System and method of adjusting the location and position of the foresail on a sailboat

Abstract

A system for sailing windward, which includes a moveable track fixture, a fixed track configured to receive the track fixture, and a control system for securing the location of the track fixture within the fixed track relative to a bow of a sailboat. The system can also include a retractable solar panel system, which is attached to a nautical stay, wherein the stay is fixed at one end to a hull of the sailboat and at a second end to a mast of the sailboat. The solar panel system includes a plurality of solar panels, which are attached to a system for stacking the plurality of solar panels when not in use. In an alternative embodiment, the sailboat can include an extendable keel, which includes a moveable inner member positioned within the fixed keel and a control system for lowering or retracting the inner member.

1 . A system for sailing windward comprising:
 a moveable track fixture;   a fixed track configured to receive the track fixture; and   a control system for securing the location of the track fixture within the fixed track relative to a bow of a sailboat.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control system for securing the location of the moveable track fixture within the fixed track. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the control system comprises a winch, a flexible wire attached to the moveably track fixture, and a guide system. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the winch consists of a spool, which is attached to a crank. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the winch further includes a brake or ratchet that prevents the winch from unwinding. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a forestay, wherein the forestay is attached to the track fixture and extends from an upper portion of a mast of a sailboat to the moveable track fixture on a bow of the sailboat. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the moveable track fixture comprises a foresail beam and a pivot member. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sailboat having a hull, a mast, and a plurality of sails, and wherein at least one of the plurality of sails is a foresail. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein an upper corner of the foresail is hoisted to, or nearly to the top of the mast. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the leading edge of the foresail is attached to the track fixture. 
   
   
       11 . A sailboat comprising:
 a hull;   a mast;   a plurality of sails, wherein at least one of the plurality of sails is a foresail; and   a system for sailing windward comprising:   a moveable track fixture;   a fixed track configured to receive the track fixture;
 a control system for securing the location of the track fixture within the fixed track relative to a bow of a sailboat; and 
 a forestay attached to the track fixture, the forestay extending from an upper portion of a mast of a sailboat to the moveable track fixture on a bow of the sailboat. 
   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a control system for securing the location of the track fixture within the fixed track. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the control system comprises a winch, a flexible wire attached to the track fixture, and a guide system. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the winch consists of a spool, which is attached to a crank. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the winch further includes a brake or ratchet that prevents the winch from unwinding. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the moveable track fixture comprises a foresail beam and a pivot member. 
   
   
       17 .- 25 . (canceled) 
   
   
       26 . A method of reducing leeway drift of a sailboat as the sailboat reaches an upwind objective, the method comprising:
 changing the relative position of a foresail to a bow of the sailboat without changing the relative position of a mainsail and the foresail to one another.