A rigging for a wind-propelled vessel includes: a rotating airfoil-shaped mast; a sail movably coupled to a trailing edge of the airfoil-shaped mast and configured to be hoisted or lowered along the airfoil-shaped mast; a swiveling masthead coupled to a top section of the airfoil-shaped mast; and a plurality of stays supporting the airfoil-shaped mast, each stay having a first end connected to the swiveling masthead and a second end connected to a hull of the vessel.

The present disclosure is directed generally toward sailing vessels. One example is a catamaran with one or more pivoting masts per hull member, which may pivot from a generally perpendicular upright position, to a generally flat stowed position toward the bow of the hulls. The masts are capable of sustaining a plurality of sails, which may travel 180 degrees with respect to the hulls.

The present invention is directed broadly to a marine vessel (10) comprising a deck (12) mounted to a hull (14) together with a sail (16) coupled to the marine vessel (10) via a mast base assembly (18). The mast base assembly (18) comprises a mast tilt assembly (22). The mast base assembly (18) also comprises a mast base mounting (20) to which the mast tilt assembly (22) is pivotally mounted for movement about a tilt axis (24) between stowed and operative positions. The mast base assembly (18) further comprises a sail slew assembly (26) mounted to the sail (16) associated with the marine vessel (10). The sail slew assembly (26) is operatively coupled to the mast tilt assembly (22) for slewing of the sail (16). The sail (16) is rotated or slewed about a slew axis (28) of the mast tilt assembly (22) to reorient the sail (16) relative to the marine vessel (10).

The present disclosure is directed generally toward sailing vessels. One example is a catamaran with one or more pivoting masts per hull member, which may pivot from a generally perpendicular upright position, to a generally flat stowed position toward the bow of the hulls. The masts are capable of sustaining a plurality of sails, which may travel 180 degrees with respect to the hulls.

Stabilized rotating sailing rig for boats formed by a mast, a boom perpendicular to the mast, and one or more sails bent to the common boom and to the mast; rig capable of freely rotating with all its elements, around a vertical axis, with the important and novel characteristic that the top of the mast is stabilized by shrouds and/or stays which tie it to the periphery of the deck or decks of the boat without jeopardizing the rotation of the rig around its vertical axis. This top of the mast stabilization also permits the use of prow fixed sails.

The present invention is directed broadly to a marine vessel (10) comprising a deck (12) mounted to a hull (14) together with a sail (16) coupled to the marine vessel (10) via a mast base assembly (18). The mast base assembly (18) comprises a mast tilt assembly (22). The mast base assembly (18) also comprises a mast base mounting (20) to which the mast tilt assembly (22) is pivotally mounted for movement about a tilt axis (24) between stowed and operative positions. The mast base assembly (18) further comprises a sail slew assembly (26) mounted to the sail (16) associated with the marine vessel (10). The sail slew assembly (26) is operatively coupled to the mast tilt assembly (22) for slewing of the sail (16). The sail (16) is rotated or slewed about a slew axis (28) of the mast tilt assembly (22) to reorient the sail (16) relative to the marine vessel (10).

A sailing vessel is disclosed which comprises a hull, a keel depending from the hull and a mast. A ballast bulb is provided at the lower end of the keel. A first control mechanisms is provided for rotating the ballast bulb about a transverse axis to change the angle of attack of the bulb. A second control mechanism is provided for rotating the bulb about a longitudinal axis of the vessel.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a passive, automatic wing-control mechanism for sailing vessels. A cam is attached to one end of a rotatable mast as part of a rotatable wing, and a tensioner is configured to exert a constant force perpendicularly against the cam. When a wing is in a no-go sailing angle with respect to an apparent wind, the cam does not exert a torque on the mast. When the wing is outside the no-go sailing angle, the cam exerts a counter-torque to a torque caused by the apparent wind acting on the rotatable wing, causing the wing to remain at a predetermined angle with respect to the apparent wind.

A watercraft may include a crane for lifting loads. The crane may include a tower and a boom that is rotatble with respect to the tower. The tower may be positioned inside the outer contour of the watercraft so as to minimize the profile of the watercraft on radar. The watercraft may include a superstructure within which the tower may be disposed. The superstructure may include planar outer walls that are obtuse relative to a horizontal plane. A rotary bearing may be utilized to connect the boom to the tower and permit the boom to rotate relative to the tower. Further, when the boom is in a rest position, a lower edge of the boom may be positioned 10 cm or less above the crane deck.

A sailing vessel is disclosed which comprises a hull, a keel depending from the hull and a mast. A ballast bulb is provided at the lower end of the keel. A first control mechanisms is provided for rotating the ballast bulb about a transverse axis to change the angle of attack of the bulb. A second control mechanism is provided for rotating the bulb about a longitudinal axis of the vessel.