SAILBAOT RIG

Abstract

A sailboat having a hull with a mast is provided that includes a boom and gaff that are both supported away from the mast. Both ends of the boom and gaff are connected by stays so that a vertical plane is created. The sail is raised and lowered by a pair of forward and aft halyards and the boom has a usual trimming sheet.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present relates generally to an improved gaff rig for use on sailing vessels. Gaff rigged sailboats were developed over 150 years ago and reached great popularity when the schooner America won the America's Cup in England. In the early 1900's gaff rigs lost ground to Marconi rigs as this rig yielded greater upwind speed. Gaff rigs also declined in popularity due to the great windage and weight aloft and were difficult to vang to eliminate twist in the sail.

In view of the foregoing, there is a demand for a device to simplify the use of larger sail areas and to control sail twist in the various sails employed on a cruising boat. As such, the instant invention relates to a practical gaff rig in which the gaff is controlled by the simple expedient of linking it to the boom.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In this regard, the instant invention discloses a gaff rig for a sailboat in which the boom and gaff are mechanically linked together. Essentially they trim together by the mainsheet. In my prior patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,932,010) the boom was offset but with this invention the gaff is offset to the same side of the mast to synergistically create a new aerodynamically superior rig. By projecting both the gaff and the boom ahead of the mast, there is established a clean leading edge to the mainsail that changes the center of effort and makes it easier to trim by reducing the load on the boom. As will be appreciated the portion of the sail forward of the mast is a counter balancing force. It also reduces weather helm.

A square headed sail has recently emerged as the fastest mainsail profile. To achieve the square shape, angled battens support the upper edge. Sails of this configuration can not be furled in the usual manner as the battens have to be removed and then reinstalled each time the sail is used. The instant invention places a gaff at the top of the mainsail where it provides a trimming base for a leech halyard that provides adjustable upward and rearward support for the sail, which can use conventional horizontal battens. To furl or reef the sail, lazy jacks (not shown) are employed. To reef, the sail is partially lowered under the control of the forestay and backstay. This illustrates that to achieve a workable gaff, it is not only operably connected to the top of the mast but also the forward and rearward ends of the gaff are connected respectively to the forward and rearward ends of the boom by the stays. A system is therefore created where the boom and gaff act together in the same vertical plane, an important aspect of the invention.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an offset horizontal swiveling boom and offset gaff that are mechanically linked together to trim as one with a single mainsheet.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the sailboat rigged in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical view of the sailboat rig of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detailed perspective view of the halyards on the gaff showing the twist in the upper edge of the sail; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the gooseneck fittings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The novel features which are characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, the invention's preferred embodiments, togetherwith further objects and attendant advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4 sailboat rig in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is illustrated where the sailboat 110 is fitted with an un-stayed mast 112. Surrounding an upper and lower portion of the mast, which at these points must be tubular, are sleeves 114, 114a and corresponding struts 116, 116a. The sleeves are suitable secured to the mast for rotation only. The struts 116, 116a are preferably affixed to the tubular boom and gaff 120, 122 by tubular sleeves 115, 115a which permits not only rotation but also in connection with the gaff the angle relative to the mast. A sail 124 is affixed to the boom at 126, 128 and the luff 125 of the sail is hanked onto the forestay 134 as at 127, for example. The upper edge of the sail is hoisted aloft by a luff halyard 130 and a leech halyard 132. The essential and unique part of this rig is a fixed forestay 134 between the boom and the gaff which is tensioned by the vang 140 and a fixed backstay 136. To control the boom there a sheet 142, which due to the two stays interconnecting the gaff and boom also controls the gaff. By enclosing the large diameter free standing mast with a light stiff, aerodynamic sleeve 150 that freely rotates like a wind vane, windage drag is substantially reduced.

Referring specifically to FIG. 3 there is shown a detail of the trimming of the sail that can be achieved. The gaff 122 is vertically supported by the sleeve 114a and is connected to the boom 120 by the forestay 134 and backstay 136. By adjusting the leech halyard 132, the trim angle of the upper part of the sail can be adjusted. Essentially there is control of twist in the upper part of the sail. By twisting off the upper part of the sail 125, as seen in FIG. 3, heeling control is gained while the lower part of the sail remains effectively trimmed.

It should be appreciated that the forestay and backstay that vertically connect the boom and gaff create a system where the two spars act in concert in a single plane. There is created a connected system where downward pressure on the mainsheet 142 will create an upward pressure on the forward part of the gaff. Since the boom is restrained at its forward end by a vang 140 the result is adjustable luff tension that is particularly useful when sailing to windward. Additionally, it can be seen that not only is the boom carried forward of the mast, but also the gaff. Thus there is 20 to 30 percent of the sail forward of the mast and this will decrease the “weather helm” as there is more balance. It also reduces sheeting load. This portion of the sail forward of the mast is particularly useful in a jibe as this forward part of the sail acts to slow the dangerous velocity of the boom as it swings from one side to the other.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A sailboat comprising:

a hull;

a mast extending vertically from the hull;

a boom coupled to the mast by a strut for horizontal rotation and extending fore and aft of the mast;

a gaff operably coupled to the mast by a strut; and

a single sail having a head, tack and clew, operably affixed to the boom and gaff,

wherein the forward and rear ends of the boom and gaff are vertically connected by separate means.

2. The sailboat as in claim 1, wherein the means connecting the rearward ends of the boom and gaff is a backstay.

3. The sailboat as in claim 1, wherein the means connecting the forward ends of the boom and gaff is a forestay.

4. The sailboat as in claim 1, wherein an aerodynamic sleeve embraces the mast for free rotation

5. A sailboat comprising:

a hull;

a freestanding mast extending vertically from the hull;

a pair of struts coupled to the mast each by a sleeve for rotation thereabout;

a boom connected to a first of the pair of struts and a gaff connected to a second of the pair of struts, the gaff and second strut configured for up and down movement along the mast;

a sail connected to the boom and the gaff;

a forestay connected between forward ends of the boom and gaff;

a backstay connected between rearward ends of the boom and gaff; and

a leech halyard connected to the rearward end of the gaff to control a horizontal angle of the gaff.