Abstract: The invention relates to a floating maritime vessel including at least one hull beneath a deck, the hull extending between a bow and a stern in a longitudinal direction of the vessel, the vessel including, on its lower part, a removable keel and, on its upper part, a conning tower erected above the deck, the keel being able to be descended below the hull and raised back through the hull, the keel including a lower end and an upper end, the upper end of the keel connecting to the hull when the keel is in its lowered position. According to the invention, the conning tower contains a keel-storage space and the keel and the keel-storage space of the conning tower are aligned such that the keel can be raised by upward translation at least partly into the keel-storage space of the conning tower.

Abstract: A multi-hitch receiver assembly adapted for use on a trailer comprising a main frame that is adapted to be secured to the trailer, a means for securing the main frame to the trailer, and at least one receiver box assembly. The at least one receiver box assembly comprises a first member that is adapted to be secured to the main frame, a second member that is adapted to removably secure a first cargo carrier and is secured to the first member, and a third member that is adapted to removably secure a second cargo carrier and is secured to the second member. The at least one receiver box assembly is adapted to be secured to the main frame at more than one location on the main frame. A method comprising securing the main frame to the trailer.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for stowing a sail of a sail boat. The system may include a furling stick, and ribs extending therefrom, for gathering the sail upon lowering of the sail. The system may further include leech sticks mounted on the sail for defining segments at which the sail folds upon stowing of the sail against the furling stick.

Abstract: Provided is a power module for use in a marine vessel and a wind-propelled vessel provided with such a power module. The power module includes: a sail storage housing which has at least a portion thereof arranged below a deck of a marine vessel and having an opening on an upper end thereof; a sail which is movable between a storage position located inside the sail storage housing and a use position at which the sail projects from the deck in the vertical direction; and a sail movement unit which is configured to move the sail between the storage position and the use position.

Abstract: A sail system comprising a substantially isosceles-triangle-shaped sail with two booms and an arc-shaped element. The two booms are arranged along substantially equal sides of the sail and articulated to one another with a joint that defines a vertex of the triangle. The arc-shaped element is coupled to a deck of a boat for pivoting about a transverse axis between a raised position and a lowered position on the deck. Each boom has a coupling element on the arc-shaped element, the coupling element being slidable both along the arc-shaped element and along the respective boom.

Abstract: An improved system for rigging a sail to a spar consists of a slot and a gateway plate. The slot is disposed on the spar to selectively enable the sail slugs to engage an internal channel. The gateway plate is adapted to selectively cover the slot and can be removed so the slugs can be inserted to or removed from the channel. The gateway plate consists of a plate body having a first and second oppositely disposed plate-hole, the plate holes having a predetermined alignment with receiving-holes on the spar, the gateway plate further includes a channel-engaging edge, an oppositely disposed handle end, and a predetermined length of elastic cord, which couples to the spar and provides positive engagement of the gateway plate against the spar when in the closed position. The gateway plate can be mounted internally or externally relative to the spar channel.

Abstract: There is discussed a sail apparatus having a sail with one or more battens. A furling system varies the area of deployed sail between a furled state and an unfurled state by rotating the sail about the leading edge. At least one batten comprises a single extendible sheet member operable to switch between a rigid three-dimensional longitudinal state and a coiled planar state, such that a deployed portion of said at least one batten is in said rigid, three-dimensional longitudinal state and a furled portion of said at least one batten is in a coiled planar state. The batten is resiliently baised towards the leading edge of the sail, while allowing movement of the batten towards the trailing edge of the sail during furling.

Abstract: A set of rigid sails that have an aerodynamic profile and that may be secured to a boat.

Abstract: A mechanism to raise and lower the sail of a boat includes a headcar movably secured to a mast of the boat and a headboard affixed to the sail. A pulling force applied to a halyard raises the sail and causes the headboard to engage the headcar. When the sail is lowered, the headboard disengages from the headcar so that the sail furls flat on the boom.

Abstract: A sailing ship comprises a hard sail assembly. The hard sail assembly comprises a plurality of hard sails of wing-shaped hollow cross section. The hard sails are vertically stacked so that each except the lowermost is received in the one immediately below. The sailing ship further comprises an apparatus for driving the hard sails to move each except the lowermost toward and away from the one immediately below, a post extending vertically to support the lowermost hard sail, and a second apparatus for rotating the post around its longitudinal axis. Overlapping lengths between vertically adjacent hard sails are variably controlled to make the hard sail assembly expand and contract vertically.

Abstract: An improved system for rigging a sail to a spar consists of a slot and a gateway plate. The slot is disposed on the spar to selectively enable the sail slugs to engage an internal channel. The gateway plate is adapted to selectively cover the slot and can be removed so the slugs can be inserted to or removed from the channel. The gateway plate consists of a plate body having a first and second oppositely disposed plate-hole, the plate holes having a predetermined alignment with receiving-holes on the spar, the gateway plate further includes a channel-engaging edge, an oppositely disposed handle end, and a predetermined length of elastic cord, which couples to the spar and provides positive engagement of the gateway plate against the spar when in the closed position. The gateway plate can be mounted internally or externally relative to the spar channel.

Abstract: Disclosed is an articulating sail feeder that solves problems associated with furling and reefing sails on yachts, particularly large yachts. The inventive sail feeder includes hinge tracks arranged in articulating column that bends and rotates freely, but limits the axial twist of the sail as during furling and reefing. The inventive hinge tracks have a cross section that includes a batten end receptacle with channels for headboard cars. Hinge tracks with the inventive cross section absorb the wind-generated compressive forces exerted by the battens on the batten pockets, reducing chafing, and eliminate the need for sail slides, which would otherwise lock the sail in place during furling and reefing.

Abstract: In a battened sailboard sail a sail attachment device is attached to the leading edge of the sail and the sail attachment device is connected to a camber-inducer by a line that is acted on by a batten to evenly distribute the batten tension load between the sail and camber-inducer. The batten is able to move chordwise relative the camber inducer when the sail is rotating about the mast.

Abstract: A hand held, light weight, multi-purpose, extendable and collapsible omni-wind sail assembly for providing wind propulsion for vehicles such as kayaks, surfboards, small boats, iceboats, land vehicles, and the like. The assembly includes a flexible wind responsive sail surface having a transparent portion for user viewing therethrough, the sail surface attached at each side to masts having an attachable handle for manual maneuverability of the sail. The assembly may be stretched tautly, collapsed, tipped vertically, rotated horizontally, or all in combination simultaneously as the wind conditions may warrant, the masts having length extension means for varying the height of the sail.

Abstract: A watercraft for transportation and exercise including a boat for floating on water and having a portion thereof above a waterline and a portion thereof below the waterline The boat has an opening therein for permitting a person to be partially below the waterline and partially above the waterline. A sub-frame is operatively attached to the boat, the sub-frame having a lower position at least partially in the water and an upper position at least mostly out of the water. A propulsion device is operatively attached to the sub-frame for propelling the watercraft forwardly in response to movement of the person's feet, the propulsion device having a foot contact portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to method and apparatus for compactly stacking a sail having a tack, clew and head, the sail being mounted to batten or sail cars above a boom when the sail is stowed, furled or fully lowered. More specifically, most of the cars are compacted or stacked by diverting cars onto several lower tracks, such that the height of the stacked cars is approximately halved. Cars adjacent the boom and tack of the sail may be slidably mounted on at least two of the lower tracks, and carrying the sail between the at least two of the lower tracks. If more than two lower storage tracks are used, the height reduction of the stacked cars can be greater.

Abstract: The invention provides various improved sailboats and methods for their use. In one exemplary embodiment, a sailboat comprises a hull and a deck that is operably attached to the hull. The deck has a longitudinal axis extending along its center. A mast is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis, and a luff cable is coupled to the mast and the deck. The luff cable is movable relative to the longitudinal axis. Further, a foresail is coupled to the luff cable such that at least a portion of the foresail is movable relative to the longitudinal axis upon movement of the luff cable.