They have motors but switch to wind power when its windy enough?
Also how do they have electricity on board? gas generators?
thanks\
chris
Probably fuel. Then use nature's wind like the ancient sailors.
Spiders eat Internet Trolls...
yes most sailing ships have an inboard diesel engine turning a prop. it's used for getting in and out of port and for emergencies and basically whatever. that same motor provides power much the same way a car does.
shareModern sailboats have a motor which provides power to get in and out of port (and passages requiring a lot of manueverability). The engines run on diesel fuel, but obviously there's a limited supply so you can't get all that far on fuel, but wind will take you to the end of the world and back.
The electricity aboard the Albatross ran off batteries. The engine is run once per day to recharge them, pretty much the same way a car battery recharges.
There is nothing quite like being on a large sailboat, cutting that engine for the first time and letting the wind fill the sails. With the right wind, there's just a whomp as the sails catch it and you take off like a rocket.