[jasonwatkinspdx]

You're spot on. I've followed this topic area for some years out of curiosity. Saildrone style wingsails only require a very small electric actuator to move a control surface. The control surface sets the overall net angle of attack of the assembly. The wing tracks the wind, only needing the control surface changed as the bow crosses the wind.

A system like this can be entirely labor free.

Tall ships on the other hand... I don't care how many electric winches you have, they'll always require massive numbers of people for sail handling.