said in an interview after the protest. “After you’ve seen this offshore wind farm, you cannot unsee it. Soon over one thousand acres just off the coast will be filled with turbines. We will never be able to undo this man-made environmental disaster.”

“This cannot continue because that’s where we fish,” said Zarba. “They’re developing on a tuna fishing ground. You can’t fish around turbines, you can’t trawl.” She added that her son, who attended the protest, was initially skeptical of her protesting but changed his mind once he saw the turbines. 

Osmers noted concern about pollution caused by fishermen, including fuel emissions and the dropping of nets and traps on the ocean floor. But he said that locally caught fish is one of the lowest carbon foods you can buy. “If you eat locally caught fish, the carbon footprint is low,” he said. 

Protestors started to arrive one-by-one at the location of the failed turbine around 11 am. As they did, chatter over the radio reflected the grievances of the group. “If it’s such a good deal, why is the government subsidizing it?” one asked. “All the equipment is coming from overseas. Even the rocks for scour protection are coming from Canada,” commented another. Protestors also wondered why the broken turbine has yet to be fixed. “They don’t know how to fix it,” responded one boater. 

GE Vernova has factories around the world where it manufactures parts for its turbines. 

A boat seen at the protest with a flag for NEFSA and another that reads “Stop offshore wind.” Another boat held a banner reading “Help us now.”

Shortly after noon, as the group forming around the turbine reached a critical mass, it was announced over the radio that everyone should move into single file and sail in circles around the failed turbined, keeping 500 meters away as required by the U.S. Coast Guard over safety concerns. After about 45 minutes, protestors slowly started splitting off for the journey home, thanking each other for their support over the radio. “It was a very peaceful protest,” said Zarba. 

Vineyard Wind did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.

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22 comments.

When in doubt about Climate-Change and it’s impact: Burn more Gasoline, Diesel and jet fuel. Let the kids figure it out.

1000 acres out of 1,000,000 acres

You are correct. The OSW area being developed is 1,000,000 acres with 1,000 turbines.

I don’t know ,Susan, but you have to twist some numbers or something pretty seriously to get to the point that each monopole is taking up 1,000 acres. That’s about 1 1/2 sq miles per tower. You do know that each one actually takes up less than 500 square ft, right.? Quite the stretch to say that 500 sq ft. is the equivalent of 1 1/2 square miles. There are nearly 42 million square ft in 1.5 square miles. We just had 20 fishing boats playing ring around the rosie out there and nobody ran into one of the towers. Or some other boat. Thanks to all the protestors for leaving the beer at home.

Annoying details. Stick to the NIMBY narrative.

When a protest happens out-of-sight is it also out-of-mind?

The complaints by a group of people who have long used and abused the ocean and now complain about sharing it with others rings so empty.

I will gladly supply tidal energy to provide needed electricity during disassembly of the whirlygigs…no need to steal power from existing grid…the expired tidal power permit for Muskeget Channel will suffice…announce it and financing will appear…this is a chance to do something illuminating before the OSW fiasco gets worse…let me know…acclimate.earth

steve– of course there would not be any environmental issues with an industrial sized tidal project. But it would not be very visible, so I think most people would not mind how many fish it killed. Here is a link to the now shut down bay of Fundy tidal project. I find it interesting that some of the same issues are brought up as the windfarms– EMF fields, thermal pollution. noise. and marine fatalities. https://lfs-mlws-2020.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2021/10/Mengyao-Li-2021-Assessment-and-Mitigation-of-Environmental-Impacts-from-the-Bay-of-Fundy-Tidal-Energy-Development-Atlantic-Canada.pdf Let’s not forget that the bay of Fundy has some serious tides– Just like we have some serious wind.

We have never wanted this enormous industrial field of wind turbines in these waters, for years we fought them and they just keep pushing to erect and are erecting them. The government backs them, with our money, thinking they’re “green”. Just awful! I do not support them!

Do you support oil drilling off the Island’s south coast? Most anywhere out of your sight?

BREAKING NEWS. “Sunday’s protests came just days after a wind turbine at the Dogger Bank Wind Farm off the coast of ENGLAND suffered a blade failure as it was being commissioned. It was the second blade failure at Dogger Bank involving GE Vernova’s Haliade-X turbine, the same model that is being installed by Vineyard Wind in the waters southwest of Nantucket.”

https://maritime-executive.com/article/wind-turbine-blade-fails-on-ge-vernova-turbine-at-uk-dogger-bank-wind-farm

How many wind turbine blades have failed? People killed? Jet engine turbine blades . . . .

We should not ignore the concerns raised here. We all slept through two years of public hearings. If these protestors are correct one hurricane could turn our beaches into an oil covered disaster zone. Whales are already being found dead on shorelines. What will happen when 1000 of these oil turbines are completed?

How many gallons? More than the biggest SSA ferryboat? Buzzards Bay fuel barge?

Fiberglass boats and Styrofoam coolers.

Offshore wind projects have experienced turbulence recently in part due to local resistance but also as a consequence of rising inflation, interest, and material costs which have made long-term contracts no longer viable. Avangrid, an offshore wind subsidiary of Spanish firm Iberdrola, canceled an agreement with Connecticut last year to supply the state electricity from an 804-megawatt project. At the same time, another project in Massachusetts was canceled over similar reasons.

A boat flotilla in protest of Vineyard Wind – The Martha’s Vineyard Times

A boat flotilla in protest of Vineyard Wind – The Martha’s Vineyard Times A group of approximately 15 to 20 boats descended on the Vineyard Wind project site on Sunday afternoon in a sho…

For 2019 through 2022, the analysis showed Berkshire Hathaway Energy had severely turned the tables on the IRS, harvesting $6.1 billion in tax payments from the federal government. And for the first quarter of 2023 things got really silly when BHE reported a negative 163 percent tax rate, meaning the firm literally collected more harvesting tax payments from federal taxpayers ($363 million) than it made in profits for providing electricity ($223 million).

https://capitalresearch.org/article/wind-power-doesnt-make-sense-without-the-tax-credits-part-1/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwz7C2BhDkARIsAA_SZKZh4HZzC1RbBQgcY1wm4AT_MiTxXjCH-01Ze1hF3Yu7WDVtUF3CMsAaArU6EALw_wcB

In 2019, Iowa’s Duane Arnold Energy Center provided more than 5.2 TWh of nuclear power. The facility was shut down the following year. The Palisades nuclear plant on the southeast shore of Lake Michigan was shuttered in 2022, but kicked out 7 TWh of electricity in 2021. And in 2019, the last year both reactors were still operating at full strength, New York’s Indian Point 2 and Indian Point 3 combined to deliver almost 17.5 TWh of nuclear energy.

Add them together and these four recently mothballed nuclear plants, sited on combined real estate of just 1.8 square miles, provided more annual carbon-free energy than all 1,500 square miles of MidAmerican’s Iowa wind turbine fields. Offshore wind projects have experienced turbulence recently in part due to local resistance but also as a consequence of rising inflation, interest, and material costs which have made long-term contracts no longer viable. Avangrid, an offshore wind subsidiary of Spanish firm Iberdrola, canceled an agreement with Connecticut last year to supply the state electricity from an 804-megawatt project. At the same time, another project in Massachusetts was canceled over similar reasons.

Add them together and these four recently mothballed nuclear plants, sited on combined real estate of just 1.8 square miles, provided more annual carbon-free energy than all 1,500 square miles of MidAmerican’s Iowa wind turbine fields. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.rilegislature.gov/Special/comdoc/House%20Corporations%202024/03-21-2024–H7815–Wind%20Farm%20data%20-%20Miles%20Bidwell.pdf The Myth of Wind Farm CO2 reduction By Miles Bidwell Our government, Federal and State, plans to build 872 giant wind turbines off New England. The Myth of Wind Farm CO2 reduction Generating electricity with windfarms causes existing plants to emit more CO2. Generating electricity with wind farms may increase the total amount of emissions and make emissions greater than they are now without the wind farms. Thus, the wind farms and all the environmental damage from building them may have no offsetting benefit at all. Studies in Ireland, the Netherlands, Colorado, and Texas have found that adding wind farms causes the existing fossil plants to produce more CO2 and that as the amount of wind farms increases, the total CO2 becomes more than it would have been with no wind farms (see endnote). I understand that this assertion appears counterintuitive to people who have been inundated by 3 3/26/2024 politicians and media insisting that building wind farms will reduce the amount of carbon in the air. Here is an explanation of how adding windfarms can increase the total amount of CO2 emissions. The fuel efficiency of a generating plant varies the same way as the fuel efficiency of a car varies. A generating plant, or car, is most efficient when it is operating steadily at its most efficient output. When the generating plant is varying its output up and down like a car in traffic, it can use twice as much fuel to generate the same amount of electricity. When it is accelerating rapidly, called ramping, it requires much more fuel. Before windfarms, electricity systems, like that in New England, were designed so that different plants steadily supplied electricity for the number of hours at which they were most efficient like cars driving on a highway. In the following discussion, it is important to remember two important characteristics of electricity: 1) electricity cannot be stored at reasonable cost and not in any significant amount, and 2) the amount of electricity being produced must always exactly equal the amount being consumed or the system collapses causing widespread blackouts. In an electricity system without windmills, the amount of electricity that is consumed at different times is predictable. Each day the system operator estimates how much electricity will be consumed at different times for the next day. This is predictable and stable, and different generators bid to supply the predicted quantity in each period. Almost all the generation is done by plants that are designed to run steadily, as if they were cars on a highway. The addition of windfarms disrupts this efficient process. Windfarms produce electricity that is unpredictably intermittent, and this is what makes windfarms an inferior source of electricity. No one controls how much electricity a windmill produces. The amount produced depends on and varies with the strength of the wind. Recall that the amount of electricity being produced must exactly match the amount being consumed. Since the amount of electricity being consumed is predictable and almost constant at any time, the fossil generating plants now must continually change their outputs to compensate for changes in the wind, including having to 4 3/26/2024 increase output very quickly when the wind drops. This is equivalent to a car changing from driving the speed limit on a highway to driving in traffic with intermittent rapid acceleration. Not only does mileage get very bad, but total wear and tear increases, and the life expectancy of the machine decreases substantially (in Europe some of the most efficient new combined cycle plants (CCGTs) have had to be removed because the frequent changes in output were causing major damage). Etc. Etc. Etc. My paper, among others, “2030 – The Final Illusian” clearly proves that there will be no reduction of Co2 by 2030 or any other date. Fundamental laws of supply and demand forve ever more Co2 as GNP constantly increases. Once we started this world industrial expansion beyond balance we created a Co2 problem that was unstoppable. Offshore Wind is excellent at creating tax reduction opportunities for big business. It is not for real as far as saving our planet. Far to the contrary, it is ruining it in many ways.

The Rest of the Story:

Wind generator facts: This web address is a picture of windmill blades eroding fiberglass particulates. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10233470096439085&set=p.10233470096439085&type=3 Pictures of worn out blades: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2023/09/05/thousands-of-old-wind-turbine-blades-pile-up-in-west-texas/?fbclid=IwY2xjawExv9JleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXjakXFrpk0AlfQTgT1Ir5fSiH6hDdHUmNQSYKmREL1MqLaLZP5cpzL8Iw_aem_arIazapMHR3rIL9VDtQtTA

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=398689343319003&set=a.106275769227030

Active Donald Muckerheide Top contributor I am afraid folks are missing the big picture regarding fiberglass shards in the water. Windmill blades wear out. The reason blades wear out is the constant abrading of the leading edge of the blades. They are filled and repaired until the blade becomes beyond repair. This is a constant source of the finest and sharpest form of microplastics. This pollution is much like that of asbestos in that it never goes away. The scale of this reality can be seen in photos of, and the conversation about, the massive areas of blades being buried in landfills where the bulldozer looks like an ant in comparison to the blades and landfill area. For those who compare this issue to oil, they need to realize that oil is a natural substance that is consumed by aerobic microbes. It does ultimately go away or settle back into its natural environment. Even nuclear waste has a natural life cycle. This glass particulate does not and will destroy the food chain on both farmland and the ocean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=ss0V4vJSFyg&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwY2xjawEyCPlleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHQfGfoMD9s1dJ978hUFQoQw-E1PgyLcDKVoHJZL11yqXlUod9a3hiDWgog_aem_Drb-Y7NQc_LWfcjbu9eiUw

as some here often ask– how much petro was wasted on this one ?

I’ve said it before and I will say it again, the combined actual impact on the surface of the ocean is under one acre. If we want to count the “scour” area, which consist of rocks, we get to about 31 acres. My guess is that rocks will provide a pretty good habitat for many living creatures and those creatures will work their way into the food chain and will ultimately wind up feeding the fish these fisherpersons are looking for. Someone on Islanders talk even complained that the rocks were from Canada. How xenophobic can you get ? I’m not sure how many of those rocks will be involved in a crime, but some of them are , I suppose, good rocks. After all, there are good rocks on both sides of every issue.

Experirnce of water spout. All I know is my 30 foot sloop exploded. The waterspout – (tornado over warwe) grabbed my mast ans twisted it aeouns until it and everything attached to it – steel cables, decking unit it blew up sounding like a massive bomb. Total destruction.

Frank– I have been reading about that yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily in a possible waterspout. I am glad you survived.

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How Much Wind Is too Much for Boating?

Table of Contents

Last Updated on May 24, 2024 by Boatsetter Team

How much wind is too much for boating depends on your boat and your skill level. Vessels less than 25 feet need to head for shore if winds start approaching the 10 miles per hour mark unless they are constructed and equipped for such weather. In this post, we will go over how much wind is too much for boating and other things like: 

Marine weather statements

What’s a strong wind warning for boating, how much wind is too much for fishing.

• Is 10 mph wind bad for boating?

Read all the way through to catch all Pro tips .

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How much wind is too much for boating?

Johnboats, dinghies, skiffs, and even larger powerboats can find themselves in trouble if a wave height reaches 18 inches. When waves reach that height, they can swamp or capsize your boat, and neither is a pleasant experience. Suppose the water is cold or you are out of sight of land and other boaters. In that case, it can be an exceedingly dangerous experience. 

These are some general guidelines for understanding how the wind conditions might affect sailing or boating

• These winds are ideal for most boating activities, including sailing, fishing or cruising
• It’s safe to go boating with small boats and beginner operators
• Experienced boaters can handle such winds with ease
• Small boats may become unstable
• Sailors might find these conditions more challenging, but they are still manageable
• When you are dealing with strong winds, caution is advised for all types of boats
• Small boats should mostly avoid going boating as there’s a high chance for high waves and instability
• Experienced captains in large boats can still operate, but there’s an increased risk
• All recreational boating activities are recommended to be postponed
• Only experienced captains operating large boats should go on the water
• It’s advised to avoid boating

If the wind forecast shows strong winds for your boating day, considering renting a boat with an experienced captain .

How much wind is unsafe for boating?

There is a system in place that helps keep boaters safe. If followed, it will allow you to get off the water before it becomes too dangerous to be there or have the foreknowledge to stay home. Simply put, it depends on your boat, your skill, and the route. For example, if you are sailing, a brisk 20- knot wind may work great if you’re operating a 50-foot sailboat across the ocean.

However, that same 20 miles per hour wind on a smaller sailboat could knock it down, tossing its crew into the water, making for a dangerous situation. Even in calm conditions.

You can find marine weather statements on NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS) . They are issued to advise boaters of current and future weather conditions such as dense fog and high winds and tides . In addition, marine weather statements warn of coming weather that has not yet reached a warning or advisory level.

Pro tip : To better understand marine statements make sure to memorize these key terms:

• Watch – informs mariners when a significant or hazardous weather event is possible, but not imminent during the next 12 to 36 hours.
• Advisory – indicates that a hazardous weather event is coming, imminent, but does not meet warning criteria.
• Warning – alerts mariners that a significant or hazardous weather event is likely, imminent, or occurring, and is a threat to life and property.

Small craft exercise caution

Marine weather statements will indicate a small craft advisory when sustained winds reach the 17–23 mile per hour range.

Small craft advisory

Small craft warnings are announced when sustained winds reach 24 to 38 miles per hour (21 to 33 knots). The notification can also be broadcast if waves are occurring or are expected to occur seven feet in height.

Special marine warning

Special marine warnings are issued when wind conditions reach intermittent gusts of 39 miles per hour and over the water. These warnings generally come from weather conditions caused by thunderstorms. They are also issued when waterspouts have been sighted over water.

Storm warning

Issued once wind speeds reach 55 miles per hour, storm warnings indicate weather generated from a non-tropical storm weather condition.

Gale warning

Gale warnings come out when wind speeds hit 37 miles per hour and are associated with non-tropical storm events. If your boat is less than 40 feet in length, you should be off the water long before the wind hits this velocity. After gales, you reach tropical storm and hurricane wind levels. At this point, boating should be the last thing on your mind.

Pro tip : Always check the forecast before heading out on the water. You can tune into a local news channel, use the weather app, or go to NOAA. Don’t wait until last minute to check either, if your trip is a week out, even two weeks, set a reminder to check the weather. 

Wind speeds above 15 miles per hour can make boating uncomfortable, especially if the wind speed is accompanied by choppy water. In addition, the combination of wave and wind motion could necessitate breaking out the seasick medication for those not accustomed to spending time on boats. Even the saltiest sailors get seasick, though, and an active ocean is a recipe for motion sickness. Boating can become rough and less than enjoyable when the wind and waves act against you. The threat of a seasick crew is the best argument for watching the weather and making your boating outings on fair days.

It depends on the kind of fishing you are doing, your boat, and your experience. For example, a 20-knot wind won’t affect a sizeable offshore powerboat noticeably. However, if you are fishing in a 15-foot skiff, a 20-knot wind can make for rough boating and lousy fishing. Unless your boat is built for heavy water, which some smaller boats are, pleasure boats under the length of 25 feet should head for the dock if the wind reaches ten miles per hour or more.

Of course, the speed of the wind doesn’t always dictate the size of the waves, and open water like the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean can have high waves even when the wind is not high. In these conditions, smaller boats will have difficulty navigating big rolling waves. Larger boats will do fine when big waves are rolling in, but it can get very messy in a hurry if the wind does come up. A confused sea state stirred by wind and water is dangerous for small boats and can even be hard to navigate.

Pro tip : In case of breakdowns on the water, be sure to have a Float Plan. Also, contact TowBoatUS by phone at 1-800-391-4869, or VHF Channel 16: Hail “TowBoatUS,” for assistance. 

Explore water-travel destinations! Find your next trip at Destination guides and other boating resources here .

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Manslaughter considered by Sicily yacht sinking investigators

Italian authorities investigating the deaths of seven people in the sinking of a luxury yacht in Sicily say they are looking into potential crimes of "shipwreck and manslaughter".

They stressed, however, that the investigation was in its initial stages and they were not currently looking at anyone specifically.

UK tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah were among those who died when the Bayesian went down off the coast of Porticello during a storm in the early hours of Monday morning.

It was previously believed the vessel may have sunk because of a waterspout, but the authorities now say the most likely cause was a localised, powerful wind known as a downburst.

The bodies of Jonathan Bloomer, a Morgan Stanley International bank chairman, his wife Judy Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo, and his wife Neda Morvillo were also recovered from the wreckage some 50m (164 ft) down, after days of deep dive searches with little visibility.

The body of Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the superyacht, was recovered at the scene on Monday.

Post-mortems are set to be conducted.

The remaining 15 people who were on board the luxury yacht were rescued.

• The 16 minutes that plunged the Bayesian yacht into a deadly spiral
• 'For two seconds I lost my baby in the sea' - Sicily yacht survivor
• Friend remembers 'genius' and 'genuine' Mike Lynch
• Our church is in shock over yacht couple - vicar

In a press conference on Saturday morning, Ambrogio Cartosio, chief prosecutor of the nearby town of Termini Imerese, said the coastguard had been called at 04:38 local time on Monday but the yacht had already sunk by the time crews had arrived.

Mr Cartosio told journalists he thought it was "probable that offences were committed" surrounding the sinking of the yacht.

He said they will ascertain whether the captain, crew, individuals in charge of supervision, the ship-builder, or others could bear responsibility.

"We will establish each element's responsibility - that will be done by the inquiry, so we can't do that prematurely," he said.

"For me, it is probable that offences were committed - that it could be a case of manslaughter - but we can only establish that if you give us the time to investigate.”

Raffaele Macauda, deputy commander of the Palermo coastguard, said the weather at the time of the yacht's sinking was abnormal, adding there were forecasts of winds and a storm alert.

There was no alert of a tornado, the deputy commander said.

Mr Macauda said: "Given that the conditions were such, there wasn't anything to suggest there could be an extreme situation arising.

"There are vessels that can monitor, after all, these events and one would have thought that the captain had taken precautions."

Deputy Prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano told journalists the Italian Air Force had confirmed the sinking was most likely caused by a downburst.

A downburst is a localised, powerful wind that descends from a thunderstorm, spreading out rapidly upon hitting the ground.

Girolamo Bentivoglio Fiandra from Palermo’s fire brigade said the Bayesian sank stern-first and then rolled onto its right side.

He explained that as a result, the victims then sought refuge in cabins on the left side of the vessel where “the last air bubbles formed”.

Local officials said they are looking into why some people on board were able to flee the vessel and others were not.

Speaking on behalf of the divers, Mr Fiandra said about 70 people were involved in an "intense" search operation each day, with 123 dives undertaken in total.

"We were operating at 50 metres depth and ... there was very little visibility due to the weather conditions," he said.

One of the divers involved in the operation told the media it was "difficult" getting into the yacht's cabins and it required "very lengthy periods to remove obstacles" through them.

Mr Macauda said the coastguard is conducting in-depth environmental monitoring.

He adds that the owner of the Bayesian has expressed an interest in recovering the vessel from the sea floor, but the timing of this was uncertain.

Some experts have estimated it could take eight weeks to recover the yacht.

An official said the Italian authorities did not have the "exact information" about the yacht's black box - a device that can record data including a ship's position, speed, radar information, and sometimes audio.

Passengers on board the yacht were understood to have been celebrating Mr Lynch's acquittal in a US fraud case.

The businessman, who founded software giant Autonomy in 1996, was cleared in June of carrying out fraud relating to its $11bn (£8.64bn) sale to US company Hewlett Packard.

Andrew Kanter, a close friend to Mr Lynch, said he was the “most brilliant" and "caring person I have ever known”.

Meanwhile, friends of his daughter, Hannah, have described the 18-year-old as a "warm and beautiful soul", while teachers have praised her "sky-high intellectual ability".

In a statement, the Bloomer family described Jonathan and Judy Bloomer as "incredible people and an inspiration to many".

"Our only comfort is that they are still together now," the statement said.

Tributes paid to Mike Lynch and daughter Hannah after bodies found

The Essence of Small Ship Sailing

Wind Spirit is a sleek, 4-masted sailing yacht accommodating 148 guests. With four decks and a gross tonnage of 5,736, Wind Spirit feels like your own private yacht.

Wind Spirit features wide open, teak decks—quite unusual for small ships. Guests will find hidden nooks for private moments giving them a feeling of being on their own private veranda.

All staterooms have ocean views, queen beds, and flat-screen TV with DVD player. The Owner’s Suite includes a sitting area.

Wind Spirit offers two primary dining venues. Amphora restaurant offers gourmet, course-by-course cuisine in the evenings and Veranda restaurant offers casual buffet and full-service dining for breakfast and lunch. All dining is open seating. And, for dining under the stars, make a reservation for Candles which features steaks and skewers.

Wind Spirit amenities include: World Spa by Windstar, Watersports Platform, Lounge, Library, Pool, and Hot Tub.

Windstar has always been known for our iconic sailing ships, and now we are embarking on a multi-year refresh of the Wind Class ships. The initiative, Setting Sails: A Wind Class Refresh , brings the tight-knit connection of the Windstar community to the forefront through the redesign of public spaces and staterooms. From a revamped lobby to a new pool and larger pool bar, new World Spa by Windstar to a redesigned lounge, this initiative also includes intricate details like new teak decks and décor for a timeless and welcoming experience. Wind Spirit will complete her redesign in 2025.

Queen Size Bed with Luxurious Linens Waffle Weave Robe and Slippers TV with DVD Player Fully Stocked Mini Bar/Refrigerator Safe L'Occitane Bath Amenities Fresh Fruit Hair Dryers and 110/220 outlets Wi-Fi (internet cards can be purchased at reception) Bathroom with granite countertop and shower Granite vanity with magnifying mirror

• CAPACITY: 148 Guests
• STATEROOMS: 73 deluxe ocean view staterooms
• OWNERS SUITE: 1 ocean view owner’s suite
• DECKS: 4 decks
• CREW:  101 international staff
• SHIP'S REGISTRY: Bahamas
• LENGTH: 360 feet (110 meters) at waterline; 440 feet (134 meters) including bowsprit
• DRAFT: 14 feet (4.1 meters)
• TONNAGE: 5,703 gross registered tons (grt)
• BEAM: 52.1 feet (15.8 meters)
• SAILS: 6 triangular, self-furling, computer-operated sails with 21,500 square feet (or 2,200 square meters) of Dacron surface area
• MASTS: 4 at 204 feet (62 meters)
• ENGINES: 3 diesel electric generating sets, 1 electrical propulsion motor
• SPEED: 10 knots with engines only; up to 15.8 knots with prevailing wind

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