Alcyone is a ship launched at La Rochelle in 1985 for the Cousteau Society. Alcyone was created as an expedition ship and to test the operation of a new kind of marine propulsion system, the turbosail. Alcyones two turbosails augment its diesel engines. Since the accidental sinking of , Alcyone has been the Cousteau Society's expedition vessel. Alcyone in popular culture John Denver wrote a short song called "Alcyone The Wind" as a tribute to Alcyone. The song was sung in the 1993 documentary Secret Societies of Dolphins and Whales. References External links Cousteau Society's ship page for the Alcyone Jean-Charles Nahon (Naval Architect Bureau Mauric) and Bernard Deguy (First captain of Alcyone): Experience with sail assisted propulsion: the Alcyone (presentation slides, 2013. PDF, 13 MB) Description of Turbosail 1985 ships Research vessels of France Marine propulsion Wind-powered vehicles Jacques Cousteau