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.

An automatic wing control mechanism for sailing vessels is described. The automatic wing control mechanism adjusts a wing orientation with respect to the apparent wind to optimize its efficiency.

A ship-mounted auxiliary sail system featuring a plurality of sail units mountable and movable about the ship on a rail system. The sail units can have automatic reefing safety features and/or automatic mast release safety features.

A ship-mounted auxiliary sail system featuring a plurality of sail units mountable and movable about the ship on a rail system. The sail units can have automatic reefing safety features and/or automatic mast release safety features.

A wing for the propulsion of a craft includes an external envelope and at least one profile structure surrounded by the external envelope. The profile structure has an articulated internal structure and an assembly of controllers to control a deformation of the external envelope. Each controller is rotatably mounted with respect to the internal structure. Each controller is also rotatably mounted with respect to the external envelope through at least one rotating link, and includes at least one curved surface configured to orient a curvature of the external envelope locally between a controller and an adjacent control controller.

The invention relates to an at least partially wind-propelled ship, comprising a double airfoil mounted on a structure controlled angularly around a generally vertical axis depending on conditions, where the double airfoil comprises a fore flap and an aft flap at least one of which has a fore-to-aft asymmetry and separated by a slit, where each flap comprises a series of shape members distributed in height, wherein said structure comprises a fore mast and an aft mast connected by a boom member and by a gaff member.

The shape members of the fore flap are traversed by the fore mast while being able to turn around an axis defined thereby, while the shape members of the aft flap are traversed by the aft mast while being able to turn around an axis defined thereby.

The present invention refers to a new multilayered material, reinforced with fibres and having an improved adhesion between the layers throughout its entire structure; to a process for its preparation and to the articles made with such material, intended to be exposed to adverse conditions, such as strong winds, stretching, temperature changes, such as for example sails for boat.

A wingsail includes a wing body, a wing axle having an axis, and at least one trim plate supported on a side surface of the wing body, the trim plate to control a rotational movement of the wing body about an axis of the wing axle.

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 silencing device for an in-mast furling system is used to prevent contact between the furling extrusion and the interior wall of the hollow mast when a mainsail has been removed (such as for winter storage). The silencing device is hoisted onto the hollow mast and furled (or placed) onto the extrusion after the mainsail has been removed. In one configuration, the silencing device comprises a padding of several feet in length that is wrapped in sailcloth. The padding thus covers the extrusion and functions to limit the movement of the extrusion within the mast, eliminating contact between a bare extrusion and the interior of the mast, and significantly reducing the potential of fatigue failure for the extrusion itself.