WO2004085243A1

WO2004085243A1 - A sailing equipment

Info

Publication number: WO2004085243A1
Application number: PCT/SE2004/000171
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fredrik Grufman
Original assignee: Grufman, Cecilia
Priority date: 2003-02-14
Filing date: 2004-02-10
Publication date: 2004-10-07
Also published as: SE0300402D0; SE0300402L; SE524811C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a sailing rig a sailing boat. The sailing rig comprises a supporting member (2), a mast (8) extending along a first axis (x), and a boom (9) extending in parallel to a plane (p) between a first end and a rear end. The front end of the boom is located in the vicinity of the mast. The supporting member is set up in the sailing boat such that it is rotatable in the sailing boat around the first axis (x). The supporting member (2) supports the mast (8) such that the mast is rotatable in the supporting member around the first axis. The supporting member supports the boom (9) in the, rear end such that the boom is rotatable in said plane around the rear end.

Description

A SAILING EQUIPMENT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

The present invention relates to a sailing rig for a sailing boat, comprising a supporting member, a mast extending along the fist axis, and a boom having a front end and a rear end, and extending in parallel to a plane, wherein the front end of the boom is located in the vicinity of the mast, and wherein the supporting member is arranged to be set up in the sailing boat such that the supporting member is rotatable in the sailing boat around the first axis. The invention also relates to a sailing boat with a sailing rig.

The sailing boats of today comprise a sailing rig constituted by a number of different components and comprising a large number of different sheets and lines. When a sail is to be raised it is thus necessary for the sailor to undertake a number of different steps to get the sail arranged in such a way that it is optimised for the prevailing wind conditions. Also during the sailing itself the sailor must manage a number of the different sheets and lines. Further, all components, sheets and lines demand space and make it difficult for the sailor or sailors to move in the boat.

In order to obtain good sailing performance the mast and the sail must, seen in a horizontal cross section, have as a wing-like profile as possible, i.e. the sailing rig should have a soft convex extension from the front edge of the mast to the rear edge of the sail on the lee side, and a corresponding concave extension on the wind side. In order to imitate such a shape it is known to provide the mast with wing-like shape with a narrowing rear section, as seen in a cross-section from above. Despite such a cross-sectional shape there is an interrupt in the soft convex and concave extension between the sail and the mast. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to achieve a sailing rig offering a good sailing performance. Further, it is aimed at a sailing rig which is simple to operate and demands a smaller number of sheets and lines than the conventional sailing rigs.

This object is achieved with the sailing rig indicated in the introduction, and being characterised in that the supporting member supports the mast such that the mast is rotatable in the supporting member around the first axis, and that the supporting member supports the boom at at least the rear end of the boom such that the boom is rotatable around the rear end substantially in said plane.

Thanks to the mast being rotatable in the supporting member and the boom being rotatable around its rear end, the mast and the boom may be rotated such that the sailing rig forms a favourable curvature or wing-shape seen in a view from above bulge of the sail.

According to an embodiment of the invention the mast comprises a wing section, which, in a cross-section across the first axis, has a wing-like shape with a narrowing rear section. With the supporting member supporting the rotatable mast and the rotatable boom, the rear section of the mast and the front end of the boom may be rotated outwardly towards the same direction. Advantageously, the supporting member may then support the boom such that the front end of the boom is in the vicinity of the rear section of the mast and such that the front end of the boom is allowed to follow the motion of the narrowing rear section when the mast rotates around first axis. The wing section may be situated above the supporting member.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the rear section of the mast comprises a longitudinal groove extending in parallel with the first axis along substantially the whole wing section. Advantageously the groove has a relatively narrow longitudinal opening and a relatively wide longitudinal bottom, the groove expanding inwardly towards the bottom, wherein the bottom of the groove has a concave curvature with a radius of curvature having substantially the same length as the depth of the groove. Such a groove may receive a mast edge and laths of a sail and allow the sail and the laths to rotate around a rotational axis extending substantially in parallel with the first axis, and being located in the vicinity of the longitudinal opening of the groove. Thus the sailing rig may comprise a sail having an upper end, a lower edge held by the boom and a mast edge extending in parallel with the first axis and in the groove.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the boom has a longitudinal axis and is rotatable around the longitudinal axis to allow reeling of the sail. Advantageously the sailing rig may comprise a driving member for reeling the sail. Such a driving member may be designed for manual reeling of the sail and/or comprise, for example, a spring mechanism, which is stretched when the sail is raised and which may then reel in the sail. The driving member may also comprise an electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic motor.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the sailing rig comprises a line arrangement comprising a line extending in parallel with the mast, and a swivel arranged on the line. With such a swivel the mast may be allowed to rotate in relation to the sailing boat without affecting the position of the line ar- rangement in the sailing boat.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the sail comprises a number of laths extending into the groove with a first front end. As mentioned above the laths may rotate around a rotational axis in the opening of the groove. Advantageously substantially each lath may then comprise a sliding member ar- ranged on one end edge of the lath, the laths being arranged to bear against the bottom of the groove with said sliding members. Further the laths may extend past the mast edge of the sail, wherein the mast edge of the sail will be at a distance from the bottom of the groove.

According to a further embodiment of the invention the sailing rig comprises a holding member holding the upper end of the sail and being displaceable in the groove in parallel with the first axis, wherein the holding member and the groove are shaped such that the holding member is maintained in the groove. With such a holding member it is ensured that the upper end of the sail always is inside the groove. The holding member is especially important during reefing, that is when a part of the whole sail is used.

According to a further embodiment of the invention the supporting member comprises a first supporting section being arranged to be set in the sailing boat and supporting the mast, and a sec- ond supporting section supporting the boom. The first supporting section may then extend along the first axis and the second supporting section substantially perpendicular from the first axis and substantially in parallel with said plane. Advantageously the second supporting section has a longitudinal bowl-like shape constituting a recess, which is limited by two side edges and in which the boom is arranged. In such a way the boom itself may be accommodated in the recess, which facilitates storing of the boom and the sail. Further, the recess may have a narrowing form from the first supporting section, wherein the mast is ro- tatable in the supporting member such that the rear section is moveable between said side edges.

According to a further embodiment of the invention the supporting member comprises bearing arrangement arranged to be at- tached in the sailing boat and to allow the supporting member to be rotatable 360° in relation to the sailing boat. According to a further embodiment of the invention at least one of the supporting member and the mast mainly is produced in a fibre material. Such a fibre material can be made light and strong and thus allows the proposed construction. The mast may be made high and wide, which is essential to achieve the wing- shape indicated above.

The object is also achieved with a sailing boat comprising a sailing rig according to any of the claims 1 to 21 .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention shall now be explained in greater detail by a de- scription of embodiments and with reference to attached drawings.

Fig. 1 schematically shows a side view of a sailing boat sailing rig according to the invention. Fig. 2 schematically shows a side view of a lower part of the sailing rig in fig 1 . Fig. 3 schematically shows a cross sectional view from above along the line Ill-Ill in fig 1 . Fig. 4. schematically shows a view from above of the sailing rig in fig 1 .

Fig 5. schematically shows a cross sectional view from the side through a part of the mast of the sailing rig in fig. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DIFFERENT EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Fig 1 shows a sailing boat with a sailing rig according to the invention. The sailing boat comprises a hull 1 in which the sailing rig is arranged. The sailing rig comprises a supporting member 2. The supporting member 2 comprises a first supporting section 3 and a second supporting section 4. The first supporting sec- tion 3 is elongate and extends along a first axis x extending substantially vertically upwards in the sailing boat. The first section 3 is connected with the sailing boat and more closely with the hull 1 of the sailing boat by a bearing arrangement shown more closely in Fig. 2 and in this case comprising two bearings 5. The bearings 5 are fixedly attached to the hull 1 , which is only indicated schematically in Fig. 2 and allows the supporting member 2 to be rotatable 360° around the first axis x and in relation to the sailing boat and the hull 1 . The bearings 5 may be attached in different ways to the hull 1 of the sailing boat. It should be noted that the number of the bearings 5 may be varied and depends on the dimensions of the sailing boat and type of boat. The second supporting section 4 extends substantially perpendicularly from the first axis x and substantially in parallel with a horizontal plane p. The first axis x thus constitutes the normal direction to said horizontal plane p. It should be realised that the horizontal plane p is of course only horizontal when the sailing boat is in a neutral normal position. During sea the horizontal plane p may of course be inclined in different di- rections.

The sailing rig also comprises a mast 8 extending substantially in parallel with the first axis x, and a boom 9 having a front end being in the vicinity of the mast 8 and a rear end. The first sec- tion 3 of the supporting member 2 supports the mast 8 such that the mast 8 is rotatable in the first section 3 around the first axis x. As is apparent in Fig. 2 the lower part 10 of the mast 8 extends through the first section 3 of the supporting member 2. In the embodiment shown the lower part 10 protrudes through the lower end of the first section 3. To facilitate the rotation of the mast 8 in the supporting member 2 bearing members (not shown) may be arranged between the lower part 10 of the mast 8 and an inner wall of the first section 3 of the supporting member 2. The second section 4 of the supporting member 2 sup- ports the boom 9 such that the boom is rotatable in the plane p around the rear end of the boom 9 and around a rotational axis x^' extending substantially in parallel with the first axis x. The rear end of the boom 9 is thus articulately connected with a rear part of the second supporting section 4 of the supporting member 2 by means of a rotatable joint 7 shown schematically. The second supporting section 4 has a narrowing shape from the first supporting section 3, wherein the second supporting section 4 supports the front end of the boom 9 when the boom rotates between two outer positions. Such a supporting function may be realised with a railing 1 1 of the second supporting section 4. The boom 9 may then comprise a dowel 12 extending along the longitudinal direction of the boom 9 past the front end of the boom 9 and resting on the railing 1 1 , see fig 3. The second supporting section 4 further has a longitudinal bowl-like shape and forms a recess limited by two side edges 14 and 15. The boom 9 is arranged in the recess between the side edges 14 and 15. The side edges 14 and 15 may then determine the outer positions between which the boom 9 may rotate in the plane p.

The mast 8 also comprises a wing section 17 extending up- wardly in parallel with a first axis x from the lower part 10. The wing section 17 starts just above the supporting member 2, which is apparent from Fig. 1 and 2. The wing section has a wing-like shape with a narrowing rear section 18 in a cross section across the first axis x. The wing section also has a front section 19 having a rounded shape in a forward direction and forming a cavity extending throughout the mast 8. The mast 8 is, as been mentioned previously, rotatable in relation to the supporting member 2. The supporting member 2 comprises, in the embodiment shown, 2 stop members 20 determining the outer positions between which the mast 8 and the wing section 17 may rotate.

The rear section 18 of the mast comprises a longitudinal groove 22 extending in parallel with the first axis x along substantially the whole wing section 17. The groove 22 has a relatively narrow longitudinal opening 23 at the rearmost end of the rear sec- tion 18, and a relatively wide longitudinal bottom 24. The groove 22 is thus expanding in the forward direction inwardly towards the bottom 24, see fig 3 and 4. The bottom 24 of the groove 22 preferably has a concave curvature with a radius of curvature being substantially of the same length as the depth of the groove 22.

The sailing rig comprises, or may be provided with, a sail 27 having an upper end 28, a lower edge held by the boom 9, and a mast edge 29 extending in parallel with the first axis x and in the groove 22. The boom 9 also has a longitudinal axis which is parallel to the plane p and the boom is rotatable around the longitudinal axis to allow raising and reeling the sail 27. The sailing rig may advantageously also comprise a driving member 31 , shown schematically in Fig. 4, allowing mechanical reeling of the sail 27. The driving member 31 may comprise a spring mechanism or a motor of hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical type. It should be noted that the boom 9 may be manually rotatable for manual reeling of the sail 27 as a complement or alternative to the mechanical driving member.

The sailing rig also comprises a line arrangement or a so-called halyard. The line arrangement comprises a line 33 extending in parallel with the mast 8 and a swivel 34, which is arranged on the line 33 and allowing that an upper part of the line 33 is rotatable in relation to the part being below the swivel 34. In the embodiment shown the line 33 extends within the hollow in the mast 8 down to a tackle 35 connected with the hull 1 of the sailing boat. The second end of the line 33 is connected with the upper end 28 of the sail. Thus the sail 27 may be raised by pulling the line 33. The sail 27 also comprises a number of laths 36, which, in a conventional way, are arranged in pockets in the sail 27. The laths 36 extend substantially horizontally in the embodiment shown and substantially in parallel with the plane p. The laths 36 have a rear end extending to the bottom of each pocket and a front end extending past the front mast edge 29 and into the groove 22 for bearing against the bottom 24 of the groove 22. Substantially each lath 36 further comprises a sliding member 37 arranged on an end edge of the front end of the lath 36. With this sliding member 37 the lath 36 may bear against the bottom 24 of the groove 22 such that the lath may slide on the bottom 24. In the embodiment shown the sliding member 37 comprises one or more balls rotatably beared at the end of the lath 36 and extending past the front end edge.

The sailing rig further comprises a holding member 40 holding the upper end 28 of the sail 27 and being displaceable in the groove 22 in parallel with the first axis x. The holding member 40 and groove 22 are shaped such that the holding member 40 is maintained in the groove 22 and thus may not be pulled out- wardly through the opening 23 of the groove 22. Such a maintaining function may be achieved by the groove 22 being provided with longitudinal landings 41 on the sidewalls, extending in the length direction of the groove 22 and from the opening 23 to the bottom 24 of the groove 22. These landings 41 and the holding member 40 are more closely shown in fig 4. The upper end 28 of the sail 27 is according to one embodiment of the invention fixed in the holding member 40 and when the sail 27 is raised and reeled up the holding member 40 may be displaced in the groove 22. With such a holding member 40 it is ensured that the front mast edge 29 of the sail 27 is always as deep inside the groove 22 as possible. This is essential especially when the sail 27 is reefed.

The supporting member 2 and the mast 8 are advantageously mainly produced by a fibre material. Such fibre materials may be made strong and light and are thus advantageous in this context. Examples of fibre materials are carbon fibre and glass fibre.

The sail may also comprise reinforced openings 45, which are intended to receive locking members 46, as shown schemati- cally in Fig. 3, and, for example, comprising pins protruding into the openings 45 to lock the sail 27 in a desired position, for example a desired reefing position. The sail 27 may thus for example comprise four pairs of such openings 45, wherein each pair comprises one opening 45 in the vicinity of the front mast edge 29 and one opening 45 in the vicinity of the opposite rear edge. The locking members can be arranged in the second supporting section 4 of the supporting member 2.

The sail rig may be manoeuvred in the usual way with a sheet 50 which is attached in the second supporting section 4 of the supporting member 2 and a tackle (not shown) attached to the hull 1 of the sailing boat. During sailing only this single sheet 50 is needed to manage the sail 27. During sheeting the entire supporting member 2 is thus rotated and the supporting section 4 thus rotates around the axis x. In the same way only the line 33 is needed to raise the sail. Since no shrouds or stays are needed the sail 27 and the second supporting section 4 may rotate entire turns around the first axis.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown but can be varied and modified within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1 . A sailing rig for a sailing boat, comprising a supporting member (2), a mast (8) extending along a first axis (x), and a boom (9) having a front end and a rear end and extending parallel to a plane (p), wherein the front end of the boom is located in the vicinity of the mast and wherein the supporting member (2) is arranged to be set up in the sailing boat such that the supporting member is rotatable in the sailing boat around the first axis, characterised in that the supporting member (2) supports the mast (8) such that the mast is rotatable in the supporting member (2) around the first axis (x), and that the supporting member (2) supports the boom at at least the rear end of the boom (9) such that the boom is rotatable around the rear end substantially in said plane.

2. A sailing rig according to claim 1 , characterised in that the mast (8) comprises a wing section (17) having a wing-like shape with a narrowing rear section (18) in a cross section transversely the first axis (x).

3. A sailing rig according to claim 2, characterised in that the supporting member (2) supports the boom (9) such that the front end of the boom is in the vicinity of the rear section (18) of the mast (8), and that the front end of the boom is allowed to follow the motion of the narrowing rear section (18) when the mast (8) rotates around the first axis.

4. A sailing rig according to any of the claims 2 and 3, characterised in that the wing section (17) is situated above the supporting member (2).

5. A sailing rig according to any of the claims 2 to 4, char- acterised in that the rear section (18) of the mast (8) comprises a longitudinal groove (22) extending in parallel with the first axis (x) along substantially the whole wing section (17).

6. A sailing rig according to claim 5, characterised in that the groove (22) has a relatively narrow longitudinal opening and a relatively wide longitudinal bottom (24), the groove expanding inwardly towards the bottom.

7. A sailing rig according to claim 6, characterised in that the bottom (24) of the groove (22) has a concave curvature with a radius of curvature being substantially of the same length as the depth of the groove (22).

8. A sailing rig according to any of the claims 5 to 7, char- acterised in that the sailing rig comprises a sail (27) having an upper end (28), a lower edge held by the boom (9), and a mast edge (29) extending in parallel with the first axis (x) and inside the groove (22).

9. A sailing rig according to claim 8, characterised in that the boom (9) has a longitudinal axis and is rotatable around the longitudinal axis to allow reeling of the sail (27).

10. A sailing rig according to claim 9, characterised in that the sailing rig comprises a driving member (31 ) for reeling the sail (27).

1 1 . A sailing rig according to any of the claims 8 to 10, characterised in that the sailing rig comprises a line arrangement comprising a line (33) extending in parallel with the mast and and a swivel (34) arranged on the line (33).

12. A sailing rig according to any of the claims 8 to 1 1 , characterised in that the sail (27) comprises a number of laths (36) with a first front end extending into the groove.

13. A sailing rig according to claim 12, characterised in that substantially each lath (36) comprises a sliding member (37) arranged on one end edge of the lath, wherein the laths (36) are arranged to bear against the bottom (24) of the groove (22) with said sliding member (37).

14. A sailing rig according to any of the claims 12 and 13, characterised in. that the laths (36) extends past the mast edge (29) of the sail (27).

15. A sailing rig according to any of the claims 8 to 14, characterised in that the sailing rig comprises a holding member (40) holding the upper end (28) of the sail (27), and being displace- able in the groove (22) in parallel with the first axis (x), the holding member (40) and the groove (22) being shaped such that the holding member (40) is maintained in the groove (22).

16. A sailing rig according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that the supporting member (2) comprises a first supporting section (3) arranged to be set up in the sailing boat and supporting the mast (8), and a second supporting section (4) supporting the boom (9).

17. A sailing rig according to claim 16, characterised in that the first supporting section (3) extends along the first axis and the second supporting section (4) extends substantially perpendicular from the first axis (x) and substantially in parallel with said plane.

18. A sailing rig according to any of the claims 16 and 17, characterised in that the second supporting section (4) has a longitudinal bowl-like shape constituting a recess limited by two side edges (14, 15),and inside which the boom (9) is arranged.

19. A sailing rig according to claim 18, characterised in that the recess has a narrowing shape from the first supporting sec- tion (3), the mast (8) being rotatable in the supporting member (2) such that the rear section is moveable between said side edges (14, 15).

20. A sailing rig according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that the supporting member (2) comprises a bearing arrangement (5) arranged to be attached to the sailing boat and to allow the supporting member (2) to be rotatable 360° in relation to the sailing boat.

21. A sailing rig according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that at least one of the supporting member (2) and the mast (8) mainly is produced in a carbon fibre material.

22. A sailing boat, characterised in that it comprises a sailing rig according to any of the previous claims.