Sail rig

Abstract

A wind-propelled vehicle, particularly a multi-hulled sailing vessel, in which instead of mast, the upper spar ( 14 ) of the sail ( 13 ) is supported from a carrier ( 13 ) which moves athwart the vessel in a track in the form of an arch ( 16 ).

I claim:  
     
         1 . A wind-propelled vehicle having a rigging of the crab-claw type, the vehicle including a sail having an upper spar and a lower spar, characterized in that the sail is supported by the connection of the upper spar to means capable of movement athwart the vehicle.  
     
     
         2 . A vehicle according to  claim 1 , in which said means includes a moveable support mounted to travel athwart the vessel on a track.  
     
     
         3 . A vehicle according to  claim 2 , in which said track is configured in an arc extending across the vessel.  
     
     
         4 . A vehicle according to  claim 3 , in which the track is in the form of an arch the feet of which are mounted on either side of the vehicle.  
     
     
         5 . A vehicle according to  claim 4 , said vehicle being a catamaran, the feet of the arch being mounted on respective hulls of the catamaran.  
     
     
         6 . A vehicle according to  claim 5 , in which the feet of the arch are mounted for fore and aft movement.  
     
     
         7 . A vehicle according to  claim 6 , in which said arch is capable of being tilted fore and aft.  
     
     
         8 . A vehicle according to  claim 2  in which longitudinal position of the sail relative to the support is such that the fore and aft portions of the sail are substantially balanced.