Maritime drone (1) comprising a hull (2) provided with an upper face (3) and a lower face (4), a centerboard (5) extending projecting from the lower face (4) of the hull (2) in order to give sailing/navigation stability to the maritime drone (1) and at least one wing sail (6). The wing sail (6) comprises a mast (7) connected to the hull (2) and a wing profile (8) connected to the mast (7) and it is suitable to intercept the wind in order to move the maritime drone (1). The centerboard (5) internally defines a containment volume (9) for the wing sail (6), which is movable between an operative position, in which it extends at least partially above the upper face (3) of the hull (2), and an inoperative position, in which it is at least partially housed in the containment volume (9) of the centerboard (5).

A wind-propelled vessel is described herein. The vessel includes at least one hull and at least one set of paired masts. Each paired mast of the at least one set of paired masts has a first mast located to one side of the vessel and a second mast located on the opposite side of the vessel. Also, each mast of the at least one set of paired masts has a spar located at or near the top of the mast. Moreover, each one of the spar located at or near the top of the mast extends inwards towards a center plane of the vessel, and an inward end of the spar is connected by a connector to another inward end of another one of the each one of the spar located at or near the top of the mast. In accordance with the illustrative examples provided herein, the connector imparts a dynamic force upon connected spars that responsively pulls the connected ones of the inward ends of the spars to their nearest position when tops of the masts to which the spars are fixably attached move away from a relative nearest position to a paired one of one set of paired masts.

A propulsion system for a boat comprises a plurality of aerofoils connected to a main mast. At least one of the aerofoils is a displaceable aerofoil adapted to be displaced along the main mast between an open position and a closed position. When the displaceable aerofoil is in its open position the aerofoils together form a sail of open sail area. When the displaceable aerofoil is in its closed position at least some of the aerofoils overlap to form a sail of closed sail area, the closed sail area being less than the open sail area. The propulsion system can include a displacement mechanism to displace the displaceable aerofoil between its open and closed positions; at least one of the aerofoils having a solar panel thereon; and/or a stub mast extending along and free to rotate about a stub axis and connected to the main mast by a stub pivot.

Various embodiments of a sailing vessel are disclosed configured to reduce a heeling moment acting on the sailing vessel as a wind acts on a sail of the sailing vessel. Generally, a mast of the sailing vessel is allowed to cant to leeward, thus reducing the heeling moment.

A wind-propelled vessel is described herein. The vessel includes at least one hull and at least one set of paired masts. Each paired mast of the at least one set of paired masts has a first mast located to one side of the vessel and a second mast located on the opposite side of the vessel. Also, each mast of the at least one set of paired masts has a spar located at or near the top of the mast. Moreover, each one of the spar located at or near the top of the mast extends inwards towards a center plane of the vessel, and an inward end of the spar is connected by a connector to another inward end of another one of the each one of the spar located at or near the top of the mast. In accordance with the illustrative examples provided herein, the connector imparts a dynamic force upon connected spars that responsively pulls the connected ones of the inward ends of the spars to their nearest position when tops of the masts to which the spars are fixably attached move away from a relative nearest position to a paired one of one set of paired masts.

Disclosed is a mast intended to equip a marine or submarine vessel. The mast includes a metal structure extending along an axis and a fairing arranged externally to the structure in a direction normal to the axis. The fairing is removably assembled to the structure.

A rigging system (1) for a sailboat comprising: a mast (3) that extends substantially vertical from a hull; a boom (5) that extends substantially horizontal from the mast (3); a yang tube (7) extending between the mast and the boom to resist relative force and/or moment of the boom (5) towards the mast (3), wherein the yang tube (7) is substantially arcuate and a convex side of the actuate yang tube (7) faces an intersection (9) of the boom (5) and the mast (3) and wherein the yang tube (7) is located above the boom (5). A connection (301) for transferring a first force from a spar (307) to a mast (3) of a sailboat, the connection comprising: a connection base (303) having a key portion (305) to be received in a keyway (306), wherein the keyway (306) is part of a sail track (107) of the mast (3); a mount (309) to receive the spar (307), wherein the first force (35) from the spar (307) is transmitted through the mount (309) to the connection base (303); and a restraint (311) to resist a first component force (37) acting on the connection base (303), wherein the first component force (37) is a component of the first force (35) transmitted from the spar (307) that is in a direction parallel to the keyway (306).

The present invention relates to a rig (2) for a nautical means comprising: —a reference plane intended to coincide with a symmetry plane extending in longitudinal and vertical direction of the hull of the nautical means; —at least one wing; —at least one rigid support capable of supporting said wing and transmitting a propulsive thrust to the hull of the nautical means given by the aerodynamic lift generated by the wing when it takes wind; —the wing comprising a first and a second main face opposite to each other, —the rigid support being capable of supporting the wing at least in a first operating configuration in which at least a main portion of the first or second face is facing a first side of the reference plane and in a second operating configuration in which said main portion is facing the opposite side of the reference plane; —the rigid support comprising a wing sliding path for switching from the first to the second operating position and vice versa.

A collapsible mast of or for a yacht includes a base, a top section, and a rotation mechanism arranged between the base and the top section configured to rotate the top section relative to the base between an upright extended state, in which the top section extends in line with the base, and a collapsed state, in which the top section is rotated downward to reduce a height of the mast. The rotation mechanism comprises an axis oriented transverse through the base. Further, the rotation mechanism comprises a rotation arm, which is rotatably connected to the base via the axis.

In order to provide a rigid sail or aerofoil sail which has a lower overall weight, is cost-effective to manufacture and does not affect the passing under bridges, power lines or similar structures arranged over busy waters, in the case of a rigid sail for vessels, in particular, for large ships, such as bulk carriers, tankers, car transporters or bulkers, comprising a mast and a first aerofoil wing body mounted on the mast with a base and a head, wherein the mast is inserted through the base into the first aerofoil wing body and is arranged within the first aerofoil wing body, it is proposed that the mast, starting from the base, does not extend beyond a maximum height of the first aerofoil wing body, in particular, less than 75% of the maximum height.