Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
h a l f b a k e r y
I think this would be a great thing to not do.

idea: add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, random

meta: news, help, about, links, report a problem

account: browse anonymously, or get an account and write.

user:
pass:
register,


             

Tetherboat

Boat + hot air balloon. A sport and a vehicle!
  (+3)
(+3)
  [vote for,
against]

Winds aloft forecasts show that only 500 feet above the ground, once you get outside of the surface friction zone, winds often pick up to 25kts or higher. The idea is simple: take a sailboat and remove the sails. Attach a winch to the deck and release a massive hot air balloon thousands of feet into the air on a Dyneema tether. Adjust the altitude of the balloon to find the highest winds, profit. I picture teams racing against each other by inventing sail/balloon combos and tethers that could reach the jetstream.

Yes, steering might be an issue.

DIYMatt, Aug 15 2012

a rather picturesque version Spinnaker_27s_20Dream
[FlyingToaster, Aug 15 2012]

[link]






       Does the balloon lift its own fuel tanks, or does the fuel line run up the tether?
8th of 7, Aug 15 2012
  

       //remove the sails// and everything else except the keelboard. Stick some sails onto the balloon, like petals on a daisy.
FlyingToaster, Aug 15 2012
  

       Yeah, there would be trouble going upwind if you use a hot air balloon, but why not use a kite. Of course then you're just doing kite surfing on a much larger scale.
scad mientist, Aug 15 2012
  

       In this context, kites are Baked.
8th of 7, Aug 15 2012
  

       got one of those <link>
FlyingToaster, Aug 15 2012
  
      
[annotate]
  


 

back: main index

business  computer  culture  fashion  food  halfbakery  home  other  product  public  science  sport  vehicle