Sailing ships

In the oil crisis of 1974, many of our senior management thought the end of the world was nigh. One of the interesting ideas talked about at the time was would it not be possible to replace engine driven cargo ships and tankers by sailing ships again. The idea seems to have died away although if the price of bunker fuel rises too far - say if crude oil goes above US$100/200 per barrel -- then it seems to me that wind power might indeed come back and be competitive. The old clipper ships travelling at 16 knots were much more beautiful than anything existing today!
I detect a certain scepticism that could happen, but there may just be too many vested interests in present assets to promote a new sailing ship! The figures seem to be consumption of 150 million tons of bunker fuel per year costing about US$350 per ton and a cargo ship would use 300 tons of fuel per day going at 24 knots but no doubt that needs checking in more detail.

In the old days sailing ships were quite unreliable and could becalmed for weeks on a voyage home from China (with tea). Today however weather forecasts would be very accurate and a sailing ship could look for the best winds. On board computers would plot the course. Although wind would be the power, nevertheless the idea would be to place two small (diesel) engines at the bow and stern for manouevering in port ( and occasionally on a voyage if there was no wind). Finally the new technology for wind vanes (now used for wind mills) might mean that aluminium vertical vanes would replace canvas sails. After a brief discussion of sailing ships in 1974, the whole idea has lapsed. I still believe that sailing ships will come back if oil prices climb too high and one wonders what research is taking place at the moment. The other aspect is of course that pollution from burning bunker fuel is slowly destroying the atmosphere. Any body got any ideas on bringing back the sailing ship?