Guide for a sail sleeve, sail collapsing arrangement and methods therefor

Abstract

The present invention provides for an inflatable sail guide arrangement for use in a sail collapsing arrangement. The sail collapsing arrangement is used for collapsing (also called “dousing” or “snuffing”) a sail such as a spinnaker. The sail guide arrangement can be deflated for convenient storage and handling.

1 - 96 . (canceled) 
     
     
         97 . A guide arrangement suitable for use in a sail collapsing arrangement, said guide arrangement comprising a resilient inflatable bladder configured and dimensioned to operationally receive a sail at least partially through it, thereby causing the collapse of said sail. 
     
     
         98 . A guide arrangement as claimed in  claim 97 , wherein the resilient inflatable bladder comprises an inflatable body member, the inflatable body member at least partially defining an aperture; and wherein the aperture is configured and dimensioned for operationally crimping a sail through it, to thereby cause collapse of said sail. 
     
     
         99 . A guide arrangement as claimed in  claim 97 , wherein said resilient inflatable bladder is protected against abrasion by said sail by at least one or more abrasion resistant lining formation disposed at least partly around the inside of the aperture. 
     
     
         100 . A guide arrangement as claimed in  claim 97 , wherein the inflatable bladder includes at least one or more valves for allowing inflation and or deflation of the inflatable bladder. 
     
     
         101 . A guide arrangement as claimed in  claim 97 , wherein the guide arrangement further comprises a lining sleeve comprising said lining formation. 
     
     
         102 . A guide arrangement as claimed in  claim 101 , wherein the resilient inflatable bladder is receivable into the lining sleeve. 
     
     
         103 . A guide arrangement as claimed in  claim 101 , wherein the abrasion resistant lining formation is integrally formed with the lining sleeve. 
     
     
         104 . A guide arrangement as claimed in  claim 97 , wherein the guide arrangement includes at least one or more securing formations configured and dimensioned to be securable to at least one or more selected from
 a. an up-haul line; and   b. a down-haul line.   
     
     
         105 . A guide arrangement as claimed in  claim 97 , wherein the guide arrangement includes sleeve securing formations adapted and configured for being secured to a sail sleeve. 
     
     
         106 . A guide arrangement as claimed  claim 105 , wherein the inflatable bladder includes a release valve configured to release the pressure of the pressurized fluid inside the inflatable bladder at a predetermined pressure level. 
     
     
         107 . A lining sleeve suitable for use in a sail collapsing arrangement for collapsing a sail, wherein said lining sleeve
 a. is adapted and configured to receive at least part of an inflatable bladder that at least partly defines an aperture, and   b. wherein said lining sleeve includes at least one flexible abrasion resistant lining formation disposed at least partly around the inside of the aperture of the inflatable bladder, for protecting said inflatable bladder against abrasion by a sail during collapsing of said sail.   
     
     
         108 . A sail collapsing arrangement including a guide arrangement suitable for use in a sail collapsing arrangement, said guide arrangement comprising a resilient inflatable bladder configured and dimensioned to operationally receive a sail at least partially through it, thereby causing the collapse of said sail. 
     
     
         109 . A sail collapsing arrangement as claimed in  claim 108 , wherein the sail collapsing arrangement includes a sail sleeve securable to the guide arrangement. 
     
     
         110 . A sail collapsing arrangement as claimed in  claim 108 , wherein a line passage extends at least partially down the length of the sail sleeve for receiving at least part of one or more selected from an up-haul rope and a down-haul rope. 
     
     
         111 . A method of rigging a sail comprising the steps of
 a. providing a sail collapsing arrangement suitable for use in a sail collapsing arrangement, said sail collapsing arrangement comprising a resilient inflatable bladder configured and dimensioned to operationally receive a sail at least partially through it, thereby causing the collapse of said sail, within which a sail to be rigged is at least partially received into the sail sleeve;   b. inflating the inflatable bladder;   c. coupling the guide arrangement to an up-haul line;   d. coupling the sail towards the top of a sailing boat's mast.   
     
     
         112 . A method of de-rigging a sail having been rigged as claimed in  claim 111 , said method comprising the steps of
 a. pulling on a down haul line to pull the guide arrangement over the sail, thereby crimping it and causing it to collapse;   b. decoupling the sail from a sailing boat's mast;   c. decoupling the sail from its control lines;   d. decoupling the guide arrangement from an up-haul line;   e. decoupling the guide arrangement from a down-haul line; and   f. deflating the inflatable bladder.