This is just an unresearched idea so no for of feasibility, but what about helical windmills to generate electricity to augment power to a motor, ala hybrid gasoline/electric cars?
Recall how slaves were transported from Africa to the Americas.
How gold was transported from the South America to Europe and sugar from the Caribbean.
And not forgetting how opium was transported to China by the Europeans from India.
So transporting stuff by sail is definitely not “unresearched” rather it is a forgotten technology.