Portable Wind-Powered Sailing Vessel

Abstract

A portable wind-powered sailing vessel includes a plurality of parallel hulls, a plurality of cross-member spars releasably connecting the parallel hulls, a central longitudinal body centrally located between the parallel hulls and releasably connected to the plurality of cross-member spars, a crew seat releasably connected to the central longitudinal body forward of a mast, a kick-up rudder assembly and a foot pedal steering system both releasably connected to the longitudinal body, a rudder releasably connected to the kick-up rudder assembly, and a main sail on the mast, and a jib.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A wind-powered sailing vessel comprising:
 a plurality of parallel hulls;   a plurality of cross-member spars releasably connected to the parallel hulls;   a central longitudinal body centrally releasably connected to the plurality of cross-member spars, the central longitudinal body elevated above water during operation of the wind-powered sailing vessel, wherein the sailing vessel has a center of gravity located behind the center of hull buoyancy;   a kick-up rudder assembly releasably connected to the central longitudinal body such that the kick-up rudder assembly is elevated above water during operation of the wind-powered sailing vessel; and   a rudder releasably connected to the kick-up rudder assembly, wherein the rudder is configured to at least partially submerge in water during operation of the wind-powered sailing vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The sailing vessel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a foot pedal steering system releasably connected to the central longitudinal body.   
     
     
         3 . The sailing vessel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a main sail on a mast located at the mast position.   
     
     
         4 . The sailing vessel of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a jib.   
     
     
         5 . The sailing vessel of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the parallel hulls includes a recessed pin receiving assembly for connection to a plurality of cross-member spars releasably connecting the parallel hulls. 
     
     
         6 . The sailing vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the parallel hulls are configured for movement in at least partial independence relative to the central longitudinal body in order to maintain oscillations produced by wave action below a selected level. 
     
     
         7 . The sailing vessel of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the cross-member spars have an arch shape. 
     
     
         8 . The sailing vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cross-member spars includes a fore cross-member spar and an aft cross-member spar. 
     
     
         9 . The sailing vessel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more coupling devices for coupling the plurality of cross-member spars to the plurality of parallel hulls.   
     
     
         10 . The sailing vessel of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more coupling devices include one or more pin-receiver assemblies. 
     
     
         11 . The sailing vessel of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more coupling devices include at least one of one or more straps, one or more removable pins, one or more hook and loop devices. 
     
     
         12 . A wind-powered sailing vessel comprising:
 a plurality of parallel hulls;   a plurality of cross-member spars connected to the parallel hulls;   a central longitudinal body centrally connected to the plurality of cross-member spars, the central longitudinal body elevated above water during operation of the wind-powered sailing vessel;   a crew seat releasably connected to the central longitudinal body at a location forward of a mast position, wherein the plurality of parallel hulls, the central longitudinal body and the crew seat are configured such that the sailing vessel has a center of gravity located behind the center of hull buoyancy during operation of the sailing vessel; and   a kick-up rudder assembly releasably connected to the central longitudinal body such that the kick-up rudder assembly is elevated above water during operation of the wind-powered sailing vessel.   
     
     
         13 . The sailing vessel of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a rudder releasably connected to the kick-up rudder assembly, wherein the rudder is configured to at least partially submerge in water during operation of the wind-powered sailing vessel.   
     
     
         14 . The sailing vessel of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a foot pedal steering system connected to the central longitudinal body.   
     
     
         15 . The sailing vessel of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a main sail on a mast located at the mast position.   
     
     
         16 . The sailing vessel of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a jib.   
     
     
         17 . A wind-powered sailing vessel comprising:
 a plurality of parallel hulls;   a plurality of cross-member spars connected to the parallel hulls;   a central longitudinal body centrally connected to the plurality of cross-member spars, the central longitudinal body elevated above water during operation of the wind-powered sailing vessel;   a crew seat releasably connected to the central longitudinal body at a location forward of a mast position, wherein the plurality of parallel hulls, the central longitudinal body and the crew seat are configured such that the sailing vessel has a center of gravity located behind the center of hull buoyancy during operation of the sailing vessel;   a kick-up rudder assembly releasably connected to the central longitudinal body such that the kick-up rudder assembly is elevated above water during operation of the wind-powered sailing vessel; and   a rudder connected to the kick-up rudder assembly, wherein the rudder is configured to at least partially submerge in water during operation of the wind-powered sailing vessel.   
     
     
         18 . The sailing vessel of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a foot pedal steering system connected to the central longitudinal body.   
     
     
         19 . The sailing vessel of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a main sail on a mast located at the mast position.   
     
     
         20 . The sailing vessel of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a jib.