[alancalverd]

Alas, no. Friction and inertia are not the problem. It's all a matter of conservation of energy, the lack of appreciation of which seems to run through all your posts!

The maximum power you can extract from a windmill at a given air speed, depends on the swept area of the sails. Adding more or better generators will not affect the speed of the wind or the density of the air.

[nicephotog]

Alas, no. Friction and inertia are not the problem. It's all a matter of conservation of energy, the lack of appreciation of which seems to run through all your posts!

The maximum power you can extract from a windmill at a given air speed, depends on the swept area of the sails. Adding more or better generators will not affect the speed of the wind or the density of the air.

What you said is liken-able in every metaphorical detail to "Astronauts cannot train in water tanks or air suspension for weightlessness" , However, NASA spends billions training them that way!

For example, "conserve energy" and this topic "Harness wind and wave power" with regard to friction, inertia, gearing, fly-wheeling and the effortlessness of rotation because it does not particularly respond to gravity, only inertia and friction.
So in theory, you can use three angled paddle-pop sticks to start one of those wind generators out there in the ocean farm, it will simply take much longer(because there is very little input harnessed)!
NB: Fly-wheeling conserves energy, so also free spinning(disengaging the throughput drive train) if the vacuum on the blades reverses by either wind direction or blade speed exceeding volume sweep balances.
Things that spin(for this purpose), do not really have a weight, ONLY inertia and friction.

[alancalverd]

How sad that every scientist and engineer has got it wrong all these years. All you need to extract unlimited power from a gentle breeze is lots of oil on your bearings, and once it starts rotating you can get rid of the supporting mast!