[dancottrell]

The vehicle is limited to ground effect due to regulatory limitations and because it provides efficiency benefits but not physically. There are different classifications of WIGs, class B allows for hops over things so this could be a future option. In reality a sailboat is a pretty easy thing to avoid. Since its basically flat on the water, there aren't many large obstructions to line of sight and something like a sailboat is moving much slower relative to seagliders. It will be a simple “see and avoid” maneuver with ample time to react!

[wthalheimer]

To be clear, seagliders are limited to ground effect in that it is physically impossible for the captain to remove the vehicle from ground effect. The flight control system locks the vehicle to within a wingspan of the surface.

[schoen]

What would happen aerodynamically if your vehicles got out of ground effect? Would they stall pretty much immediately?

[roflyear]

Either recreational boating has to be eliminated or your thing will never work.

[roflyear]

180mph is insanely fast on the water. A sailboat even as big as it is will be hard to spot.