Sail rig for a wind propelled vehicle

Abstract

A sail rig for a wind propelled vehicle that has a deck surface includes a support on the vehicle providing a pivot axis generally normal to the deck surface, a boom that has a proximal end pivoted on the support for 360 degree rotation about the pivot axis and a distal end with an upwardly extending sail mounting arm. A lightweight sail frame is pivoted on an upper end of the mounting arm to turn about a rotational axis between a first nearly upright position and a neutral position substantially parallel to the deck surface, and a sail has its periphery fixedly secured to the sail frame so that it turns about said rotational axis between said first position and said neutral position. The location of the sail frame relative to said rotational axis, and the structure and shape of the sail frame and the sail S are so coordinated that the sail frame and sail are urged by gravity to said first position and tend to be moved toward said neutral position by wind pressure on the sail. In addition, a spring that acts between the mounting arm and the sail frame biases the sail to neutral position, a sail control line is secured to the sail frame and is operable by a person in the vehicle to set the sail at any desired angle between the neutral position and the first position, and boom control means is operable by a person in the vehicle to control the rotation position of the boom on the pivot axis. Preferably the boom is longitudinal extensible, and a pivoted member suspended from the outer end of the boom contacts a medium upon which the vehicle is supported to limit tilting of the vehicle toward the side over which the boom extends.