Abstract: A sail maneuverable through the rotation of a rolling and unrolling structure to which the sail is anchored along an anchorage edge. A sheath surrounds the rolling structure and engages the sail at opposite sides along a coupling line spaced from the anchorage edge. The sheath and that intermediate portion of the sail between the coupling line and the anchorage edge being shaped so that when the sail is unrolled the sheath stretches out, retaining the intermediate portion within the end zones unstretched, causing the sail to take a bellying or fat-sail arrangement. At the beginning of rolling, the sail is pulled back into the intermediate portion and progressively also into the end zones, thereby assuming a flat-sail arrangement.

Abstract: This device for furling a sail of a ship on a boom (1) connected to a mast (2) by means of articulation means (3) and mounted so that it can rotate about itself, comprising means for driving the boom (1) in rotation (7) in order to furl the sail on the latter, is characterized in that the said means for driving in rotation (7) are arranged on the end of the boom (1) away from the articulation means (3). These driving means comprise a drum (8) integrally fastened to the boom (1), around which is arranged a line for driving (10) the said drum, this line being connected, for example, to the steering station of the ship by return means (11, 12).

Abstract: A roller reefing system for use on the existing forestay of a sailboat such that it surrounds the forestay when installed and in use. The system includes a furling member which is composed of a plurality of indentical cross section members, each of which has a longitudinal opening to receive the forestay, and a connecting sleeve for connecting adjacent members together and for locating a bearing element within the longitudinal opening. The roller reefing system may be easily installed on the existing forestay of a sailboat without modification to the forestay.

Abstract: A sail device characterized in that a sail frame is formed of upper and lower horizontal beam members fixed horizontally to a mast and linealy bent at bending points, holding pillars that are rotatably supported at the above mentioned bending points by these horizontal beam members and that hold a part of a developed sail, and supporting pillars arranged and fixed at both right and left ends of the above mentioned horizontal beam members and assembled rotatably with respect to the horizontal beam members and rotation stoppably by stopper means,at least, between the above mentioned upper and lower horizontal beam members, the lower horizontal beam member is formed to be of a horizontally expanding shape,a sail formed of a flexible material is reinforced by fitting a plurality of self-standing rods in the vertical direction of the sail and the above mentioned self-standing rods can be supported at the lower ends on the above mentioned lower horizontal beam member.

Abstract: A three hulled sailboat consists of a tripod frame having three generally horizontal spars which define support points at their distal ends. During the sailing of the boat, one support point is always toward the windward, and the other two support points are leeward. A generally vertical mast supported on the frame has a masthead spaced equidistantly from the two lee support points and generally above the windward support point. Three buoyant hulls are coupled to the respective support points, the hulls being elongated with a high length-to-beam ratio, and being symmetrical about a transverse vertical plane for movement through the water in either direction. The hulls are coupled for independent rotation and steering relative to the frame and also for independent pitching relative to the frame about transverse central axes. Independent steering is provided for each of the three hulls relative to the frame.

Abstract: An apparatus for furling a sail on a sailboat having a mast includes a stay extending between the deck and the mast on the sailboat, a hollow shaft loosely fitted over the stay and supporting the side edge of the sail, the hollow shaft being rotatable about the stay such that the sail can be wound and unwound about the hollow shaft, at least one ring member disposed around the shaft and having an opening which permits the sail to move onto the shaft therethrough, and wire ropes extending between the deck and mast on the sailboat and supporting the ring member about the shaft.

Abstract: The roller furling element of this invention is formed by a single piece profiled member extruded from aluminum and includes:two concentric cylindrical tubes, the internal one being adapted to accommodate a stay, and the external one having two longitudinal slots each allowing a sail to pass through, the bolt rope of which may be held between the two tubes; andlongitudinal walls distributed within the annular space between the tubes and uniting the tubes to one another.

Abstract: A sail batten suitable for roller-furling and composed of one or more long thin elements of a material possessing great stiffness and yield strength. The elements are formed so that their longitudinal cross-section is smoothly curved. Consequently this batten is stiff enough to provide the control of sail shape for which battens are used. Yet it is so resilient that, like a carpenter's rule, it flattens without damage into a flexible ribbon which coils tightly about a transverse axis. Thus a batten for sails which furl or reef about any axis. Chafe at an end is minimized by tapering the batten towards that end. Elements of compound curvature provide antisymmetrical stiffness to resist distortion of the sail to either side. Other species which achieve the same result are elements of opposing curvature nested in pockets together and elements of opposing curvature in substantially parallel pockets. Rigid connections between elements are only made at the end of the bundle which will be wound up first.

Abstract: A device for limiting the rotational movement of the outer part of the swivel of a sail roller equipping a sailing boat comprising at least a mast, a stay cable having an end portion adapted for connecting the stay to the mast, and a halyard fixed to the swivel by a connecting piece and passing over a sheave provided at the head of the mast, the roller comprising at least one tube on which the sail may be rolled and which is mounted for rotation about the stay cable, the swivel comprising an inner part mounted for sliding on the tube and secured for rotation therewith, this inner part being fixed to the sail, and an outer part mounted for rotation on the inner part and on which are mounted the connecting piece, the device further comprising at least one piece secured against axial and rotational movement to the stay cable and situated in a zone between the upper end of the tube and the end portion of the stay, and comprising at least two abutment surfaces which extend radially and which cooperate with the con

Abstract: Mechanism for hoisting and reefing a sail on a sailing vessel wherein the foot of the sail is connected along its length to a roller boom, and wherein the hoisting and reefing of the said sail is effected by halyard means passing over a pulley at an upper portion of a mast associated with the said roller boom and connected at one of its ends to a hoisting drum and connected at the other end to a reefing drum, and is also connected to the peak of the sail, and wherein the said reefing drum is connected to the said roller boom whereby the boom is rotatable with the said reefing drum, characterized in that there are provided: (a) rotatable clutch (25) means for selectively rotating the said hoisting drum (8) and the said reefing drum (4)(b) selective engaging and locking means (9, 9a, 26, 28) for selectively engaging the said clutch to the said hoisting drum or the said reefing drum, and automatically to lock the said hoisting drum with the said reefing drum at the end of a hoisting operation, and to unlock the

Abstract: A sail shortening device for rolling up a sail on a tubular element mounted for rotation about a rigging cable of a sailing boat which comprises at least two tubular sections connected end to end for forming said tubular element, at least one shaped connecting element engaging in said tubular sections, two shaped end elements mounted at both ends of the tubular element and bearings housed respectively between said cable, said shaped connecting element and the two shaped end elements. The tubular element comprises at least one longitudinal groove in which the bolt rope can be introduced. The tubular element is held in axial direction and can be rotated by a drum. A swivel is slidably mounted on the tubular element and comprises means for fixing to a halyard for hoisting and tensioning the sail.

Abstract: Apparatus for furling a sailboat jib about a forestay with a cylindrical sleeve mounted about the forestay to which the jib is attached, a deck mounted rotary actuator for rotating the sleeve to furl the jib, a manually operated gear box, and a flexible shaft coupling the gear box to the actuator. The apparatus can be adapted to existing roller furlers by a split ring adapter.

Abstract: Luff furling main and head sails are subject to sagging-off to leeward in heavy winds thereby decreasing the aerodynamic efficiency of the sails. The invention diminishes or eliminates this problem by providing a strip of sail cloth which may be interposed between the luff furling apparatus and a rigging member such as a mast or stay, the strip having a sliding connection with both members along their lengths whereby the load on the sail is transferred uniformly along the length of the rigging member and the furling apparatus is prevented from sagging to leeward.

Abstract: A device for rolling and storing a sail associated with a rolling boom, including a sheath of deformable material encircling the boom and provided with rigid edges defining a slit for passing the sail therethrough, wherein the sheath is carried by the boom for free pivotal movement and includes a transverse cross-sectional area at least equal to that of the boom and the sail completely rolled thereon.

Abstract: A sailboat has a rotatable mast having a pivot mast for holding a sail and a slat member broadening backward from a leading edge to have a streamline section of a wing section together with the pivot mast and arranged along the pivot mast. The mast is rotated to be fixed at a desired position. Not only the sail but also the slat member produces a lift. The production of vortex and exfoliation of laminar layer are suppressed. Reefing and folding of the sail is facilitated.

Abstract: A mainsail furling mast assembly utilizes a mast having a cross section providing a C-shaped outer wall and a transverse wall defining a rearwardly opening compartment in which is disposed a furling element about which the mainsail may be furled. The opening in the mast has a width equal to at least 50 percent of the maximum width of the mast to provide facile access to the compartment. The mast has a boom mounting bracket including a reinforcement portion with a section which extends within the compartment and flange sections which extend forwardly about the outer wall.

Abstract: A triangular sail is provided with vertical seams and panels at the leech and foot to protect the sail upon furling around the luff, the foot panel also serving to impart shape to the sail.

Abstract: An improved stay includes an aluminum rod member. A terminal fitting located at each end of the rod member connects the rod member with the sailboat. The connection between the rod member and the terminal fitting is made by deforming a stainless steel sleeve member into the aluminum forestay rod member. The sleeve member is provided with internal grooves or recesses. The sleeve member is deformed radially inward and cold forms the aluminum into tight engagement with the grooves. The stay may be used as a forestay. In this case, the rod member has an axially extending slot in which the bead of a sail is received. Further the terminal fittings may include a swivel which permits the rod member to be rotated to furl the sail.

Abstract: A sailing rig for driving a vessel which permits efficient operation at headings very close to the wind, comprising a plurality of jib sails arranged so that the camber of the jibs is between 12 and 25%, preferably between 14% and 20%, most preferably between 14.5% and 18% when closehauled, and preferably the sheeting angle for the jibs is such that a continuation of the line of sheeting force intersects the luff of the jib at a point above about 65-80% of its length.

Abstract: Fittings for ships, in particular for sailships. The device is characterized in that it comprises, for sliding and support of a bolt rope, a bolt rope tunnel extending between the top of the mast and the point of a boom which is closest to the mast, but located outside the zone corresponding to the articulation of the boom on the mast.

Abstract: Apparatus for supporting and furling a sail wherein a hollow mast having a chamber therein is provided with a slot leading into the chamber and a rotatable inner mast in the chamber arranged to bear the weight of the sail in compression. Rotating the inner mast furls the sail. The inner mast is also relatively rigid against torsional bending, its diameter is relatively large. The width of the slot is also relatively large and contoured so that the sail slides freely through the slot even though wrinkled. As a result, the sail can employ adequate fullness, and risk of jamming while furling is minimized.

Abstract: A device for positioning, maintaining, and rolling a headsail on a sailing vessel having a fixed stay adjacent the sail and a halyard for raising the sail includes a tubular mandrel adapted to rotate on the stay. The mandrel is formed by a plurality of mandrel segments about the stay, with each of the segments having three external grooves disposed through an arc of approximately 120 degrees. A normally closed locking mechanism is positioned at the top of the mandrel. A sail attaching member, slidably movable along the mandrel and attached to the top portion of the sail is moved into locking engagement with the locking mechanism by the sail halyard when temporarily connected thereto. A releasing member, which is also slidably movable along the mandrel and attachable to the halyard, releases the sail attaching member from the locking mechanism, thereby allowing the sail to be lowered.

Abstract: Apparatus for supporting a sail is provided whereby the sail is hoisted by a halyard, and latched in the fully hoisted position. The halyard is then disconnected from the sail leaving the sail free to rotate, for reefing or furling purposes independently of the halyard. The sail is lowered by unlatching same from the fully hoisted position, the unlatching being accomplished by raising a rotatable tubular member to which the luff of the sail is slidably attached, so as to release the latch.

Abstract: An improved stay includes an aluminum rod member. A terminal fitting located at each end of the rod member connects the rod member with the sailboat. The connection between the rod member and the terminal fitting is made by deforming a stainless steel sleeve member into the aluminum forestay rod member. The sleeve member is provided with internal grooves or recesses. The sleeve member is deformed radially inward and cold forms the aluminum into tight engagement with the grooves. The stay may be used as a forestay. In this case, the rod member has an axially extending slot in which the bead of a sail is received. Further the terminal fittings may include a swivel which permits the rod member to be rotated to furl the sail.

Abstract: An improvement upon U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,789,790; 3,749,043; and 3,980,036 employs a winch mounted on the furling drum to tighten each halyard. The winch has teeth resembling pinion gear teeth which engage the openings in a stainless steel roller chain, the upper end of which is attached to the ear of a traveler swedged to the lower end of the halyard. A latch on the winch locks the chain in position after it has been tightened and further functions to assist in inserting the end of the chain into the winch. The furling structure may be installed on a stay (as for a jib) or a special stay may be installed on a mast or spar; with the special stay supported by top and bottom brackets attached to the mast and spacing the stay away from the mast. The sail has a luff formed by the use of hard braided luff line enclosed in Teflon-coated tape which is sewn to the sail. The luff line is inserted in slots in the roller spool sections.

Abstract: In the roll-reefing job sail system disclosed herein, a luff foil, grooved to receive a bead on the luff edge of a jib, is employed to roll up the main portion of a jib sail. The head and tack, however, are not fixedly attached to the luff foil but, rather, are connected to attachment points which are journaled and freely rotatable with respect to the luff foil. Thus, both can freely lag in rotation relative to the central portion of the jib which wraps around the luff foil.

Abstract: The invention as disclosed provides an improved mainsail and/or mizzensail furling device for use on sailboats and includes a furling drum mounted on the gooseneck connecting the boom to the mast. An upper masthead holding device is movably mounted relative to the mast and includes a pair of pivoted mast engaging flanges. A first pair of substantially longitudinally extending arms are connected to the flanges and maintain a swivel a given distance from the mast. The halyard is connected to the swivel in a convenient fashion, and a second pair of arms are attached in such a way as to lead the halyard from the top of the swivel device at an angle of approximately 45.degree. to the mast, to maintain the flanges substantially parallel to the mast to facilitate raising and lowering the device as well as a snug fit against the mast when the halyard is made taut. The flanges are pivoted to the first pair of arms so as to grip a variety of mast sizes and configurations.

Abstract: A roller reefing system for reefing any sail (e.g. main, mizzen, staysail, jib or genoa) of a sailboat is disclosed which includes an elongated insert element operatively connected to the luff or leading edge of the sail, and having a predetermined continuously contoured configuration or variable cross-section along its length, to accommodate sail fullness during furling and unfurling operations.

Abstract: A sleeve is rotatably mounted on the hull of a vessel on a generally vertical axis and contains and completely supports the mainsail rollably furled or partly furled about a generally vertical axis. The sleeve is aerodynamically formed with a forward curved nose and opposite aerodynamic sides extending rearwardly from the nose and converging toward each other with a slot at the aft end between the sides through which slot a sail may be movable to furl within the sleeve or may be pulled out at the aft end of the sleeve through the slot various extents for providing the desired area of sail exposed to the wind, thus providing a roller reefing arrangement by rolling the luff of the mainsail to partly furl it within the sleeve.

Abstract: The invention as disclosed provides a mainsail and/or mizzensail furling device for use on sailboats and includes a furling drum mounted on the gooseneck connecting the boom to the mast. An upper masthead holding means is movably mounted relative to the mast and includes a pair of mast engaging flanges. A first pair of substantially longitudinally extending arms are connected to the flanges and maintain a swivel a given distance from the mast. The halyard is connected to the swivel in a convenient fashion, and a second pair of arms are attached in such a way as to lead the halyard from the top of the swivel device at an angle of approximately 45.degree. to the mast, to maintain the flanges substantially parallel to the mast to facilitate raising and lowering the device as well as a snug fit against the mast when the halyard is made taut.

Abstract: Reefing apparatus for a sail of a sailing boat makes use of a hollow boom for the sail. The boom has a lengthwise slit in the top extending over the length of the sail footrope and contains a tubular shaft which can rotate within the boom and to which the footrope is attached. A second shaft is located within the tubular shaft and is coupled to the tubular shaft by a spring, which is stressed on rotation of the tubular shaft relative to the second shaft.The sail is rolled up on the tubular shaft and within the boom. When the sail is raised, it is unrolled from the tubular shaft and drawn through the slit, the spring being progressively stressed. When the sail is to be reefed, the halyard is appropriately slackened, when the sail is drawn into the boom by the action of the spring and rolled on the tubular shaft, until the required reduced sail area is obtained.

Abstract: The jib furling mechanism is located beneath the junction of the bridle wires which hold the forestay to permit the forward portion of the foot of the jib to extend to the bridle junction and increase jib area. The bridle wires are joined by a structural link integrally formed with the housing for the furling mechanism. This housing telescopically receives a forestay adjuster for adjusting mast rake. The jib may be lowered without removing the forestay, or it may be furled about the forestay using the furling mechanism.

Abstract: A sail furling apparatus having a fixed core for connection to a wind powered device is disclosed herein. A rotatable sail sleeve having a bore formed therein is rotatably mounted on the fixed core. A double sheet airfoil sail is connected to the rotatable sail sleeve. A boom sleeve is mounted beneath the rotatable sail sleeve and engages the core. A boom is connected to the boom sleeve and is positioned perpendicular to the core, the sail sleeve and the boom sleeve. A freely rotatable eccentric sheath substantially surrounds the sail sleeve. The freely rotatable eccentric sheath has a slot and the airfoil sail passes through the slot. A furling apparatus is used to rotate the sail sleeve to draw the airfoil sail into the eccentric sheath or release it from the eccentric sheath.

Abstract: In the roll-furling mainsail arrangement disclosed herein, the clew of the sail is trimmed to a boom by means of a car which is freely slidable along the boom. An outhaul line rigged to pull aft from the tip of the boom passes forward through a block on the car, thence through a block at the clew of the sail and then back to the car where it is secured. The balance of forces on the car automatically bias it to a position providing an advantageous drawing angle for shaping the mainsail, even at varying stages of partial furling.

Abstract: The jib furler comprises an upper swivel system attached to a mast including a halyard sheave and a stay attachment device, a lower swivel system attached to a deck including attachment for a jib tack pendant, stay and halyard; and a halyard, luff rope and stay tensioned between the upper and lower swivels. Rotation of the lower swivel transmits a torqueing force to the upper swivel through the tensioned halyard and luff rope whereby the jib sail may be furled around the stay, luff rope and halyard without appreciable twisting of the stay. The jib is hanked directly upon the stay so that jibs may be changed without disturbing mast security which is sustained by the taut stay during sail changes.

Abstract: The gooseneck fitting disclosed herein carries a reel adapted for roll-furling a mainsail along its luff edge, the reel being positioned within a hollow mast with which the gooseneck fitting is used so the mainsail can be rolled up within the mast. The gooseneck fitting incorporates also a sheave for turning a line being drawn horizontally off the reel in a downwardly direction to a point of exit from the gooseneck fitting beneath the boom.

Abstract: An improvement on U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,789,790 and 3,749,043 employs spool sections which are notched so that they are spliced together over the jib stay rather than having pins in two of the grooves in the sections to join the same end-to-end, thereby freeing two grooves and enabling a second sail and its halyard to be installed. Thus twin jibs may be supported and also furled. The sail is attached to the furling spool by securing slug slides at intervals along the luff of the sail to fit into one groove of the spool. The top of the sail is fixed to a wire rope halyard which runs over a pulley in a crown block fixed to the upper end of the uppermost spool section, then down a groove in the spool. The lower end of the halyard is fixed to a traveler having an apertured ear which extends outside the spool. Several means for tightening the halyard by applying a pull on the ear and several ways of securing the ear in place once it is tightened are disclosed.

Abstract: Furling gear unit comprising a stay slide and a cooperating stay bushing for attachment to the upper end of a forestay extending between the bow and the mast head of a sailing vessel, said unit being attached to the forestay, sail luff wire and sail halyard in such a manner as to prevent fouling by the twisting of the halyard and sail around a stay. The stay slide may be female or male type with the cooperating stay bushing of the opposite type. Predetermined limited rotation around the forestay is achieved by cooperatingly engageable members of the stay slide and bushing. Other embodiments include a single or multiple rotary bearing clamp or housing for retaining or holding one or more rotary bearing assemblies.

Abstract: A sailboat forestay or headstay assembly for hoisting, supporting and furling a jib, including a roller furling unit, a wire secured at its lower end to this unit and at its upper end to a swivel unit, and a furling-drive connection adjacent the upper end of the wire comprising a hexagonal rod attached to the wire as an extension thereof, and a hoisting element having a polygonal through passage which slides freely along the wire and snugly and non-rotatably onto the rod, to couple the sail to the wire for furling as the wire is rotated. Hoisting and sail-supporting connections in the form of bails are centrally pivoted on a rotary sleeve of the hoisting element, and the lower end of the rod is tapered polygonally, with a cylindrical section below, to align the sleeve with the rod during hoisting.

Abstract: In a jib sail system, roller-furling and interchangeability of jibs is provided by utilizing a rotatable, slotted stay member, preferably aerodynamically shaped, and by providing at the top of the stay member a ratchet-latching mechanism so that tension on the jib halyard can be released thereby facilitating a swivel coupling attachment of the halyard to the head of the jib.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a boat including a hull comprising a bottom surface including a panel having leading and trailing edges, together with forward and rearward bottom surface portions adjacent to the leading and trailing edges of the panel. Also included in the boat hull is structure pivotally mounting the panel to the boat hull forwardly of the stern of the boat hull for movement about a transverse axis between a first position wherein the leading and trailing edges of the panel merge with the forward and rearward portions of the bottom surface and a second position wherein the panel leading edge merges with the forward portion of the bottom surface and the panel trailing edge is spaced below the rearward portion of the bottom surface, together with means for pivotally displacing the panel between the positions.