Either submarine or above the water.

I just recived feedback from someone with a lot of sailing experience about our design, spot on. Thanks dear Elliot Siemon.

The red flag to me is the low profile - quite idyllic, lily pad-ish, but not only will the entire colony will be swamped in the most average gale it will be extremely difficult to keep in one location or move where you want to go.

Two possibilities: either go more submarine, a few feet below the surface or higher, like use hulls of ships connected via stand-off flexible struts. Ship hulls can be oriented in one direction so that when you need to move, it will be possible to do so, either by sail or by fuel derived from waste. That parachute would be difficult to make work; winds often are inconsistent and it would be difficult to keep airborne and/or the prevailing winds might not be blowing in the direction you need to go. Old ship hulls might not be as idyllic, but more sea worthy; the best thing might be sailing ships, because they are already rigged; the decks can be modified to be flat and more usable for farming and easier to get around on; between the hulls would be passage ramps, and of course there will have to be a sturdy fence around all perimeters.

There is a news report of heavy storm waves breaking the windows of a large cruise ship and killing two passengers.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35706695/ 

Even something as large as two football field long shielded ship is not be safe.

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