Christian Nally's News

I think the only Disney film I've ever looked forward to seeing was Bambi, for it's June 20, 1975 release. I was four years old.

Well, I've got another to add to the list: Morning Light.

I'm not a movie-ista by any stretch, but I can imagine this film going reasonably well, or horribly wrong. Got any predictions?

Following my nose around the internet a little, I've discovered a rather cool utility that gives you up to the 'several minutes ago' weather info for wide regions in southern BC, thanks to a grid of sensors hosted at the region's schools.

Here are the links to get you started.

• Gulf Islands windspeed
• Gulf Islands All variables
• Southern Vancouver Island

For all you British Columbia sailors out there, if you're interested in seeing the very latest data (the update time is something like every 10 minutes). I don't think it would be that hard to receive this onto your cell phone in the middle of the race (iPhone, &c.). That's a hot tip for the upcoming 'Round Salt Spring Race.

Perhaps this'll help me improve my "last finisher" result in the recent Salt Spring Island "No Flying Sails" race. :-)

Unless all the other racers read this blog, and bring their cell phones for wind maps.

For many hundreds of years, goods were transported around the globe on sailing ships.

But with both environmental and financial pressure on our consumption of fossil fuels, finding niche applications for wind powered transport is turning us towards a world where "everything old is new again".

Today I collect a couple of stories that have crossed my screen in the last little while.

Wine improves with age, so why bother wasting energy on hydrodynamic friction? With good planning, we can wait for its arrival. That's the logic behind this modern day sailing as shipping endeavor.

But let's assume that you need to use your current fleet of oil sucking speedsters? Is there any hope? Why certainly, good reader, just grab an admittedly high tech freighter kite. One of the innovations here is to capture winds much higher above the water than those grabbed by mast held sails. Wind speed is higher up there. Engineers expect to save as much as 35% of fuel costs this way.

Go Sailing Go! Could it be that we could support Galiano's new coffee roasting outfit with occasional trips from from our distributors down south? Sign me up!