CONJUNTO DE VELAS BIPLANO E NAVIO

Abstract

The invention relates to a sail assembly (80) for a watercraft comprising a deck, the sail assembly comprising: - a mast (81) which is mounted at an incline with respect to the deck of the craft on a motorised shaft having an axis of rotation which is inclined with respect to the deck of the craft; - a plurality of spars (85) mounted at an incline with respect to the mast on either side of the mast; - between the ends of two consecutive spars located on the same side of the mast, a sail (83) and motorised means for deploying and folding this sail. Embodiments of the present application disclose at least one sail comprising a rigid upstream half-sail (83) and a rigid downstream half-sail (82) which are connected together by a hinge (86) mounted between the two ends of the consecutive spars (85).

Description

1 / 17 “BIPLANE AND SHIP SAIL SET” Technical Field of the Invention

[001] The present invention relates to a set of sails for a ship and a ship comprising the same. It applies, in particular, to the field of sail propulsion of a merchant vessel. State of the Art

[002] Sailboat designs to reduce CO2 production are all based on a very simple equation that allows determining the aerodynamic force developed by a sail: F = 0.5 * p * s * v² * Coef where: F is the force, expressed in Newtons. ρ is the density of air. S is the area of ​​the sail, V is the apparent wind speed; and Coef is the coefficient of performance, which depends on the shape of the roughness extent, the Reynolds number, etc.

[003] Some designs seek to increase sail lift and reduce its drag by using thick airfoils (airplane wing type airfoils). Other designs to increase aerodynamic force act on speed by seeking wind above the surface or artificially creating excess speed by rotating the cylinder.

[004] The lift coefficient generated by an asymmetric thick profile reaches a maximum of about 1.7.

[005] A thick symmetrical airfoil requires twice as much material as a thin airfoil, for example, a flexible sail, which will have a relatively similar lift coefficient, between 1 and 1.2. The relative reduction in drag with a thick airfoil will be a key advantage for Petition 870250079851, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, page 41 / 74 2 / 17 configurations where the apparent wind angle is very close to the vessel's course (multihull racing boat or cargo ship using sails as a reserve). The wind speed at 200 m above sea level is 50% stronger than at the surface and, as a result of squaring the speed, one can expect a doubling of the propulsive force for an equal surface area. This is sufficient to stabilize a kite with a surface area of ​​several hundred square meters.

[006] However, none of the sail sets described above possesses all the rigging qualities necessary for a merchant vessel: - a large surface area, given that the average wind is relatively weak; - a surface area that is easily reduced, since the wind can be strong or very strong; - limited slack, the slack being the total height of the rigging; - efficient airfoils in low Rn conditions, i.e., in light winds; - Good resistance to strong winds; - small support area on deck, to facilitate port operations; - complete automation, so as not to impact crew levels; - Good retraction capacity, meaning it can be reefed very quickly with minimal resistance; - to be relatively inexpensive; and - to be sustainable.

[007] The Japanese utility certificate JP S60 110098 U is known, which discloses a vessel whose rigid sail assembly comprises three half-sails, together forming a circular arc positioned at the top of a mast. Petition 870250079851, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, p. 42 / 74 3 / 17 rotating. However, these three half-sails form only one sail positioned on only one side of the mast.

[008] Chinese patent application CN 104 176 222 A is known, which discloses a set of sails consisting of three rigid sails sliding along a mast. However, these three sails are positioned on the same side of the mast.

[009] German patent application DE 37 18 414 A1 is known, which discloses a set of flexible sails, the sails of which are overlapped and fixed along the entire length of the spars. Similarly, the sails are mounted on only one side of the mast.

[010] US patent 2021 / 163112 A1 is known, which discloses a set of rigid sails composed of 5 sails superimposed on each other. However, these five sails form only a single large sail positioned on only one side of the mast. Brief Description of the Invention

[011] The present invention proposes, with at least one set of biplane sails, to obtain all or part of the qualities listed above. Brief Description of the Figures

[012] Other advantages, objectives and particular characteristics of the invention will become apparent from the following non-limiting description of at least one particular embodiment of the sail assembly that is the subject of the present invention, with reference to the drawings included in an appendix, in which: Figure 1 schematically represents, in perspective, the general inventive concept of the invention; Figure 2 schematically represents, in top view, a first particular embodiment of the set of candles that is the object of the invention; Petition 870250079851, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, page 43 / 74 4 / 17 Figure 3 schematically represents, in perspective, the set of candles shown in Figure 2, partially unfolded and partially folded; Figure 4 schematically represents, in perspective, a second particular embodiment of the set of sails that is the object of the invention, partially unfolded and partially folded; Figure 5 schematically represents, in side view, a first particular embodiment of a ship that is the object of the present invention; Figure 6 schematically represents, in top view, different sail points of a second particular embodiment of a ship that is the object of this invention, with all sets of sails unfolded; Figure 7 schematically represents, in side view, a third particular embodiment of a ship that is the object of the present invention, with sets of sails partially unfolded and partially folded; Figure 8 schematically represents, in top view, the ship shown in Figure 5, with the masts being articulated to disengage the ship's deck; Figure 9 schematically represents, in perspective, a third particular embodiment of the set of sails that is the object of the invention, partially unfolded and partially folded; Figure 10 schematically represents, in top view, a mechanism for unfolding and folding the set of sails shown in Figure 9; Figure 11 schematically represents, in top view, different points of the sail of a particular fourth embodiment. Petition 870250079851, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, page 44 / 74 5 / 17 of a ship that is the object of the present invention; Figure 12 schematically represents, in side view, a fifth particular embodiment of a ship that is the subject of the present invention; Figure 13 schematically represents, in top view, a third specific embodiment of the candle assembly shown in Figure 9; Figure 14 shows, schematically and in top view, different points of the sail of a sixth specific embodiment of a ship that is the object of the invention, with all sets of sails unfolded; and Figure 15 schematically represents, in top view, the set of candles shown in Figure 2, with the sets of candles unfolded in various ways. Description of the Invention

[013] The present invention aims to remedy, in whole or in part, the drawbacks of the prior art. To that end, according to a first aspect, the present invention provides a set of biplane sails for a ship comprising a deck, the set of sails comprising: - a mast, which extends along an axis, which is mounted on a plane inclined relative to the deck of the vessel on a motorized shaft having an axis of rotation which is inclined relative to the deck of the vessel; - a plurality of stringers mounted on an inclined plane relative to the mast, on both sides of the mast; - For each side of the mast, between the ends of two consecutive stringers located on the same side of the mast, a sail and motorized means to deploy and furl that sail. Petition 870250079851, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, page 45 / 74 6 / 17

[014] Thanks to these arrangements, this provides a biplane sail with low clearance. In addition, the motorized rotation of each mast allows adjusting the position of the sails in relation to the ship's sail point.

[015] In addition, a set of sails that is biplane or has a small angle of incidence between its two sails on the same spar (for example, 15°) has better lift and does not come loose in the wind.

[016] In some embodiments, the sail assembly comprises a yard at each end of each spar, each yard extending along an axis perpendicular to the axis of the mast, each sail being flexible and mounted between two parallel yards, the yards on one side of the mast being parallel to each other.

[017] Thanks to these provisions, flexible sails, at a lower cost, can be implemented.

[018] In some embodiments, the axis of a yard on one side of the mast is parallel to the axis of a yard on the other side of the mast.

[019] In some embodiments, the axis of a yard on one side of the mast is secant to the axis of a yard on the other side of the mast. In some embodiments, the sail assembly comprises, for each flexible sail, a retaining line between the yards encircling the sail, this line being positioned windward of the yards, and the motorized means for unfolding and folding this sail comprises a sail furler consisting of a cylindrical tube rotating around a fixed cable, the sail being connected to the furler by a screw cable passing through a channel in the furler.

[020] Thanks to these provisions, the unfolding of the sails can be motorized.

[021] In some embodiments, the sail assembly comprises two parallel masts that jointly support the spars. Petition 870250079851, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, page 46 / 74 7 / 17

[022] In some embodiments, at least one sail comprises a rigid upstream half-sail and a rigid downstream half-sail, which are connected to each other by a hinge mounted between the two ends of consecutive spars.

[023] In some embodiments, the half-sails on one side of the stringer have the same orientation as the half-sails on the other side of that stringer.

[024] In some embodiments, the half-sails on one side of the stringer have a different orientation from the half-sails on the other side of that stringer.

[025] Thanks to these arrangements, the sail can be folded or unfolded by rotating one half-sail relative to the hinge shared with the other half-sail.

[026] In some embodiments, each half-sail is a parabolic arc.

[027] Thanks to these arrangements, the shape of the unfolded sail corresponds substantially to the shape of a flexible sail catching the wind.

[028] In some embodiments, for each rigid sail, the motorized means for unfolding and deploying that sail comprises an actuator.

[029] In some embodiments, the sail assembly comprises a means for controlling the propulsion means for unfolding and folding an upstream half-sail relative to the downstream half-sail, this control means being configured to fold the half-sails one over the other when changing course and jibbing, and for reversing the turn between the starboard and port tacks.

[030] According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a ship comprising at least one set of sails according to Petition 870250079851, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, page 47 / 74 8 / 17 with the invention.

[031] In some embodiments, the ship comprises a set of sails according to the invention around a foremast and a set of sails according to the invention around a mizzenmast. Detailed Description

[032] The present description is presented in a non-limiting way, in which each feature of one embodiment can be combined with any other feature of any other embodiment in an advantageous way. Note that the figures are not to scale.

[033] As can be seen from reading the present description, different inventive concepts can be implemented by one or more of the methods or devices described below, of which several examples are presented here. The actions or steps performed in the context of the embodiment of the method or device can be ordered in any appropriate manner. As a consequence, it is possible to construct embodiments in which the actions or steps are performed in a different order from that shown, which may include the execution of some acts simultaneously, even if they are presented as sequential acts in the embodiments shown.

[034] The expression “and / or”, as used in this document and in the claims, should be understood as meaning “one or the other, or both” of the elements thus connected, that is, elements that are present conjuncturally in some cases and disjuncturally in others. The multiple elements listed with “and / or” should be interpreted in the same way, that is, “one or more” of the elements thus connected. Other elements may be present, in addition to the elements specifically identified by the “and / or” clause, whether or not they are linked to those elements. Petition 870250079851, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, p. 48 / 74 9 / 17 specifically identified. Therefore, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and / or B”, when used in conjunction with an open language such as “comprising”, may refer, in one embodiment, only to A (possibly including elements other than B); in another embodiment, only to B (possibly including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to A and B (possibly including other elements), etc.

[035] As used herein in the present description and claims, the expression “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, is to be understood as meaning at least one element chosen from among one or more elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each element specifically listed in the list of elements and not excluding any combination of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows for the optional presence of elements other than the elements specifically identified in the list of elements to which the expression “at least one” refers, whether or not they are linked to those specifically identified elements.Therefore, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B” or, equivalently, “at least one of A and / or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, possibly including more than one, A, without the presence of B (and possibly including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, possibly including more than one, B, without the presence of A (and possibly including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, possibly including more than one, A and at least one, possibly including more than one, B (and possibly including other elements), etc.

[036] In the claims, and also in the description below, all the Petition 870250079851, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, p. 49 / 74 10 / 17 Transitive expressions, such as “comprising”, “including”, “carrying”, “having”, “containing”, “involving”, “made of”, “formed of”, and others, should be understood as open, that is, meaning including, but not limited to. Only the transitive expressions “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” should be understood as closed or semi-closed expressions, respectively.

[037] Figure 1 shows a ship's sail assembly (20) (not shown) comprising a deck (24). This sail assembly (20) comprises a mast (21) which is mounted on an inclined plane relative to the deck (24) of the vessel on a motorized shaft (not shown) having a pivot axis (25) which is inclined relative to the deck of the vessel. Generally, the mast and the pivot axis (25) are vertical, but in some variants they are inclined. The shaft axis generally corresponds to the mast axis (21). The sail assembly (20) also comprises a plurality of spars (not shown) mounted on an inclined plane relative to the mast (21) on both sides of the mast (21). The sail assembly (20) comprises, on each side of the mast (21), at least one sail (22 and 23) and motorized means for unfolding and folding this sail (not shown).For example, furlers (not shown) are positioned at the windward end of the yards (34 and / or 36) and allow the flexible sails (32 and 33) to be opened or folded. The sail furling system is generally composed of a cylindrical tube rotating around a fixed line. The sail is connected to the furler by a bolt cable that passes through a channel in the furler.

[038] The set of sails (20) is therefore biplane, with the sails (22 and 23) allowing it to take advantage of a greater share of the wind force.

[039] In the first embodiment of the sail assembly, shown in Figures 2 and 3, the mast (31) supports several stringers (35) in a Petition 870250079851, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, page 50 / 74 11 / 17 inclined plane relative to the mast (31). In this embodiment, the stringers (35) extend in planes perpendicular to the mast (31), at different heights on the mast (31). Each end of each stringer (35) supports a yard (34 and / or 36). The yards (34 and / or 36) may be parallel to each other. Each yard (34 and / or 36) extends along an axis, respectively (26) and / or (28), parallel to a perpendicular plane, not shown, perpendicular to the axis (25) of the mast (31). Each sail is, for example, flexible and mounted between two parallel yards (34 and / or 36). Preferably, the yards (34 and / or 36) on one side of the mast (31) are parallel to each other. The yards (36) on one side of the mast (31) are preferably parallel to the yards (34) on the other side of the mast (31). In other words, the axes (26) of the yards (34) are preferably parallel to the axes (28) of the yards (36).

[040] In some variants (not shown), the axes (26) of the yards (34) on one side of the mast (31) are secant to the axes (28) of the yards (36) on the other side of the mast (31). In other words, the yards (34) on one side of the mast (31) are parallel to each other. The yards (36) on one side of the mast (31) have, for example, different orientations from those of the yards (34) on the other side of the mast (31). In other words, the orientations of the yards (91) on one side of the mast (93) may be independent of the orientations of the yards (92) on the other side of the mast, the connections between the yards and the stringers being pivoting and motorized for this purpose. An acute salient angle, called the “incident angle”, not shown, formed by the secant axes (26 and / or 28), may be less than or equal to 20°. An acute salient angle, not shown, formed by the secant axes (26 and / or 28), is preferably less than or equal to 10°.

[041] In some variants, the stringers are divided into two parts, mounted on a joint with an axis parallel to that of the mast, and the motorization allows varying the angle between these two parts of the stringers. Petition 870250079851, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, page 51 / 74 12 / 17

[042] Between two successive yards (34 and / or 36), on the same side of the mast (31), there is a flexible sail, for example, made of canvas. The flexible sails to the left of the mast (31) are referenced by (32) and the flexible sails to the right of the mast (31) are referenced by (33). A line (37) connects two ends of successive yards (34 and / or 36) on the same side of the mast (31), opposite the set of sails (on the left in Figures 2 and 3), i.e., to windward. This line (37) holds the leading edge of the flexible sail (32 or 33). Figures 2 and 3 show, on each side of the mast (31), three stretched flexible sails (32 and 33) between four yards (34 and / or 36). It is clear that the number of sails and yards may differ in some variants of this first embodiment of the sail assembly that is the object of the invention.

[043] Figure 2 shows, in the form of arrows (F1) and (F2), the resultant aerodynamic forces on the sails (32 and 33) for a crosswind. Note that these resultant forces (F1) and (F2) are located behind the axis of rotation (25) and therefore allow the sail assembly (30) to be retracted. More generally, the position of the aerodynamic force depends on the wind angle of the airfoil. In this case, this force is located at approximately 25% of the chord length. This situation is the most unfavorable for the rigging to be retracted. It corresponds to a low angle, on the order of 20°. When the angle increases, the point of application of the force "retreats" to end at 50% of the chord for an angle of 90°. In other words, if the rotation of the mast (31) is free around the axis of rotation (25), the set of sails (30) is automatically oriented to windward, which has the effect of canceling the resultant aerodynamic forces.

[044] Figure 15 shows the sail assembly (30) with the sails (32 and / or 33) arranged in various ways. For example, furlers (not shown) are positioned at the windward end of the yards (34 and / or 36) and allow the flexible sails (32 and 33) to be arranged or folded. Petition 870250079851, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, p. 52 / 74 13 / 17 A winder can arrange or fold one candle (32 and / or 33) in relation to the other.

[045] The set of sails (30) is, for example, free to rotate around the mast (31), maintaining its biplanar configuration.

[046] In some variants, the sail assembly (30) rotates freely around the mast (31), maintaining the same acute salient angle formed by the axes (26 and / or 28) of the yards (34 and / or 36).

[047] The second embodiment of the sail assembly (40), shown in Figure 4, is similar to the first embodiment, with two flexible sails on each side of the mast, except that the mast (31) is replaced by two parallel masts (38 and 39), which jointly support the stringers (35) and the yards (34 and / or 36).

[048] Figure 5 shows a ship (50) fitted with two masts (31) on its deck (54) and two sets of sails (30) around those masts (31). In this Figure 5, all the sails (32 and 33) are unfurled and stretched.

[049] As shown in Figure 6, at the different points of the ship's sail (60) that make up the sail assembly (30), the motorized rotation of the mast (31) makes it possible to take advantage of the wind force, according to the sail orientations known in the state of the art.

[050] Figure 7 shows a ship (70) fitted with a set of sails (30) around a foremast (31) and a set of sails (40) around a double mizzenmast (38 and 39). In this Figure 7, the upper sails (32 and 33) are furled and the lower sails (32 and 33) are unfurled and stretched.

[051] Figure 8 shows the ship (50) with its sets of sails (30) set away from the vertical of the ship's deck. To achieve this, the foremast (31) is rotated so that the maximum extension of the yards (34 and / or 36) faces the bow of the vessel (50). On the other hand, the mizzenmast (31) is positioned so that the maximum extension of the yards (34 and / or 36) faces Petition 870250079851, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, pp. 53 / 74 14 / 17 facing the stern of the vessel (50). The implementation of the present invention thus allows freeing the central part of the deck (54) of the vessel (50) from any hanging sail assembly element, which facilitates the loading and unloading of equipment or other products.

[052] In the first two embodiments of the sail set (30 and 40), these sail sets are biplane, made of canvas and automatically retractable. The yards are straight and the aerodynamic forces are located at the rear of the axis of rotation (25) of the mast (31 or 38 and 39).

[053] These first two embodiments (30 and 40) of the candle assembly, which is the object of the invention, have the following advantages: - large sail area; - limited slack; - Good resistance to strong winds; - small support area on deck; - automation of the mast rotation motor; - Automatically retractable.

[054] In the third embodiment of the sail assembly, shown in Figures 9 to 13, a mast (81) supports several spars (85) in a plane inclined relative to the mast (81). In this embodiment, the spars (85) extend in planes perpendicular to the mast (81), at different heights on the mast (81). Each end of each spar (85) supports a rotating rod (89) (see Figure 10) of a rigid half-sail (83) relative to a downstream rigid half-sail (82). A hinge (86) and a means of unfolding and folding (87) connect the downstream half-sail (82) to an upstream half-sail (83). Note that the rotating rods (89) (see Figure 10) supported by the ends of the spars (85) on the same side of the mast can be separated and set rotating independently by several Petition 870250079851, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, pages 54 / 74 15 / 17 motors (not shown), or combined and, in that case, set in rotation by the same motor (not shown). In Figure 9, an upstream half-sail (83) is folded over a downstream half-sail (82) and three upstream half-sails (83) are unfolded.

[055] As shown in Figure 10, the unfolding and folding means (87), which folds the downstream half-sail (82) over an upstream half-sail (83), can be an actuator, for example, electric or hydraulic. Increasing the extension of this actuator allows the unfolding of the upstream half-sail (83). In contrast, reducing the extension of the actuator allows the upstream half-sail (83) to be folded over the downstream half-sail (82).

[056] Figures 9 and 13 show, on each side of the mast (81), two sails articulated between three stringers (85). Obviously, the number of sails and yards may be different in some variants of this third embodiment of the sail assembly which is the object of the invention.

[057] In some embodiments, such as those shown in Figures 9 to 13, each half-sail (82 and / or 83) is a parabolic arc. In other words, the half-sails (82 and 83) have, for example, a profile that is symmetrical with respect to an axis of rotation of the rotating rod (89).

[058] As shown in Figure 11, at different sail points of a fourth embodiment of the ship (90) comprising the sail assembly (80), the motorized rotation of the mast (81) around the axis of rotation (25) and the unfolding and folding of the upstream rigid half-sails (83) allow the use of wind force, according to the sail orientations known in the state of the art. However, a means for controlling the means (87) for unfolding and folding the upstream rigid half-sails (83) is configured to unfold the half-sails (83) relative to the downstream half-sail when the ship (90) changes course and hoists the sail, and to reverse the curve of the unfolded sail between the starboard and port tacks. Petition 870250079851, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, pages 55 / 74 16 / 17

[059] In a spar (85), the half-sails (82 and 83) on one side of the spar are, for example, symmetrical to the half-sails (82 and 83) on the other side of the spar, with respect to an axis (95), the axis (95) being the axis of symmetry of the mast (93), perpendicular to the axis (25). In other words, the half-sails (82 and 83) on one side of the spar (85) have, for example, the same orientation as the half-sails (82 and 83) on the other side of that spar (85).

[060] Figure 13 shows a third particular embodiment of the sail assembly shown in Figure 9. For a spar (85), the half-sails (82 and 83) on one side of the spar are, for example, asymmetrical to the half-sails (82 and 83) on the other side of the spar with respect to an axis (95). In other words, the half-sails (82 and 83) on one side of the spar (85) have, for example, a different orientation from the half-sails (82 and 83) on the other side of this spar (85).

[061] Figure 12 shows a fifth embodiment of a ship (100) fitted with a set of sails (80) around a foremast (81) and a set of sails (80) around a mizzenmast (81). In this Figure 12, the upstream half-sails (83) are folded. Note that in strong wind, the upstream half-sails (83) can be folded, maintaining the wind load so that the vessel continues to move forward. In contrast, in light wind, the upstream half-sails (83) are unfolded to maximize the wind load.

[062] Figure 14 shows different sail points of a sixth particular embodiment of a ship (105) comprising the sail assembly (80). The orientations of the spars (85) of the upstream mast (81) may be different from the orientations of the spars of the downstream mast (81). The orientations of the half-sails (82 and / or 83) of the upstream mast (81) may be the same as the orientations of the half-sails (82 and / or 83) of the downstream mast (81), even if the respective spars (85) of the upstream mast (81) and the Petition 870250079851, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, pp. 56 / 74 17 / 17 downstream mast (81) have a different orientation.

[063] The third embodiment of the candle assembly (80), which is the object of the invention, has the following advantages: - It can be automatically retracted in all wind conditions; - It has a large surface area; - has limited slack; - It has efficient profiles at low Rn; - It has great resistance to strong winds; - It has a small support area on deck; - it is easy to automate, with motorization of the mast rotation around the axis of rotation (25) and motorization of the rotation of the upstream half sails around the axis of the hinges (86); and It is sustainable.

[064] Obviously, as in the second embodiment of the sail assembly, which is the object of the invention, the mast (81) can be replaced by two parallel masts that jointly support the stringers (85). Petition 870250079851, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, pp. 57 / 74

Claims

1 / 3 Claims 1. BIPLANO SAIL SET (30, 40, 80) for a ship (50, 60, 70, 90, 100, 105) comprising a deck (54, 94), characterized by comprising: - a mast (31, 38, 39, 81), extending along an axis (25), which is mounted on a plane inclined relative to the deck of the vessel on a motorized shaft having a rotation axis which is inclined relative to the deck of the vessel; - a plurality of spars (35, 85) mounted on a plane inclined relative to the mast on both sides of the mast; - for each side of the mast, between the ends of two consecutive stringers located on the same side of the mast, a sail (32, 33, 82, 83) and motorized means (87) to unfold and fold this sail.

2. SAIL ASSEMBLY (30, 40), according to claim 1, characterized by comprising a yard (34, 36) at each end of each spar, each yard extending along an axis (26, 28) perpendicular to the axis of the mast (25), each sail (32, 33) being flexible and mounted between two parallel yards, the yards on one side of the mast being parallel to each other.

3. SAIL ASSEMBLY (30, 40), according to claim 2, characterized in that the axis (26, 28) of a yard (34, 36) on one side of the mast (31, 38, 39) is parallel to the axis (26, 28) of a yard (34, 36) on the other side of the mast.

4. SAIL ASSEMBLY (30, 40), according to claim 2, characterized in that the shaft (26, 28) of a yard (34, 36) on one side of the mast (31, 38, 39) is secant to the shaft (26, 28) of a yard (34, 36) on the other side of the mast.

5. SAIL ASSEMBLY (30, 40), according to any Petition 870250079851, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, p. 58 / 74 2 / 3 one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by comprising, for each flexible sail (32, 33), a retaining line (37) between the yards (34, 36) encircling the sail, this line being positioned windward of the yards and the motorized means for unfolding and folding this sail comprising a sail winder consisting of a cylindrical tube that rotates around a fixed cable, the sail being connected to the winder by a screw cable that passes through a channel in the winder.

6. SAIL ASSEMBLY (30, 40), according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized by comprising two parallel masts (38, 39) that jointly support the stringers (35).

7. SAIL ASSEMBLY (80), according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by at least one sail comprising an upstream rigid half-sail (83) and a downstream rigid half-sail (82), which are connected to each other by a hinge (86) mounted between the two ends of consecutive stringers (85).

8. SAIL ASSEMBLY (80), according to claim 7, characterized in that the half-sails (82, 83) on one side of a stringer (85) have the same orientation as the half-sails (82, 83) on the other side of this stringer (85).

9. SAIL ASSEMBLY (80), according to claim 7, characterized in that the half-sails (82, 83) on one side of a stringer (85) have a different orientation from the half-sails (82, 83) on the other side of this stringer (85).

10. SET OF SAILS (80), according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that each half-sail (82, 83) is a parabolic arc.

11. CANDLE SET (80), according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized by the motorized means (87) for unfolding and folding this candle comprising an actuator.

12. SAIL ASSEMBLY (80), according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized by comprising a means for controlling the motorization means for unfolding and folding an upstream half-sail (83) relative to the downstream half-sail (82), this control means being configured to fold the half-sails one over the other when changing course and jibbing, and for reversing the turn between the starboard and port tacks.

13. SHIP (50, 60, 70, 90, 100, 105), characterized by comprising at least one set of sails (30, 40, 80), as defined in any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. SHIP (50, 70, 100), according to claim 13, characterized by comprising a set of sails (30, 40, 80), as defined in any one of claims 1 to 12, around a foremast (31, 81) and a set of sails (30, 40, 80), as defined in any one of claims 1 to 12, around a mizzenmast (31, 38, 39, 81). Petition 870250079851, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, pp. 60 / 74

Images