SAILING DEVICE AND MARINE VESSEL

Abstract

A sailing device includes a base connected to a lower end portion of a mast and a proximal portion of a boom, and rotatable in a plane perpendicular to an upward-downward direction of a hull.

Claims

1. A sailing device to be attached to a hull, the sailing device comprising: a sail; a mast extending in an upward-downward direction of the hull to support the sail; a boom extending in a plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull to support the sail from below; and a base connected to a lower end portion of the mast and a proximal portion of the boom, and rotatable in the plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull.

2. The sailing device according to claim 1, further comprising: a base guide having an arcuate or circular shape to guide and support the base when the base rotates in the plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull.

3. The sailing device according to claim 2, wherein the base guide includes a pair of base guides; and one of the pair of base guides is located leftward of a central portion of the mast in a right-left direction of the hull, and the other of the pair of base guides is located rightward of the central portion of the mast in the right-left direction of the hull.

4. The sailing device according to claim 2, wherein the base guide is configured to guide and support the base via a base mover movable along the base guide.

5. The sailing device according to claim 4, wherein the base guide includes a rail having the arcuate or circular shape; and the base mover includes a roller movable along the rail.

6. The sailing device according to claim 1, further comprising: a boom guide located forward or rearward of the base in a forward-rearward direction of the hull, having an arcuate shape, and connected to a distal end portion of the boom to guide and support the boom when the base rotates in the plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull.

7. The sailing device according to claim 6, wherein the sail includes a rear sail on a rear side in the forward-rearward direction of the hull; the boom includes a rear boom to support the rear sail; and the boom guide is connected to a rear end portion of the rear boom and is rearward of the base in the forward-rearward direction of the hull.

8. The sailing device according to claim 6, wherein the boom guide is configured to guide and support the boom via a boom mover movable along the boom guide.

9. The sailing device according to claim 8, wherein the boom guide includes a rail having the arcuate shape; and the boom mover includes a bearing movable along the rail.

10. The sailing device according to claim 1, wherein the mast has an inverted V shape in which two mast portions approach each other toward an upper end portion of the mast.

11. The sailing device according to claim 6, wherein the boom has an inverted V shape in which two boom portions approach each other toward the distal end portion of the boom.

12. The sailing device according to claim 1, wherein the sail includes a front sail on a front side in a forward-rearward direction of the hull, and a rear sail on a rear side in the forward-rearward direction of the hull; the boom includes a front boom to support the front sail, and a rear boom to support the rear sail; the front boom includes a rear end portion connected to a front end portion of the base; and the rear boom includes a front end portion connected to a rear end portion of the base.

13. The sailing device according to claim 1, further comprising: an actuator to adjust a rotation angle of the base.

14. A marine vessel comprising: a hull; and a sailing device attached to the hull; wherein the sailing device includes: a sail; a mast extending in an upward-downward direction of the hull to support the sail; a boom extending in a plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull to support the sail from below; and a base connected to a lower end portion of the mast and a proximal portion of the boom, and rotatable in the plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull.

15. The marine vessel according to claim 14, wherein the sailing device further includes a base guide having an arcuate or circular shape to guide and support the base when the base rotates in the plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull.

16. The marine vessel according to claim 15, wherein the base guide includes a pair of base guides; and one of the pair of base guides is located leftward of a central portion of the mast in a right-left direction of the hull, and the other of the pair of base guides is located rightward of the central portion of the mast in the right-left direction of the hull.

17. The marine vessel according to claim 15, wherein the base guide is configured to guide and support the base via a base mover movable along the base guide.

18. The marine vessel according to claim 17, wherein the base guide includes a rail having the arcuate or circular shape; and the base mover includes a roller movable along the rail.

19. The marine vessel according to claim 14, wherein the sailing device further includes, forward or rearward of the base in a forward-rearward direction of the hull, a boom guide having an arcuate shape and connected to a distal end portion of the boom to guide and support the boom when the base rotates in the plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull.

20. The marine vessel according to claim 19, wherein the sail includes a rear sail on a rear side in the forward-rearward direction of the hull; the boom includes a rear boom to support the rear sail; and the boom guide is connected to a rear end portion of the rear boom and is rearward of the base in the forward-rearward direction of the hull.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a marine vessel according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion II in FIG. 1.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a base guide and a base mover of a sailing device as viewed from a rear side in a forward-rearward direction of a hull according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion IV in FIG. 1 as viewed from the rear side in the forward-rearward direction of a hull.

[0034] FIG. 5 is a diagram of a boom guide and a boom mover of a sailing device as viewed from the right side in a right-left direction of a hull according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a boom guide and a boom mover of a sailing device according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a sailing device according to a modified example of the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a winch in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0038] Example embodiments of the present invention are hereinafter described with reference to the drawings.

[0039] A sailing device 100 and a marine vessel 110 according to example embodiments of the present invention are now described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. In the figures, arrow FWD represents the front side in the forward-rearward direction of a hull 111 (see FIG. 1), and arrow BWD represents the rear side in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111. In the figures, arrow Z1 represents the upper side in the upward-downward direction of the hull 111, and arrow Z2 represents the lower side in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111. In the figures, arrow L represents the left side in the right-left direction of the hull 111, and arrow R represents the right side in the right-left direction of the hull 111.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 1, the marine vessel 110 includes the hull 111, two outboard motors 112, and a sailing device 100. The hull 111 includes two hull bodies 111a aligned in the right-left direction of the hull 111 and connected to each other by a deck 111b. That is, the marine vessel 110 is a catamaran. The deck 111b includes an operator to operate the marine vessel 110, seats for passengers, etc. Each of the two outboard motors 112 is attached to a stern of the hull 111. Specifically, the two outboard motors 112 are attached to the rear end portions of the two hull bodies 111a, respectively. Each of the two outboard motors 112 is an engine outboard motor including an engine to drive a propeller. The sailing device 100 is attached to an upper portion of the hull 111. The sailing device 100 is used to sail the marine vessel 110.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 1, the sailing device 100 includes a sail 10, a mast 20, a boom 30, a base 40, an actuator 50, base guides 60, a base guide support 70, a boom guide 80, and a boom guide support 90. In FIG. 1, the sail 10 is indicated by a two-dot chain line.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 1, the opening degree of the sail 10 is adjustable to receive wind to obtain a propulsive force for the marine vessel 110. The sail 10 is opened in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111 and in the upward-downward direction of the hull 111 when the boom 30 extends in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111. In other words, the sail 10 is a fore-and-aft sail. The sail 10 has a triangular shape. The sail 10 includes a front sail 11 on the front side in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111, and a rear sail 12 on the rear side in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 1, the mast 20 extends upward from the base 40 in the upward-downward direction of the hull 111. The mast 20 supports the sail 10. The mast 20 may have an inverted V shape in which two mast portions 20a gradually approach each other toward an upper end portion 20b of the mast 20. The mast 20 includes mast portion connectors 20c to connect the two mast portions 20a to each other. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the mast 20 includes two mast portion connectors 20c.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 1, the boom 30 extends from the base 40 along a plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull 111. The boom 30 supports the sail 10 from below in the upward-downward direction of the hull 111. The boom 30 may have an inverted V shape in which two boom portions 30a gradually approach each other toward a distal end portion 30b of the boom 30. The boom 30 includes a front boom 31 to support the front sail 11 and a rear boom 32 to support the rear sail 12. The front boom 31 extends forward from the base 40 in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111 and extends in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111. The rear boom 32 extends rearward from the base 40 in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111 and extends in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 1, the base 40 preferably is plate-shaped (e.g., flat plate-like shape) and extends in the plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull 111. A lower end portion 20d of the mast 20 and a proximal portion 30c of the boom 30 are connected to the base 40. Specifically, the lower end portion 20d of one of the two mast portions 20a and the lower end portion 20d of the other of the two mast portions 20a are connected to a left end portion and a right end portion of the base 40, respectively. A rear end portion 31a of each of the two boom portions 30a of the front boom 31 is connected to a front end portion 40a of the base 40. A front end portion 32a of each of the two boom portions 30a of the rear boom 32 is connected to a rear end portion 40b of the base 40.

[0046] The base 40 is rotatable about a rotation central axis C in the plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull 111. That is, the mast 20 is connected to the base 40, the boom 30 is connected to the base 40, and the sail 10 supported by the mast 20 and the boom 30 to integrally rotate about the rotation central axis C in the plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull 111. The rotation central axis C passes through a central portion of the base 40 in the right-left direction of the hull 111 and through a front portion of the base 40 in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 1, the actuator 50 adjusts the rotation angle of the base 40. The actuator 50 is located between the base 40 and the hull 111 in the upward-downward direction of the hull 111, and in a central portion of the hull 111 in the forward-rearward direction. The actuator 50 includes a hydraulic cylinder or an electric cylinder, for example.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 1, the base guides 60 guide and support the base 40 when the base 40 rotates in the plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull 111. As shown in FIG. 2, each of the base guides 60 has an arcuate shape corresponding to a circle centered on the rotation central axis C. Specifically, each of the base guides 60 includes a rail having the arcuate shape corresponding to the circle centered on the rotation central axis C. As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of base guides 60 are provided. One of the pair of base guides 60 is provided in the arcuate shape corresponding to the circle centered on the rotation central axis C leftward of a central portion 20e of the mast 20 in the right-left direction of the hull 111, and the other of the pair of base guides 60 is provided in the arcuate shape corresponding to the circle centered on the rotation central axis C rightward of the central portion 20e of the mast 20 in the right-left direction of the hull 111. The base guides 60 are preferably located below the base 40 in the upward-downward direction of the hull 111.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 2, each of the base guides 60 guides and supports the base 40 via base movers 61 that are movable along the base guide 60 having the arcuate shape corresponding to the circle centered on the rotation central axis C. The base movers 61 may include rollers that are movable along the rail having the arcuate shape corresponding to the circle centered on the rotation central axis C. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the rollers (base movers 61) are fixed to the base 40 via a fastener, for example, so as to be rotatable about a direction extending from the rollers toward the rotation central axis C. Two rollers (base movers 61) are aligned in the upward-downward direction of the hull 111 to sandwich the rail (base guide 60). The rail (base guide 60) includes a plate-shaped rail main body 60a and protrusions 60b that protrude upward and downward in the upward-downward direction of the hull 111 from the plate-shaped rail main body 60a. The two rollers (base movers 61) include recesses that engage with the protrusions 60b of the rail (base guide 60), respectively.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 1, the base guide support 70 supports the base guides 60 from below in the upward-downward direction of the hull 111. The base guide support 70 is attached to the hull 111. The base guide support 70 may include a combination of a plurality of rod-shaped members, a plurality of plate-shaped members, etc., such that the base guide support 70 is held at a predetermined position with respect to the hull 111 in the upward-downward direction of the hull 111.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 1, the boom guide 80 guides and supports the boom 30 when the base 40 rotates in the plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull 111. The boom guide 80 has an arcuate shape corresponding to a circle centered on the rotation central axis C. Specifically, the boom guide 80 includes a rail having the arcuate shape corresponding to the circle centered on the rotation central axis C. The boom guide 80 is located rearward of the base 40 in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111, and is connected to the distal end portion 30b of the boom 30. Specifically, the boom guide 80 is connected to a rear end portion 32b of the rear boom 32. The boom guide 80 is preferably located below the boom 30 in the upward-downward direction of the hull 111.

[0052] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the boom guide 80 guides and supports the boom 30 via boom movers 81 that are movable along the boom guide 80 having the arcuate shape corresponding to the circle centered on the rotation central axis C (see FIG. 1). The boom movers 81 include bearings that are movable along the rail having the arcuate shape corresponding to the circle centered on the rotation central axis C. Specifically, the bearings (boom movers 81) are fixed to the rear end portion 32b of the rear boom 32 via a metal plate 82 (e.g., an aluminum plate) that extends in the upward-downward direction of the hull 111, connectors 83, and fasteners, for example, so as to be rotatable about a direction extending from the bearings toward the rotation central axis C. The metal plate 82 is fixed to the rear end portion 32b of the rear boom 32 by a fastener, for example. Upper end portions of the connectors 83 are fixed to a lower end portion of the metal plate 82. The bearings (boom movers 81) are connected to lower end portions of the connectors 83 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis along the movement direction of the bearings by rotation shafts 84. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, each of the bearings (boom movers 81) includes a recess that is recessed upward in the upward-downward direction of the hull 111. The recess of each of the bearings (boom movers 81) is provided on the lower side of the bearing (boom mover 81) in the upward-downward direction of the hull 111. The rail (boom guide 80) engages with the recess of each of the bearings (boom movers 81). As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the bearings (boom movers 81) include balls to reduce friction with the rail (boom guide 80). As shown in FIG. 4, two boom movers 81 are aligned along the arcuate boom guide 80.

[0053] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the boom guide support 90 supports the boom guide 80 from below in the upward-downward direction of the hull 111. As shown in FIG. 1, the boom guide support 90 is attached to the hull 111. The boom guide support 90 includes a combination of a plurality of rod-shaped members such that the boom guide support 90 is held at a predetermined position with respect to the hull 111 in the upward-downward direction of the hull 111.

[0054] According to the various example embodiments of the present invention described above, the following advantageous effects are achieved.

[0055] According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the sailing device 100 includes the base 40 connected to the lower end portion 20d of the mast 20 and the proximal portion 30c of the boom 30, and rotatable in the plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull 111. Accordingly, the base 40 enables the sail 10, the mast 20, and the boom 30 to integrally rotate in the plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull 111. Furthermore, the proximal portion 30c of the boom 30 is connected to the base 40, and thus a load to support the boom 30 is not applied to the mast 20. Thus, as compared with a case in which the proximal portion 30c of the boom 30 is connected to the lower end portion 20d of the mast 20, the strength required for the mast 20 is reduced. Consequently, the sail 10, the mast 20, and the boom 30 are integrally rotated in the plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull 111 while an increase in strength required for the mast 20 is reduced or prevented.

[0056] According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the sailing device 100 includes the arcuate base guides 60 to guide and support the base 40 when the base 40 rotates in the plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull 111. Accordingly, the base 40 is easily rotated in the plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull 111 by the arcuate base guides 60 that guide and support the base 40.

[0057] According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a pair of base guides 60 are provided. One of the pair of base guides 60 is provided in the arcuate shape leftward of the central portion 20e of the mast 20 in the right-left direction of the hull 111, and the other of the pair of base guides 60 is provided in the arcuate shape rightward of the central portion 20e of the mast 20 in the right-left direction of the hull 111. Accordingly, as compared with a case in which the base guides 60 are circular, an installation space for the base guides 60 in the hull 111 is reduced. Furthermore, the pair of base guides 60 are unlikely to be located, in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111, forward of and rearward of the central portion 20e of the mast 20 in the right-left direction of the hull 111, and thus the possibility that the base guides 60 prevent passengers from moving in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111 is reduced or prevented.

[0058] According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the base guides 60 are configured to guide and support the base 40 via the base movers 61 that are movable along the arcuate base guides 60. Accordingly, the base movers 61 that are movable along the arcuate base guides 60 enable the arcuate base guides 60 to easily guide and support the base 40.

[0059] According to an example embodiment of the present invention, each of the base guides 60 includes a rail having an arcuate shape, and the base movers 61 include rollers that are movable along the rail having the arcuate shape. Accordingly, a structure in which the base guides 60 guide and support the base 40 via the base movers 61 that are movable along the arcuate base guides 60 is easily achieved.

[0060] According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the sailing device 100 includes, rearward of the base 40 in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111, the arcuate boom guide 80 connected to the distal end portion 30b of the boom 30 to guide and support the boom 30 when the base 40 rotates in the plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull 111. Accordingly, the arcuate boom guide 80 connected to the distal end portion 30b of the boom 30 to guide and support the boom 30 enables the base 40 to easily rotate in the plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull 111. Moreover, the boom guide 80 is located rearward of the base 40 in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111 and is connected to the distal end portion 30b of the boom 30, and thus the boom guide 80 is unlikely to be located in a central portion in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111. Thus, the possibility that the boom guide 80 prevents passengers from moving in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111 is reduced or prevented.

[0061] According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the sail 10 includes the rear sail 12 on the rear side in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111. The boom 30 includes the rear boom 32 to support the rear sail 12. The boom guide 80 is connected to the rear end portion 32b of the rear boom 32 and is rearward of the base 40 in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111. Accordingly, the boom guide 80 is located rearward of the base 40 in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111, and thus the boom guide 80 is likely to be located on the rear side in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111. Thus, the possibility that the boom guide 80 obstructs the passengers' view of the front side in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111 is reduced or prevented.

[0062] According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the boom guide 80 is configured to guide and support the boom 30 via the boom movers 81 that are movable along the arcuate boom guide 80. Accordingly, the boom movers 81 that are movable along the arcuate boom guide 80 enable the arcuate boom guide 80 to easily guide and support the boom 30.

[0063] According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the boom guide 80 includes a rail having an arcuate shape, and the boom movers 81 include bearings that are movable along the rail having the arcuate shape. Accordingly, a structure in which the boom guide 80 guides and supports the boom 30 via the boom movers 81 that are movable along the arcuate boom guide 80 is easily achieved.

[0064] According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the mast 20 preferably has an inverted V shape in which the two mast portions 20a gradually approach each other toward the upper end portion 20b of the mast 20. Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide separate wires to support the two mast portions 20a in a direction in which the two mast portions 20a are aligned, and thus the device structure is simplified, and an operation to adjust the wires is eliminated.

[0065] According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the boom 30 preferably has an inverted V shape in which the two boom portions 30a gradually approach each other toward the distal end portion 30b of the boom 30. Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide separate wires to support the two boom portions 30a in a direction in which the two boom portions 30a are aligned, and thus the device structure is simplified, and an operation to adjust the wires is eliminated.

[0066] According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the sail 10 includes the front sail 11 on the front side in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111, and the rear sail 12 on the rear side in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111. The boom 30 includes the front boom 31 to support the front sail 11, and the rear boom 32 to support the rear sail 12. The rear end portion 31a of the front boom 31 is connected to the front end portion 40a of the base 40. The front end portion 32a of the rear boom 32 is connected to the rear end portion 40b of the base 40. Accordingly, the rear end portion 31a of the front boom 31 is connected to the front end portion 40a of the base 40, and thus a load to support the front boom 31 is not applied to the mast 20. Thus, as compared with a case in which the rear end portion 31a of the front boom 31 is connected to the lower end portion 20d of the mast 20, the strength required for the mast 20 is reduced. Furthermore, the front end portion 32a of the rear boom 32 is connected to the rear end portion 40b of the base 40, and thus a load to support the rear boom 32 is not applied to the mast 20. Thus, as compared with a case in which the front end portion 32a of the rear boom 32 is connected to the lower end portion 20d of the mast 20, the strength required for the mast 20 is reduced.

[0067] According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the sailing device 100 includes the actuator 50 to adjust the rotation angle of the base 40. Accordingly, the rotation angle of the base 40 is easily and automatically adjusted or changed by the actuator 50.

[0068] The example embodiments of the present invention described above are illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The extent of the present invention is not defined by the above description of the example embodiments but by the scope of the claims, and all modifications within the meaning and range equivalent to the scope of the claims are further included.

[0069] For example, while the sailing device 100 preferably includes the arcuate base guides 60 to guide and support the base 40 when the base 40 rotates in the plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull 111 in example embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In an example embodiment of the present invention, the sailing device may alternatively include a circular base guide to guide and support the base when the base rotates in the plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull. Alternatively, the sailing device may not include the arcuate or circular base guide(s) to guide and support the base when the base rotates in the plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull.

[0070] While a pair of base guides 60 are preferably provided in example embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In an example embodiment of the present invention, only one base guide may alternatively be provided, or three or more base guides may alternatively be provided.

[0071] While one of the pair of base guides 60 is preferably provided in an arcuate shape leftward of the central portion 20e of the mast 20 in the right-left direction of the hull 111, and the other of the pair of base guides 60 is preferably provided in an arcuate shape rightward of the central portion 20e of the mast 20 in the right-left direction of the hull 111 in example embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In an example embodiment of the present invention, one of the pair of base guides may alternatively be provided in an arcuate shape forward of the central portion of the mast in the right-left direction of the hull, and the other of the pair of base guides may alternatively be provided in an arcuate shape rearward of the central portion of the mast in the right-left direction of the hull.

[0072] While two base movers 61 are preferably aligned in the upward-downward direction of the hull 111 to sandwich the base guide 60 in example embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In an example embodiment of the present invention, only one base mover may alternatively be provided for one base guide.

[0073] While the arcuate base guides 60 preferably guide and support the base 40 via the base movers 61 that are movable along the arcuate base guides 60 in example embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In an example embodiment of the present invention, a circular base guide may alternatively guide and support the base via base movers that are movable along the circular base guide. Alternatively, the base guide(s) may guide and support the base via members other than the base movers that are movable along the arcuate or circular base guide(s), or may directly guide and support the base without any members.

[0074] While each of the base guides 60 preferably includes an arcuate rail, and the base movers 61 preferably include rollers that are movable along the arcuate rail in example embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In an example embodiment of the present invention, the base guide may alternatively include a circular rail, and the base movers may alternatively include rollers that are movable along the circular rail. Alternatively, each of the base guides or the base guide may include an arcuate or circular rail, and the base movers may include members (bearings, for example) other than the rollers that are movable along the arcuate or circular rail.

[0075] While the sailing device 100 preferably includes, rearward of the base 40 in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111, the arcuate boom guide 80 connected to the distal end portion 30b of the boom 30 to guide and support the boom 30 when the base 40 rotates in the plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull 111 in example embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In an example embodiment of the present invention, the sailing device may alternatively include, forward of the base in the forward-rearward direction of the hull, the arcuate boom guide connected to the distal end portion of the boom to guide and support the boom when the base rotates in the plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull. Alternatively, the sailing device may not include the arcuate boom guide connected to the distal end portion of the boom to guide and support the boom when the base rotates in the plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull.

[0076] While the boom guide 80 is preferably connected to the rear end portion 32b of the rear boom 32, and located rearward of the base 40 in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111 in example embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In an example embodiment of the present invention, the boom guide may alternatively be connected to a front end portion of the front boom, and located forward of the base in the forward-rearward direction of the hull.

[0077] While two boom movers 81 are preferably aligned along the arcuate boom guide 80 in example embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In an example embodiment of the present invention, only one boom mover may alternatively be provided for the boom guide.

[0078] While the boom guide 80 preferably guides and supports the boom 30 via the boom movers 81 that are movable along the arcuate boom guide 80 in example embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In an example embodiment of the present invention, the boom guide may alternatively guide and support the boom via members other than the boom movers that are movable along the arcuate boom guide, or may alternatively directly guide and support the boom without any members.

[0079] While the boom guide 80 preferably includes the arcuate rail, and the boom movers 81 preferably include the bearings that are movable along the arcuate rail in example embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In an example embodiment of the present invention, the boom guide may alternatively include the arcuate rail, and the boom movers may alternatively include members (rollers, for example) other than the bearings that are movable along the arcuate rail.

[0080] While the mast 20 preferably has an inverted V shape in which the two mast portions 20a gradually approach each other toward the upper end portion 20b of the mast 20 in example embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In an example embodiment of the present invention, the mast may alternatively have a shape other than the inverted V shape in which the two mast portions gradually approach each other toward the upper end portion of the mast.

[0081] While the boom 30 preferably has an inverted V shape in which the two boom portions 30a gradually approach each other toward the distal end portion 30b of the boom 30 in example embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In an example embodiment of the present invention, the boom may alternatively have a shape other than the inverted V shape in which the two boom portions gradually approach each other toward the distal end portion of the boom.

[0082] While the sail 10 preferably includes the front sail 11 on the front side in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111, and the rear sail 12 on the rear side in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111, the boom 30 preferably includes the front boom 31 to support the front sail 11, and the rear boom 32 to support the rear sail 12, the rear end portion 31a of the front boom 31 is preferably connected to the front end portion 40a of the base 40, and the front end portion 32a of the rear boom 32 is preferably connected to the rear end portion 40b of the base 40 in example embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In an example embodiment of the present invention, the sail may alternatively include the front sail on the front side in the forward-rearward direction of the hull, but may not include the rear sail on the rear side in the forward-rearward direction of the hull, the boom may alternatively include the front boom to support the front sail, but may not include the rear boom to support the rear sail, and the rear end portion of the front boom may alternatively be connected to the front end portion of the base. Alternatively, the sail may not include the front sail on the front side in the forward-rearward direction of the hull, but may include the rear sail on the rear side in the forward-rearward direction of the hull, the boom may not include the front boom to support the front sail, but may include the rear boom to support the rear sail, and the front end portion of the rear boom may be connected to the rear end portion of the base.

[0083] While the sailing device 100 preferably includes the actuator 50 to adjust the rotation angle of the base 40 in example embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In an example embodiment of the present invention, the sailing device may not include the actuator to adjust the rotation angle of the base. That is, the sailing device may be manually adjusted to change the rotation angle of the base 40, as in a sailing device 200 of a marine vessel 210 according to a modified example shown in FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 7, the sailing device 200 of the marine vessel 210 includes a pair of winches 250 to adjust the rotation angle of a base 40. One of the pair of winches 250 is located leftward of boom movers 81 in the right-left direction of a hull 211, and the other of the pair of winches 250 is located rightward of the boom movers 81 in the right-left direction of the hull 211. The pair of winches 250 are located in the vicinity of or adjacent to end portions of a boom guide 80 in the arcuate direction, respectively. As shown in FIG. 8, each of the pair of winches 250 is able to wind up a rope 251 (see FIG. 7). As shown in FIG. 7, one of the pair of winches 250 is able to wind up the rope 251 fixed to one of two bearings (boom movers 81), and the other of the pair of winches 250 is able to wind up the rope 251 fixed to the other of the two bearings (boom movers 81). When the rope 251 fixed to one of the two bearings (boom movers 81) is wound up by one of the pair of winches 250, the bearings rotate to one side in the arcuate direction of the boom guide 80. When the rope 251 fixed to the other of the two bearings (boom movers 81) is wound up by the other of the pair of winches 250, the bearings rotate to the other side in the arcuate direction of the boom guide 80. As the bearings (boom movers 81) rotate in the arcuate direction of the boom guide 80, the boom 30 (and thus the base 40) fixed to the boom movers 81 rotates about a rotation central axis C (see FIG. 1) in a plane perpendicular to the upward-downward direction of the hull 211.

[0084] While the marine vessel 110 is preferably a catamaran in example embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In an example embodiment of the present invention, the marine vessel may alternatively be a monohull or a trimaran.

[0085] While the marine vessel 110 preferably includes two outboard motors 112 in example embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In an example embodiment of the present invention, the marine vessel may alternatively include one outboard motor, or may alternatively include three or more outboard motors. Alternatively, the marine vessel may not include any outboard motors.

[0086] While each of the outboard motors 112 is preferably an engine outboard motor including an engine to drive a propeller in example embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In an example embodiment of the present invention, each of the outboard motors may alternatively be an electric outboard motor including an electric motor to drive a propeller.

[0087] While the mast 20 preferably includes the mast portion connectors 20c to connect the two mast portions 20a to each other in example embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In an example embodiment of the present invention, the mast may not include the mast portion connectors to connect the two mast portions to each other.

[0088] While the rotation central axis C preferably passes through the central portion of the base 40 in the right-left direction of the hull 111 and through the front portion of the base 40 in the forward-rearward direction of the hull 111 in example embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In an example embodiment of the present invention, the rotation central axis may alternatively pass through a position other than the central portion of the base in the right-left direction of the hull, and may alternatively pass through a position other than the front portion of the base in the forward-rearward direction of the hull.

[0089] While the actuator 50 is preferably located between the base 40 and the hull 111 in the upward-downward direction of the hull 111, and in the central portion of the hull 111 in the forward-rearward direction in example embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In an example embodiment of the present invention, the actuator may alternatively be located above the base in the upward-downward direction of the hull, or may alternatively be located in a front or rear portion of the hull 111 in the forward-rearward direction.

[0090] While example embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention, therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims.