A process of printing an image or images on the sails of a watercraft or other wind powered objects without altering or compromising the efficacy of the sails is described. The process employs a method of printing large-scale, single or multiple panel, continuous, high-resolution photographic and graphic images on wind-catching fabrics. The dynamics and curvatures of a sail are integrated into the manufacturing process when employed for sails, though the process may be applied to any large-scaled fabric print. The process of the present invention produces printed sails providing for the highest resolution photographic, art, and graphic printing with virtually no weight gain, nor effect on the sail's original performance. Modern equipment is employed to achieve printing of realistic, high quality images directly on to the fabric of sails without compromising flexibility or durability, as well as without infringing on the speed and agility of the sailing craft.

[Problem to be solved] An object of the present invention is to provide a zero emission power generation sailing ship, wherein generated electric power is consumed for electric demand in the ship or consumed for electric demand in the ship and for driving the ship in response to wind condition, thereby realizing zero emission navigation.

[Means for solving the problem] A zero emission power generation sailing ship comprises a sail provided on a deck, a water turbine-propeller, a power generator-motor which is driven by the water turbine-propeller operating as a water turbine and drives the water turbine-propeller operating as a propeller, and an energy storage device for directly storing electric energy generated by the power generator-motor or converting the electric energy into energy of a substance and storing the substance, wherein the water turbine-propeller operates as a water turbine and the power generator-motor operates as a power generator so as to generate electric power and a part of the generated electric power is consumed for electric demand in the ship and residual part of the generated electric power is stored in the energy storage device when the wind is strong, while the power generator-motor operates as a motor and the water turbine-propeller operates as a propeller and a part of the electric power drawn from the energy storage device is consumed for electric demand in the ship and residual part of the electric power is consumed for driving the power generator-motor operating as a motor when the wind is light, and further comprises a course selecting device provided with a computer program for selecting course based on ocean wind forecasting data so as to prevent exhaustion of the electric power stored in the energy storage device.

A minimal fairing apparatus minimally shielding the faster-moving drag-sensitive uppermost wheel surfaces from headwinds reduces overall vehicle drag. The apparatus includes various upper wheel fairings of FIGS. 1-6. Each fairing shields a primary vehicle-drag-inducing upper wheel surface from headwinds otherwise impinging thereon.

Various embodiments of a submerged sailing vessel are disclosed. Such a submerged sailing vessel may comprise a submersible hull assembly, a keel coupled to and extending upwards from hull assembly towards a water surface, and a wind-catching assembly coupled to and extending upwards into the air from the keel for propelling the submerged sailing vessel. The hull assembly and keel are submerged below the water surface as the vessel is propelled by the wind-catching assembly above the water surface.

Various embodiments of a submerged sailing vessel are disclosed. Such a submerged sailing vessel may comprise a submersible hull assembly, a keel coupled to and extending upwards from hull assembly towards a water surface, and a wind-catching assembly coupled to and extending upwards into the air from the keel for propelling the submerged sailing vessel. The hull assembly and keel are submerged below the water surface as the vessel is propelled by the wind-catching assembly above the water surface.

The lift-generating system (101) includes a wing (1) having at least one suction opening (12) designed to establish a connection between the exterior of the wing and the interior (102) of the wing (1); and a suction device, a support (4) on which the wing (1) is mounted so as to be able to pivot about an axis substantially parallel to the axis (A1). The suction device includes a fan (3) located outside the wing (1) and fluidically connected to the interior (102) of the wing (1) so as to draw air through the at least one suction opening (12) of the wing, and discharge the drawn-in air through an outlet of the fan (3). The fan (3) includes an impeller (30) surrounded by a shroud (31) which defines, around the impeller, a duct that serves to guide the air discharged by the impeller, and a motor for rotating the impeller (30) about an axis substantially parallel to the axis (A1) of the wing. The shroud (31) of the fan (3) has an outlet (32) of which the axis (A32) is substantially orthogonal to the axis (A30) of the impeller (30) of the fan. The lift-generating system can be provided for a boat.

A method for detecting the form of sails and the like wherein in the form detection is brought about by means of a three-dimensional measurement of a plurality of locations of the surface of the sail, which measurement is carried out by means of measurement of the time-of-flight of an optical signal.

A method for detecting the form of sails and the like wherein in the form detection is brought about by means of a three-dimensional measurement of a plurality of locations of the surface of the sail, which measurement is carried out by means of measurement of the time-of-flight of an optical signal.

The present invention relates broadly to an unmanned surface vessel (10) comprising a hull (12), an underwater appendage (14), a winch (16), and a cable or rope (18). The cable or rope (18) is at its distal end attached to a remote device (20) with the cable or rope (18) arranged to cooperate with the winch (16) to be deployed and retrieved from the vessel (10) via operation of the winch (16). The underwater appendage is in the form of a keel including a cavity (22) designed to partly locate the winch (16).

A submersible vessel having wing and keel assemblies that are extendable for wind-powered surface operation and retractable to reduce drag for submerged operation or to place the vessel in a more compact configuration. A deployment mechanism including an actuator and linkage pivots the wing and keel assemblies-simultaneously between the deployed and retracted configuration. The vessel may have first and second pressure hulls flanking the wing and keel assemblies. A drive mechanism including a motor and a gear train employing pulley-and-cable assemblies rotates either the wing and flap together such that the flap angle relative to the wing is constant, or to change the flap angle relative to the wing with the wing angle of incidence held constant. The invention also provides a retractable wind-powered propulsion apparatus that is mountable to the hull assembly of a submersible or non-submersible vessel.