Very large sail-based ships are making a comeback for the first time since the invention of the steam engine (link). Cruise ships use up massive amounts of fuel, and have terribly inefficient and polluting engines due to a lack of emissions law out at sea.
Enter the sailing cruise ship. Built much like large sailing ships, only larger. Optionally, all passenger areas could pivot along the axis of the boat and be controlled by a large wind powered motor. This will keep the water in the pool during high winds.-- Worldgineer, Oct 07 2005 The Athena http://www.yachtfor...t=3738&page=1&pp=15289 feet in length, with a 36 foot beam. [Worldgineer, Oct 07 2005] SEDOV http://eng.mstu.edu.ru/sedov/THE WORLD'S LARGEST TRADITIONAL TRAINING TALL SHIP [skinflaps, Oct 07 2005] The Kaiwo Maru-110.9 metres (361-feet) http://sailing-ship....net/kaiwo-maru.jpgBuilt of steel in Uraga to replace the previous Kaiwo Maru as a schoolship for the Japanese merchant marine. She was rigged as a four-masted barque carrying royals over double top- and topgallant sails, and was equipped with an auxiliary engine. [skinflaps, Oct 07 2005] Star Clippers Tall Ships http://www.starclippers.com/index_en.html"Perfect for cruising in casual elegance", "our new flagship the Royal Clipper, the largest fully rigged sailing ship in the world today" [half, Oct 08 2005] Royal Clipper http://www.starclippers.com/ships_rc.html42 sails, 439 ft., 227 passengers, 18949 sq. ft of open deck, 3 swimming pools [half, Oct 08 2005] A large tall ship then?
linky-- skinflaps, Oct 07 2005 You're getting close. But looking at Carnival's ships, they are typically about 900' long and a more boxy shape than sailing ships, resulting in much more volume. No, we'll need something really big.-- Worldgineer, Oct 07 2005 Something I've wondered about is the possibility of using today's large scale wind turbines on a big ship. There's a wind farm being planned near my home town where the turbine blades will have a sweep area equivalent to the wingspan of a 747 - and power output in the megawatt range.-- Adze, Oct 08 2005 I know there are cruises on sailing ships. (link 1) I guess this idea is actually about building a big ol' sailboat.
Keep the water in *the* pool? You're thinking too small world. (link B)-- half, Oct 08 2005 //the turbine blades will have a sweep area equivalent to the wingspan of a 747//
Are you pondering upon the thought of being "blown off course" [Adze]?-- skinflaps, Oct 08 2005 No idea / good idea. One or the other. Or both.-- wagster, Oct 08 2005 random, halfbakery