Transatlantic mail under sail

30 June 2026

Starting next year, international shipping giant DHL plans to transport certain products from Europe to the United States using a new wind-powered vessel: VELA.

Finding an optimal client for a sailing cargo vessel proved to be hard. But Vela has hit the jackpot! Windassist published a few previous posting; see below. Inspired by yacht racing, the modernized craft is made primarily of aluminum and carbon fiber and travels at around 14 knots. IThe three-hulled desig increases stability and helps it cut through open ocean swells.

Atlantic in two weeks

Though an improvement from sailboats of previous generations, VELA’s massive ship isn’t exactly what most would call lightning fast. At 16 miles per hour, it’s no match for air freight, which crosses the Atlantic in a matter of hours. Traditional container ships, while slower than planes, typically follow fixed routes and can make the crossing in about nine days. VELA, a sleek vessel that’s guided by wind, will travel alternative routes and may take up to 15 days. By the way, sailing cargo ships will have to take Columbus’s findings into account; ‘a round trip across the Atlantic clockwise.’ From Europe down south ‘until the butter melts,’ then westward and then north along the American east coast. That route is quite a bit longer than the trip back to Europe. It’s remains unclear whether the ’15 days’ refers to the eastbound or the westbound route.

DHL is hoping that the lack of blazing speed won’t be an issue for certain customers selling higher-end products that don’t necessarily need to reach their destination in an Amazon Prime-level hurry. The goods most likely to make the sailboat journey include wine, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

“The potential of wind-powered cargo vessels lies in their application on selected trade corridors where demand for lower-emission transport solutions is increasing,.The primary objective is to expand the range of transport options available to our customers, enabling them to choose solutions that best fit their priorities,” DHL adds.

Carbon reduction

DHL’s interest in VELA’s sailboat stems from a push to find new ways to reduce carbon emissions. International shipping is a significant source of greenhouse gases, accounting for around 3 percent of all global carbon dioxide emissions. And while electrification and sustainable fuels have started to address emissions in cars and planes, shipping has remained stubbornly tied to heavy fuel oil. It is cheaper than more refined alternatives, but far more environmentally harmful because it produces high levels of black carbon and sulfur dioxide, both of which are linked to increased risk of heart and lung disease.. DHL, for its part, has pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Most of that transition will likely come through cleaner shipping fuels, but wind-powered options like VELA boat could help fill in some gaps.

Design brief

Founded in 2023, VELA claims that it has created the first sailing cargo ship with three hulls specially designed for freight transport. Most recreational sailboats have a single hull or double hull, but the company’s trimaran design brings added stability. This extra stability is crucial for the long transatlantic journey and also allows for a wider base, so the boat can support particularly large sails. When extended, the sail area comes out to 6,705 square feet. The mast is made of carbon fiber and the sails use high-performance fabric, both choices borrowed from racing yacht design.

The boat’s propulsion system runs almost entirely on wind, save for a small engine it uses to navigate within ports. Solar panels on the deck power electricity for the crew and help keep certain cargo like pharmaceuticals climate controlled. The ship’s reliance on wind means, by necessity, it won’t follow the same standard routes cargo ships typically travel. Instead, like early transatlantic sailors, its path will be dictated by natural guiding winds.

Though DHL is specifically seeking out VELA to provide more environmentally sustainable shipping options, the sailboat design offers some other potential upsides. For starters, its smaller and lighter design means the sailboat can access smaller ports. That’s important because the handful of major ports large enough to support full-scale cargo ships are bottlenecked and experience a constant backlog. By accessing smaller ports more off the beaten path, VELA’s sailboat can load and unload cargo much faster.
Relying on wind for propulsion means the boat will also generate far less noise pollution than cargo ships, which is good news for whales and other marine life. Its mostly aluminum body means it’s also easier to recycle once it reaches the end of its life cycle.

Previous postings for Vela in Windassist
Project Start
Transatlantic Trimaran

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