The present invention relates to an arrangement (100) for a sailing boat furling system, and for reception of or comprising an outgoing shaft (11) exposed to external torque loads. It comprises a furling drive unit (20) with a gear mechanism (22) and a motor unit (23) connected to an ingoing, motor, shaft (21) and a ratchet mechanism (10) comprising a locking functionality. The ratchet mechanism comprises a housing (17A,17B) and takes up the outgoing shaft (11). The furling drive unit (20) is connectable to ratchet mechanism (10) and is so arranged that the motor unit (23) will be located distant from the outgoing shaft (11), and it further comprises a control unit (30) arranged to control the motor unit (23) driving the ingoing shaft (21). The outgoing shaft can be switched between an engaged mode, in which the outgoing shaft (11), when exposed to external torque loads in a first direction, is allowed to rotate in an opposite, second, direction but prevented from rotating in a said first direction, hence protecting the motor unit and the gear mechanism (22) from external torque loads on the outgoing shaft (11) which are transferred to or taken up by the ratchet mechanism (10), and a disengaged mode in which the outgoing shaft (11) and the ingoing shaft (21) are allowed to rotate in both directions, by controlling, by means of the control unit (30), the movement of the ingoing shaft (21), and thereby, via the ratchet mechanism (10), the outgoing shaft (11) between being in the engaged mode and in the disengaged mode.

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.

In addition, the aft mast is twistable, the shape members of the aft flap are rotationally locked to said aft mast, and the controller is capable of acting on the bottom and the top of the aft mast.

The present invention relates to an arrangement (100) for a sailing boat furling system, and for reception of or comprising an outgoing shaft (11) exposed to external torque loads. It comprises a furling drive unit (20) with a gear mechanism (22) and a motor unit (23) connected to an ingoing, motor, shaft (21) and a ratchet mechanism (10) comprising a locking functionality. The ratchet mechanism comprises a housing (17A,17B) and takes up the outgoing shaft (11). The furling drive unit (20) is connectable to ratchet mechanism (10) and is so arranged that the motor unit (23) will be located distant from the outgoing shaft (11), and it further comprises a control unit (30) arranged to control the motor unit (23) driving the ingoing shaft (21). The outgoing shaft can be switched between an engaged mode, in which the outgoing shaft (11), when exposed to external torque loads in a first direction, is allowed to rotate in an opposite, second, direction but prevented from rotating in a said first direction, hence protecting the motor unit and the gear mechanism (22) from external torque loads on the outgoing shaft (11) which are transferred to or taken up by the ratchet mechanism (10), and a disengaged mode in which the outgoing shaft (11) and the ingoing shaft (21) are allowed to rotate in both directions, by controlling, by means of the control unit (30), the movement of the ingoing shaft (21), and thereby, via the ratchet mechanism (10), the outgoing shaft (11) between being in the engaged mode and in the disengaged mode.

The invention relates to a sailing rig system (SRS) for a sailing ship comprising one or more airfoil sails comprising one or more sail defining frames including at least three airfoil sail shape-defining edges and/or at least three airfoil sail shape-defining corners. The sail may be controllable, rotatable, pivotable, trimmable, reefable, stowable, slidable, windable, guidable, coaxial, weathervaning, wind/sun tracking, freestanding; it may provide cambering, reinforcing, sealing, boundary layer control, shielding means, sections and connections and it may be transparent. The frame may be a closable/deployable rotor sail frame. The frame may include rig components and the SRS may further comprise vertical/oblique/horizontal spars coupled with spar couplings. It may further comprise lateral, fore-and-aft, superposed sails, actuators, power generators, power sources, thermal management systems, defined rotor sails. It may provide sail twist. It may be coupled with a sailing ship with defined ship couplings. A sailing method is proposed.

A roller assisted low friction reefing grommet that facilitates movement of a reefing line through the grommet. The roller assisted low friction reefing grommet includes a grommet ring having a roller therein that reduces friction of the line traveling through the grommet. A line channeling guide is formed within the interior of the grommet ring by a low friction material positioned on either side of the grommet, with a channel formed by the line channeling guide and the roller for receiving and guiding the reefing line.

A double airfoil mounted on a structure controlled angularly around a generally vertical axis. The double airfoil includes a fore flap and an aft flap at least one of which has a fore-to-aft asymmetry. Each flap includes a series of shape members distributed in height, wherein the structure includes a fore mast and an aft mast connected by a boom member and 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 aft mast is twistable, the shape members of the aft flap are rotationally locked to the aft mast, and the controller can act on the bottom and the top of the aft mast.

An apparatus for furling and unfurling a sail includes a housing with an upper end adapted for connection with an upper end of a sailboat mast and a lower end including a swivel, rotatable relative to the housing upper end and adapted for connection with an upper corner of a sail. Within the housing there is a motor with a clutch attached to it. When the housing upper and lower ends are connected to the top of a mast and sail, respectively, the motor rotates the swivel in a first direction to furl a sail, and when the clutch is released, the swivel is free to rotate in a second direction opposite the first direction to unfurl the sail. The housing can further include a stop mechanism which prevents the housing upper end from rotating when the swivel is rotated.

An apparatus for furling and unfurling a sail includes a housing with an upper end adapted for connection with an upper end of a sailboat mast and a lower end including a swivel, rotatable relative to the housing upper end and adapted for connection with an upper corner of a sail. Within the housing there is a motor with a clutch attached to it. When the housing upper and lower ends are connected to the top of a mast and sail, respectively, the motor rotates the swivel in a first direction to furl a sail, and when the clutch is released, the swivel is free to rotate in a second direction opposite the first direction to unfurl the sail. The housing can further include a stop mechanism which prevents the housing upper end from rotating when the swivel is rotated.

A double airfoil mounted on a structure controlled angularly around a generally vertical axis. The double airfoil includes a fore flap and an aft flap at least one of which has a fore-to-aft asymmetry. Each flap includes a series of shape members distributed in height, wherein the structure includes a fore mast and an aft mast connected by a boom member and 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 aft mast is twistable, the shape members of the aft flap are rotationally locked to the aft mast, and the controller can act on the bottom and the top of the aft mast.

A sail furler for a sail boat and method for furling a sail for reefing or storage and for unfurling a sail for use. Furling and unfurling of the sail may be accomplished from the cockpit of the sailboat. A mandrel is mounted to the mast extending generally parallel to the boom and attached to the aft end of boom by an aft plate. The mandrel is mounted in bearings and provided with a removable crank for rotation. The mandrel is connected to the mast by a universal joint and bearing structure over which is provided an outer cylinder. A cylinder and resilient sleeve may be provided on the mandrel. A reef brake extends from the mandrel into contact with the boom to prevent rotation for reefing the sail. A slide guard may be mounted at the mast end of the mandrel.