Abstract: A sail support and control system designed for use as sail assist propulsion on a cargo vessel.The system provides complete powered control of the amount of exposed sail, the angle of the sail in relation to the vessel, and clew outhaul and downhaul tension so that no manual handling of rigging is required.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, wrapping packages of different sizes in thin-gage film and heat sealing the film includes transporting the package at the same horizontal level through the machine, pulling the film down across a horizontal in-line package path to form a vertical wall of film, pushing the article along the path forwardly into the wall of film, forming a tubular loop of film about the package with the loop open at the rearward end, severing the film, closing and sealing the rearward end of the loop, stretching, and/or underfolding the film, and heat sealing the package. The length of film needed to wrap packages of randomly different sizes is sensed and fed automatically. A trailing-end portion of over-lapping film of preselected fixed length, irrespective of the size of the particular package, is provided at the rearward edge of the package. This over-lapping trailing portion is heat sealed and then pushed against the back of, or under, the package.