Sailing through a wind farm may end shortly

[Concerto]

If the pilot installation of a floating solar farm off Ostend works, then many wind farms may use the sea as a suitable base for additional electrical generation.

Floating solar panels to be trialled in North Sea - Marine Industry News

 

[Dukester52]

Clever idea, but will those panels really be able to ride out a rough sea?

 

[Sandy]

What a brilliant idea.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

If the pilot installation of a floating solar farm off Ostend works, then many wind farms may use the sea as a suitable base for additional electrical generation.

Floating solar panels to be trialled in North Sea - Marine Industry News

Provided they don’t put them across obvious routes, I think it’s a good idea. Personally I avoid wind farms like the plague. I suppose motor cruisers don’t mind them so much.

 

[Blueboatman]

In principle I like the joined up thinking
I would expect some of it to become unjointed -such is R n D- before they get it about right

 

[ylop]

Provided they don’t put them across obvious routes, I think it’s a good idea. Personally I avoid wind farms like the plague. I suppose motor cruisers don’t mind them so much.

I’ve always assumed there was an exclusion zone around wind farms - I’ve never seen anyone sail (or motor) through one.

 

[Lightwave395]

I’ve always assumed there was an exclusion zone around wind farms - I’ve never seen anyone sail (or motor) through one.

Sailed through the one off the Freisan Islands a few years ago - somewhat eerie in the early hours, also sailed past both sides of the new one being built off St Nazaire in May, plenty of warnings to keep well clear in all the local marinas

 

[Minerva]

That’s a really good news story - there should be a good symbiotic relationship between solar and wind to increase the capacity factor!

 

[bluerm166]

There are now also offshore mussel farms to avoid off Nieuport ,Belgium and off Schevingen ,Netherlands.
That off Nieuport is 5 kms off and currently a square kilometre ,with ability to extend to 4.Marked by large yellow buoys but may not yet be on the charts.

There are warning posters in the sailing clubs - 'if you damage our installation we will take damages from your vessel ! '
The mussels grow on suspended ropes ,with the longitudinal lines marked as per swimming lanes that the small boat tending can pass between.
There are similar in the UK which some may have already noted.

 

[dgadee]

Enclosures again?

 

[Concerto]

I thought that it was already illegal for boats to enter wind farms in Holland and Belgium. Currently we can sail in wind farms in the UK.

 

[westhinder]

There are now also offshore mussel farms to avoid off Nieuport ,Belgium and off Schevingen ,Netherlands.
That off Nieuport is 5 kms off and currently a square kilometre ,with ability to extend to 4.Marked by large yellow buoys but may not yet be on the charts.

There are warning posters in the sailing clubs - 'if you damage our installation we will take damages from your vessel ! '
The mussels grow on suspended ropes ,with the longitudinal lines marked as per swimming lanes that the small boat tending can pass between.
There are similar in the UK which some may have already noted.

The one off Nieuwpoort is in a most inconvenient spot, while there is so much room further off the harbour.

 

[savageseadog]

I've sailed through the Liverpool Bay wins farms many times.

For those that sail in that neck of the woods, the Gwynt y Mor farm is to be extended West soon, more or less reaching the Great Orme. You won't be able to sail through the construction area
Plans to extend North Wales' offshore windfarm to be submitted

 

[WindyWindyWindy]

They used to allow commercial fishing boats to trawl through them. There were tips on the kingfisher site about what to do if your gear got stuck.

Which is the other thing this would create, absolutely massive fish havens the length of Britain. Which would be excellent.

 

[Neeves]

For those of you that have solar panels (or live in houses exposed to the sea or ocean) - keeping them (or windows) clean is the solution to maximising efficiency. Its going to be expensive to keep panels clean at sea, I can think of birds and salt being major issues. Birds can be discouraged by wires strung tightly across the panels - removing salt - more difficult (or expensive).

If someone has the solution to keeping panels clean - air it. We spend time keeping ours clean - and our display is slightly smaller than the ones they are probably proposing.

Jonathan

 

[michael_w]

Won't the solar panels be badly affected by the shadows thrown by the turbines?

 

[Wansworth]

What happens to a coaster with engine failure drifting in aNE gale?

 

[Pete7]

If you had an electric yacht, could you rock up and plug in for a few hours, bit like a motorway service station?

 

[Concerto]

What happens to a coaster with engine failure drifting in aNE gale?

He gets even more brownie points than usual.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

He gets even more brownie points than usual.

Or perhaps browner trousers.