The present invention provides a forward propulsion system for a wind driven vehicle which includes one or more of a mast or a mast sleeve having a pliant sheet coupler capable of orientation at a mast front with a pliant sheet extending from the pliant sheet coupler over either a mast first side or a mast second side to a connection behind the mast to achieve configurations which move the force vector of the airflow acting on the pliant sheet further toward the forward direction of the wind driven vehicle, as compared to conventional sail configurations, to increase forward thrust and forward velocity of the wind driven vehicle.

The present invention provides a forward propulsion system for a wind driven vehicle which includes one or more of a mast or a mast sleeve having a pliant sheet coupler capable of orientation at a mast front with a pliant sheet extending from the pliant sheet coupler over either a mast first side or a mast second side to a connection behind the mast to achieve configurations which move the force vector of the airflow acting on the pliant sheet further toward the forward direction of the wind driven vehicle, as compared to conventional sail configurations, to increase forward thrust and forward velocity of the wind driven vehicle.

A vessel is provided with a mast, sail, and halyard for hoisting the sail. The sail includes dollies configured to be movable along the mast. The mast includes a guide member, the guide dollies configured to cooperate with said guide member, wherein: the sail includes rigid panels, articulated two by two; the mast is equipped with a transit part positioned at the end of the guide member, which has a flared lower portion and is open at its opposite ends, wherein during hoisting of the sail, each dolly is received in the transit part and is guided along to leave it through its upper opening and cooperate with the guide member, while during its lowering, each dolly is disengaged from the guide member, is received in the transit part, moves along it, and escapes from it by following the movement of the portion of the sail with which it is integral.

A vessel is provided with a mast, sail, and halyard for hoisting the sail. The sail includes dollies configured to be movable along the mast. The mast includes a guide member, the guide dollies configured to cooperate with said guide member, wherein: the sail includes rigid panels, articulated two by two; the mast is equipped with a transit part positioned at the end of the guide member, which has a flared lower portion and is open at its opposite ends, wherein during hoisting of the sail, each dolly is received in the transit part and is guided along to leave it through its upper opening and cooperate with the guide member, while during its lowering, each dolly is disengaged from the guide member, is received in the transit part, moves along it, and escapes from it by following the movement of the portion of the sail with which it is integral.

Disclosed are devices for connection between a canvas and a rail defining a path of direction. The device includes a part mounted to move with respect to the rail on the path; a part; a unit for securing this part with a point defining a direction; and a unit for rotatably mounting the part with respect to the part about an axis such that the part is able to take all positions between a first position and a second position, the first position being defined so that the direction makes, with the axis, a second non-zero angle and the position being defined so that the direction is parallel to the longitudinal axis.

Disclosed are devices for connection between a canvas and a rail defining a path of direction. The device includes a part mounted to move with respect to the rail on the path; a part; a unit for securing this part with a point defining a direction; and a unit for rotatably mounting the part with respect to the part about an axis such that the part is able to take all positions between a first position and a second position, the first position being defined so that the direction makes, with the axis, a second non-zero angle and the position being defined so that the direction is parallel to the longitudinal axis.

An apparatus (100) for actuating a locking mechanism (12) of a locking sail track car (10) comprises a latch formation (116) disposed in a fixed position with respect to the track (14), a control surface (112) spaced from the latch formation (116) in a hoisting direction, and an actuator assembly (120) for attachment to the car (10). The actuator assembly (120) comprises an actuator (124) for operating a control member (24) of the car locking mechanism, and a latch element (158) connected to the actuator (124) and moveable between a first detent position in which the latch element (158) is not engageable with the latch formation (116) and a second detent position. The latch element (158) is arranged to cooperate with the control surface (112) upon movement of the actuator assembly (120) in the hoisting direction to set the latch element (158) into the second detent position, and is engageable with the latch formation (116) upon subsequent movement of the actuator assembly (120) in a loading direction with the latch element (158) in the second detent position. Engagement of the latch element (158) with the latch formation (116) fixes the actuator (124) in position with respect to the track (14) for operating the control member (24) of the car locking mechanism (12) upon subsequent movement of the car (10) in the loading direction, and urges the latch element (158) out of the second detent position and towards the first detent position such that subsequent movement of the actuator assembly (120) in the hoisting direction to disengage the latch element (158) from the latch formation (116) sets the latch element (158) back into the first detent position.

An apparatus (100) for actuating a locking mechanism (12) of a locking sail track car (10) comprises a latch formation (116) disposed in a fixed position with respect to the track (14), a control surface (112) spaced from the latch formation (116) in a hoisting direction, and an actuator assembly (120) for attachment to the car (10). The actuator assembly (120) comprises an actuator (124) for operating a control member (24) of the car locking mechanism, and a latch element (158) connected to the actuator (124) and moveable between a first detent position in which the latch element (158) is not engageable with the latch formation (116) and a second detent position. The latch element (158) is arranged to cooperate with the control surface (112) upon movement of the actuator assembly (120) in the hoisting direction to set the latch element (158) into the second detent position, and is engageable with the latch formation (116) upon subsequent movement of the actuator assembly (120) in a loading direction with the latch element (158) in the second detent position. Engagement of the latch element (158) with the latch formation (116) fixes the actuator (124) in position with respect to the track (14) for operating the control member (24) of the car locking mechanism (12) upon subsequent movement of the car (10) in the loading direction, and urges the latch element (158) out of the second detent position and towards the first detent position such that subsequent movement of the actuator assembly (120) in the hoisting direction to disengage the latch element (158) from the latch formation (116) sets the latch element (158) back into the first detent position.

A self-trimming wingsail system, comprising a wingsail body mounted on a mast and configured to rotate freely around the mast, an adjustable tail connected to the wingsail body, and a tail control mechanism configured to adjust an angle of the adjustable tail. The tail control mechanism comprising a motor, and a slidable collar connected to the motor via a collar cable and connected to the adjustable tail via a tail cable. Movement of the slidable collar transmits a linear force via the tail cable to the adjustable tail to adjust the angle of the adjustable tail.

A self-trimming wingsail system, comprising a wingsail body mounted on a mast and configured to rotate freely around the mast, an adjustable tail connected to the wingsail body, and a tail control mechanism configured to adjust an angle of the adjustable tail. The tail control mechanism comprising a motor, and a slidable collar connected to the motor via a collar cable and connected to the adjustable tail via a tail cable. Movement of the slidable collar transmits a linear force via the tail cable to the adjustable tail to adjust the angle of the adjustable tail.