Abstract: The body of the ship, particularly sailing yachts and boats, on which is exerted, as a result of the displacement-originated forces, a lifting force such that the body starts to plane, has, at least in one longitudinal region located underneath the horizontal plane (12) defined by the water surface, a vertical longitudinal profile (14) of which the lower portion has a shape corresponding to that of the lower portion of the profile of an aerofoil. The longitudinal profile extends towards the stern (10) substantially tangentially to the horizontal plane (12). The chord (S) of at least this aerofoil lies within the horizontal plane. The lower portion of the body may have the shape indicated in lateral longitudinal regions and may have in a central region profile chords having a positive or negative incidence angle. Conversely, the shape indicated may be realized in the central region, the profile chords having a positive or negative incidence angle being located in the lateral regions.

Abstract: A sailboat mast is composed of two portions, a forward portion supported on the hull by standing rigging and having a concave aft side, and an aft portion, which may be of circular cross-section, supported close to and in line with the forward portion at both ends, the top support, however permitting the top of the aft portion of the mast to be bent away from the forward portion in order to affect the shape of the sail. The main sail is carried by the aft portion of the mast in such a way that when working in any kind of a crosswind, it extends away from the mast in a substantially tangential direction, on the lee side.