A keel canting mechanism for a sailing vessel having a hull, a keel and a mast is disclosed. The mechanism comprises a worm gear co-axial with the longitudinal axis of the vessel about which the keel rotates during a canting movement. There is a double enveloping worm in mesh with the worm gear and means for driving the worm. The worm gear is fast with the keel and, when rotated by the worm, displaces the keel through a canting movement. The gear has a plurality of holes in it into which pins can be inserted to lock the gear, and hence the keel, in the position to which it has been moved by the worm.

This invention provides improvements in the efficiency of a sailing vessel through the use of flaps, hydrofoils, or members on the keel of a sailing vessel. One or more are positioned at the top, or root of the keel of the vessel, which primarily generate a force in the windward direction to provide a counter-leeward drift force. One or more are located at the bottom, or tip of the keel of the vessel, which primarily generate a force in the leeward direction to provide a counter-heeling moment. Among other benefits, operation of these flaps, hydrofoils, or members during sailing increases the vessel's efficiency, in particular its velocity made good. Further, since they are mounted on one appendage, sailing vessels of a rudder and keel design can be equipped with counter leeward-drift and counter-heeling attributes without the need for additional appendages.

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.

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.

A sailing yacht (I) comprising a hull (S) and two drift blades (1,1) coupled to said hull (S), each of said drift blades (1,1) being fixed pivoted to said hull (S) in a symmetrical position with respect to the other blade (1, 1) from opposite side with respect to the longitudinal axis (X) of said hull (S) for rotating independently relative to the other blade (1,1) about a rotation axis (Y,Y) not necessarily parallel to said longitudinal axis (X), and around a rotation vertical axis (R, R) so as to modify the angle of incidence with respect to the flow line of the water, with the possibility when sailing of having ballast (Z,Z) positioned in various positions dynamically modified: each ballast (Z, Z) attached to the respective blade (1,1) and separated; both ballasts (Z, Z) attached to one drift blade (1); both ballasts (Z, Z) attached to the other drift blade (1); both ballasts (Z, Z) attached to said two drift blades (1, 1) and joined.

This invention provides improvements in the efficiency of a sailing vessel through the use of flaps, hydrofoils, or members on the keel of a sailing vessel. One or more are positioned at the top, or root of the keel of the vessel, which primarily generate a force in the windward direction to provide a counter-leeward drift force. One or more are located at the bottom, or tip of the keel of the vessel, which primarily generate a force in the leeward direction to provide a counter-heeling moment. Among other benefits, operation of these flaps, hydrofoils, or members during sailing increases the vessel's efficiency, in particular its velocity made good. Further, since they are mounted on one appendage, sailing vessels of a rudder and keel design can be equipped with counter leeward-drift and counter-heeling attributes without the need for additional appendages.

Embodiments of the present apparatus and method feature a permanently fixed canted keel. The apparatus and method feature tacking maneuvers which shift the sail element and reverse the direction of the hull form.

A keel canting mechanism for a sailing vessel having a hull, a keel and a mast is disclosed. The mechanism comprises a worm gear co-axial with the longitudinal axis of the vessel about which the keel rotates during a canting movement. There is a double enveloping worm in mesh with the worm gear and means for driving the worm. The worm gear is fast with the keel and, when rotated by the worm, displaces the keel through a canting movement. The gear has a plurality of holes in it into which pins can be inserted to lock the gear, and hence the keel, in the position to which it has been moved by the worm.

The rhombohedral hydrofoil (20) for a craft travelling parallel to an axis (46) has a plane of symmetry and comprises front wings (21, 22) that are connected to one another and rear wings (25, 26) that are connected to one another. The end of each front wing that is furthest from the junction of the front wings with one another is connected to one end of a rear wing which is the end furthest from the junction of the rear wings with one another. This assembly of wings has a first orthogonal projection onto a plane referred to as vertical perpendicular to the axis of travel, this projection having the shape of a quadrilateral having an obtuse angle at the junction of the front wings with one another, an obtuse angle at the junction of the rear wings with one another, and two acute angles at the junction of a front wing with a rear wing. This assembly of wings has a second orthogonal projection onto a plane referred to as horizontal orthogonal to the plane of symmetry and having an axis parallel to the axis of travel, this projection having the shape of a quadrilateral having only angles with magnitudes smaller than 180 degrees.