Sailboats

Details Sailboats Sailboats

1995-10-16

1998-03-10

Avila, Stephen

Ships

Apparatus held by or attached to rider to control sailboard...

Foot strap means

114102, 114274, P63B 3500

Patent

active

057249059

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to monohull and multihull sailboats and in particular it relates to sailboats of the type generally referred to as press which are able to be sailed in both directions.
Many attempts have been made in the past to provide a proa type multihull sailing vessel configuration which will be efficient in use and simple to construct and handle. Effective steering in both directions has proven the most difficult problem to date. Another disadvantage associated with practically all types of multihull sailing vessels is their relatively wide beam which prevents them from accommodating berths designed for monohull vessels. This has greatly inhibited the acceptance of multihull sailing vessels.
Furthermore desirable characteristics in such sailing vessels, apart from the normally required characteristics of being able to sail efficiently to windward and off the wind are characteristics relating to the performance of the boat during a tacking manoeuvre or a reversing or shunting manoeuvre as it is during these times that most difficulties arise as opposed to subsequently when the sails have been trimmed and the vessel may be steered to maintain its way.
In proas a desirable characteristic is that when trimming the sail or sails for movement from a stable stationary position for movement in either direction, that the action of trimming the sail(s) will automatically induce the vessel to move off in the desired direction without further immediate actions being taken by the occupants to maintain the desired heading of the vessel.
It is also a desirable characteristic that the sail(s) be able to be reefed and hoisted or lowered independent of the direction of sailing of the vessel and that such vessels, especially when in the form of small craft such as trailerable craft, are able to right themselves from a knockdown due to wind action either automatically or without outside assistance. Furthermore in trailerable vessels it is desirable to provide a configuration which can perform adequately while at the same time being economical to manufacture and easy to rig, and launch and retrieve from and onto a trailer.
The present invention aims to provide improvements to sailing vessels and/or sails and rigs therefor which will exhibit one or more of the abovementioned characteristics, which may be utilised separately or in combination and which will be reliable and efficient in operation.
With the foregoing in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in a proa sailing vessel including: lines for trimming the sail assembly on respective port and starboard tacks; attitudes, and whereby the action of trimming the sail for operation on a respective port or starboard tack will dispose one rudder assembly to its operative attitude and the other opposed rudder assembly to its inoperative attitude Suitably in a multihull vessel the hull assembly has an underwater shape which is substantially symmetrical about a central athwartship axis. For a monohull vessel the hull may have side ballast at the upwind side of the vessel and extra buoyancy on that side to compensate when in the non-sailing attitude.
Preferably the operative rudder assembly is at or adjacent the rear of the vessel. Preferably each rudder assembly includes a blade portion which moves such as by pivoting from an inoperative attitude substantially above the water to its operative attitude. Suitably the leading rudder blade is retracted from the water or at least partially retracted such that the centre of lateral resistance offered by the of the rudder assemblies is biased towards the rear of the athwartship centreline. Suitably the head portions the rudder blades are maintained captive between opposed side walls which converge upwardly whereby the lowered rudder blade may pivot between the lower widely spaced portions of the side walls and the raised rudder blade is held against pivoting between the upper closely spaced portions of side walls. This arrangement ensures positive centering of the leading rudder upon retraction of the leading rud

REFERENCES:
patent: 2756711 (1956-07-01), Simpson
patent: 3173395 (1965-03-01), Laurent
patent: 3223065 (1965-12-01), Wilson
patent: 3304899 (1967-02-01), Weatherly
patent: 3747549 (1973-07-01), Shutt
patent: 3870004 (1975-03-01), Bailey

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