New Menaces to Navigation?

[RaymondR]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

There are already plenty of pipelines, fibre optic cables, and power cables - including a power cable between Victoria and Tasmania https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basslink - on the seabed both in Bass Strait and around the world.
They simply have 'prohibited anchoring' zones near the shore.

One reason for a windfarm just off the Gippsland coast in that area is that is handy for the existing Victorian power grid based on the Latrobe Valley coal fired power stations.

It is also well inshore and off the beaten track for yachts heading to or from Wilsons Prom towards Gabo/NSW.

The real world experience with these things is that they only achieve capacity factors generally between 10%-30% which then has to be backed up by gas fired turbine generators. The Denmark experience is the one most quoted as it has a slightly higher factor and is backed up by extensive Norwegian hydro. The extensive wind farms in Texas actually only average less than 10% (capacity factor is the actual production divided by the name plate capacity)

In view of the real world experience, why clutter up a piece of perfectly good and beautiful ocean with ugly navigational hazards?

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

The real world experience with these things is that they only achieve capacity factors generally between 10%-30% which then has to be backed up by gas fired turbine generators. The Denmark experience is the one most quoted as it has a slightly higher factor and is backed up by extensive Norwegian hydro. The extensive wind farms in Texas actually only average less than 10% (capacity factor is the actual production divided by the name plate capacity)

In view of the real world experience, why clutter up a piece of perfectly good and beautiful ocean with ugly navigational hazards?

Cause it’s better then cluttering up peoples visual skyline and consuming scenic areas with “ ugly” as you say. Out at sea beyond the sight lines , few are affected by” ugly “ as dolphins have not yet been asked for their opinion

The “ backup “ argument is being mitigated by other firms of renewables including large grid battery storage, pumped storage , and of course international super grid connections . The gas fired station requirement is being mitigated and will disappear in time

[RaymondR]

My prediction is that folks will eventually get sick of freezing in the dark in never, never land and vote for politicians who will build nukes, or rebuild coal fired stations and we will be done with the damned things and the useless gesturing at the alter of renewables.

For my part I will continue to live on a boat, maintain my solar farm and gas driven battery charger, change to lithium batteries as they become cheaper, cruise to the tropics in winter, and live happily ever after.

[Wotname]

Dunno for sure about the navigational dangers of wind farms at sea but it is a good topic to discuss on a cruising focussed forum.

However we are sailing dangerously close to the shoals of non-relevant political comment which will surely scupper the thread. Tack now to avoid these unforgiving rocks. The light you see ahead is the lighthouse, not a ship to play chicken with.

Note - blue text on the chart indicates 'moderator notes'

[thesaltytar]

Originally Posted by seandepagnier

...The other issue besides damage is sailboats blocking wind and thus stealing power from the turbines and for this reason many people who invested in wind power think boats should have to use the motor when passing upwind of the turbines and not be allowed to deploy sails.

I'm sorry, I might have stumbled into the wrong yacht-owner's forum... but how tall are your masts?

[Jim Cate]

^^^^

I think a class action suit against the windfarms is called for, 'cause they are stealing wind from all sailboats downwind of the farm.

Seriously, we all know about dirty air caused by sails, commonly used as a tactic by racing yachts... and it is noticeable as much as several boat lengths away from the "dirtying" yacht. Ridiculous to think it would influence a production turbine. How do people come up with such ideas?

Jim

[thesaltytar]

Maybe we can just radio in and have them all back feed their batteries for a bit and give us a little "boost." [emoji6]

[RaymondR]

Originally Posted by thesaltytar

Maybe we can just radio in and have them all back feed their batteries for a bit and give us a little "boost." [emoji6]

Brilliant idea mate, they'd probably do a better job of that than powering the grid.

[flightlead404]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

yes but the big issue is the availability of elevated sites , people do not want ALL their mountains covered in wind turbines

there's always a degree of NIMBYism , but offshore gets around that

That and there's the issue of the where the cable comes up on shore and of course the ongoing access/eassment around that cabling. That issue is causing a big stick in NY state right now.

[seandepagnier]

Originally Posted by thesaltytar

Maybe we can just radio in and have them all back feed their batteries for a bit and give us a little "boost." [emoji6]

Consider if every roof were covered with solar.. then if there is excess power from solar on a windless day, perhaps the turbines could be used to create a breeze, not just to cool towns, but help sailboats along.

[thesaltytar]

Originally Posted by seandepagnier

Consider if every roof were covered with solar.. then if there is excess power from solar on a windless day, perhaps the turbines could be used to create a breeze, not just to cool towns, but help sailboats along.

... just like that the windmills went from being menaces to navigation.... To aids to navigation. (Narrated by Morgan Freeman) [emoji106]

[gsuescum]

Any more of a nav hazard than these things?

[parkstone bay]

Oh, dear, it's degenerated into a pro/anti wind farm debate.
As far as yotties are concerned - strictly as yotties - the establishment of a wind farm, or the establishment of an oil drilling establishment, or the building of a jetty, or the decommissioning of a facilty, whatever, all mean we should keep outside any exclusion area and obey the local rules.
If we, as citizens, disagree with the building of a windfarm, or of an oil facilty, or of a marina, we can voice our disagreement through the agreed processes. Sensible citizens don't break the law.

[RNWilson]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

The image illustrates one of the offshore areas proposed to be designated for wind farms in Bass Strait off the south eastern coast of Australia. The eastern side of this is where a number of boats were lost and fatalities occurred during the Sydney to Hobart yacht race a couple of decades ago.

There are others dotted around the Australian coast.

Will these things become a menace to yachtmen in the future?

Just put numbers on them and they instantly become an aid to navigation!

[Happ]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

The image illustrates one of the offshore areas proposed to be designated for wind farms in Bass Strait off the south eastern coast of Australia. The eastern side of this is where a number of boats were lost and fatalities occurred during the Sydney to Hobart yacht race a couple of decades ago.

There are others dotted around the Australian coast.

Will these things become a menace to yachtmen in the future?

Of course to some degree. They are large sand fixed in the water. Much smaller though then an Oil Platform. They can be charted and lit though as I am sure they will be.

The boats lost in the Sydney Hobart race were due to storms. I’m not sure how you think these two compare?