Abstract: A comprehensive System of hoisted, universally compatible, semi-elliptical mainsails and self-tacking headsails. Reducing weight on deck and aloft and fully cockpit-controlled, self-boomed System sails replace cumbersome conventional genoas and rigid booms with self-boomed, overlapping, self-tacking, semi-elliptical headsails and mainsails. Each sail assures optimum sail interface. Synergism between aerodynamic headboard-end plate combinations, integrated alternate energy, and maximum sailing efficiency optimizes convenience, safety and performance. Overlapping Maxjib (26), Non-overlapping Maxjib (28) and self-boomed Maxmain (30) are self-boomed, self-tacking hoisted sails. External-spar Maxmain (32) provides unique new System benefits for boomed mainsail configurations.

Abstract: An elevated sailing apparatus that includes one or more wings, tethered to a conveyance, and suspended from beneath a streamlined, lighter-than-air blimp. The wings generate both propulsive and lifting forces from the wind. The propulsive force is used to propel a conveyance. The lifting force prevents the apparatus from being pushed into the water by the propulsive force. The wings use stabilizers to orient them to the oncoming wind and control surfaces to adjust the angle of orientation. A ballast weight provides a vertical reference relative to the blimp, so that the propulsive and lifting forces can be controlled independently. A remote control system allows the degree of lifting force and propulsive force to be controlled from the conveyance. Thus the pilot may tack the apparatus and control its altitude. The use of a streamlined blimp and high aspect-ratio wings allows this elevated sailing apparatus to achieve the low drag-angle necessary for high-speed sailing.

Abstract: A control device for a steering kite on a boat. The steering kite can be steered by a steering device and at least two or three, preferably at least four or five, suspension lines. The control device comprises at least one force introduction rail that extends horizontally over the water line and on which a deviation device for the suspension lines is positioned in such a way that it can move back and forth. The rail is fixed to the boat between the steering kite and the steering device in such a way that the traction force of the steering kite produces torque about the longitudinal axis and/or the transverse axis of the boat in the water, by means of which the leeward side of the boat is lifted upwards.

Abstract: A pultruded composite tension rod of hexagonal cross section is provided, as are larger composite rods made up of assemblies of smaller, nested-together parallel hexagonal tension rods that are re-pultruded together. A manufacturing process involving assembling and re-pultruding the smaller rods is also disclosed.

Abstract: A comprehensive System of hoisted, universally compatible, semi-elliptical mainsails and self-tacking headsails. Reducing weight on deck and aloft and fully cockpit-controlled, self-boomed System sails replace cumbersome conventional genoas and rigid booms with self-boomed, overlapping, self-tacking, semi-elliptical headsails and mainsails. Each sail assures optimum sail interface. Synergism between aerodynamic headboard-end plate combinations, integrated alternate energy, and maximum sailing efficiency optimizes convenience, safety and performance. Overlapping Maxjib (26), Non-overlapping Maxjib (28) and self-boomed Maxmain (30) are self-boomed, self-tacking hoisted sails. External-spar Maxmain (32) provides unique new System benefits for boomed mainsail configurations.

Abstract: A sailing rig including a freestanding, rotating aerofoil sectioned mast.

Abstract: A pultruded composite tension rod of hexagonal cross section is provided, as are larger composite rods made up of assemblies of smaller, nested-together parallel hexagonal tension rods that are re-pultruded together. A manufacturing process involving assembling and re-pultruding the smaller rods is also disclosed.

Abstract: A flexible wing-sail for wind-propelled vehicles includes a mast to be rotatably mounted in a vertical position on the vehicle, a plurality of flexible sail panels carried by the mast, and a spreader assembly secured to battens in the sail panels for securing them to the mast and for imparting to them an airfoil shape having a leading edge fore of the mast, and a trailing edge aft of the mast. The spreader assembly includes a fixed spreader unit secured to the sail panels at the bottom of the wing-sail and fixing it to the bottom of the mast, and a plurality of slidable spreader units secured to the sail panels at longitudinally spaced locations and slidable along the mast to permit hoisting and reefing the wing-sail.

Abstract: A lifting-sail rig and method comprising airfoils, or efficient aerodynamically shaped leading edge soft sails, supported by an improved non-interfering fixed mast rig positioned away from the lifting-sail for increased aerodynamic efficiency and ease of sail or airfoil control. Stable sailboat performance is achieved at a higher speed for multihulls and widened beam monohulls for supporting the lifting-sail rig. The improved lifting-sail rig balances the large wind driven forces that have resulted in the capsizing of conventional monohull sailboats, and the pitch poling of multihulls.

Abstract: A flexible, propulsive wing of the 4-line type especially suitable for kiteboarding, has, at the rear portion of the wing tip a first pulley means attached thereto, the rear line being connected to the rear portion of the wing tip through the first pulley means. A pair of auxiliary re-launch lines are provided at each respective side of the wing, each being fixedly connected at one end thereof to the respective rear line, and at the other end to the trailing edge of the wing.

Abstract: A control parameter selecting apparatus and a sailing control system capable of selecting a control parameter for performing a suitable sailing control of a boat correspondingly to a sailing condition are provided.

Abstract: A flexible, propulsive wing of the 4-line type especially suitable for kiteboarding, has, at the rear portion of the wing tip a first pulley means attached thereto, the rear line being connected to the rear portion of the wing tip through the first pulley means. A pair of auxiliary re-launch lines are provided at each respective side of the wing, each being fixedly connected at one end thereof to the respective rear line, and at the other end to the trailing edge of the wing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wind-propelled watercraft by means of which in contrast to the conventional solutions the wind forces can be better utilized for the propulsion, and the turning moments about the longitudinal axis acting on the body of the watercraft and the hull, respectively can be reduced. With this, a sheet element is held with at least one stay rope in close proximity to the body of the watercraft, and the one or else a plurality of stay ropes are attached to at least three points of the sheet element spaced to one another. In addition, the point of application of force of the one or else a plurality of stay ropes on the body of the watercraft can be varied depending on the wind direction and direction of motion.

Abstract: A stowable semi rigid airfoil assembly, functions automatically to airflow as a draft adjusting wing sail, or spinnaker sail (19), for use on a mast (17) with a halyard (41) on a wind powered craft. The halyard connected to the heads (83) of port and starboard sail panels (10) surrounding the mast vertically, elongates the airfoil from a “wing chord section shaped boom” (21) attached to the airfoils' foot (57). The sailcloth (12) panels are laminated with rigid foam cored (11) horizontal panel sections (13) set between flexible sailcloth spaces (14), for folding the rigid panels down over the wing shaped boom. The top of the panel sections above the boom are outward folding (22) spaces, and every other one of the spaces up the sail are outward folding, and every other one of the other spaces are inward folding (16) and are increased in separation (20) between the rigid panels. The leading edges (27) of the sail panels are joined at the inward folding spaces.

Abstract: A wind powered air/water interface craft disposed in a mechanically simple configuration(s) with means for trimming and/or adjusting the area of the various air and water foil elements either independently or together or both. All of its structural elements are useful as lifting or-driving surfaces or buoyant elements thereby minimizing parasitic drag and conflicting forces. In some configurations, free flight is also possible for brief periods of time or for longer periods in conditions where dynamic soaring is possible. The rig is able to develop vertical lift before necessarily having forward motion. Although similar in some configurations to a windsurfer, its operation is not dependent on the strength of the human operator, so that it has the capacity for power and payload greater than the strength and weight of the operator. The triangle rig configuration of the invention may develop vertical lift, but may in some instances use vertical lift only to enhance dynamic stability of a displacement craft.

Abstract: A wing sail for wind powered craft and of the type having semi rigid panels (10) which communicate at their base with an airfoil shaped boom (21). The semi rigid panels (10) of the wing sail can be bent along folding grooves (20) that are parallel to the boom (21). In addition, the semi rigid panels (10), and boom (21) of the wing sail are made of flexible materials so that they can be repeatedly bent without fracturing, perpendicular to the boom.

Abstract: A versatile multi-component sail system for propelling any wind-propelled vessel at optimum efficiency on all points of sail with a minimum number of sails, with minimum crew effort, and with all sail handling done from the safety of the cockpit, comprising one or a plurality of horizontally deployed in-place semi-elliptical convertible genoa-jibs (22); vertically deployed, semi-elliptical self-tacking jibs (23); and low-profile in-place automatic jib stowage bags (44). The system's integral sails and sail stowage and control means remain in place and are active throughout the sail deployment, navigation and sail recovery cycle. One or all system components may be used as needed to provide a synergistic combination of performance, safety, and convenience to any wind-propelled vessel over the widest possible range of conditions.

Abstract: A sail for a wind powered vehicle such as a surfboard, sailing boat or the like is provided wherein a sail is connected along its front edge to a mast and wherein the said sail at its clew or at its lower edge is connected to a boom. The boom is connected in a hinged manner to the mast. At the free rear edge of the sail, at least one sail part is provided which is adjustable in the sail plane so that the overall area of the sail can be decreased or increased.