Stability observation wind area

Last summer we had to transport a jack-up rig from asia to europe. I noticed that due to the large wind area (the leges were 160m high). We always had a bit of heal due to the wind. When the wind and waves increased the heel got bigger but it also seemed that the large wind area stabilised the rolling.

In the Netherlands we fit small sails on little boats to stabilise them.
http://goo.gl/jKrOuL

Question:
Would it have a positive effect to fit a sail on a merchant ship to decrease accelleration forces??

 

Steadying sails.

 

My brother in law was a chief engineer with Smit tugs. He once delivered a big rig across the Gulf of Mexico. He had the legs welded to the deck. In bad weather the legs started ripping the deck off as the boat rolled. Not sure how much steadying sails would have helped!

I know car transporter ships can throttle down when in the trade winds as they become wind assisted

RW

 

Which would mean they are still "trade winds" !