What happens when this parachute sail gets tangled up and goes into the water in stormy seas? Then it becomes what is called a "sea anchor." And the ship must drag it all the way to port, or cut it loose and let it sink.
Using the wind to travel the seas is such new technology that it cannot be trusted. It's just too dangerous. We must keep burning bunker fuel to bring cheap plastic Chinese crap to the first world.
It's only used on good days. Which is most days of sea travel.
or wind shifts 90 degrees and ship tilts and cargo containers slide off of ship is my first thought. Better off just using a turbine to produce electricity from wind coming from any direction then use that to produce power instead. Wonder what effect a lightening bolt would have on that since ships produce a charge from the hull when traveling through salt water then that charge should attract lightening in my view with a long line to have it engulf the ship in extreme voltage.
or it hits the water, tears, then clogs up the actual propellers. Ship disabled.
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