Simple but effective sail handling system that allows sail control to be carried out single-handed from the safety of the cockpit

Abstract

Sail handling system and associated methods for sail raising, dousing, reefing, and stowing when operating sail-powered craft. The present invention allows these operations to be carried out single-handed from the safety of the cockpit in a wide range of wind and water conditions. The sail shape can be controlled continuously at any position as the sail is raised and lowered, offering a much wider range of sail configurations to suit wind conditions. The sail can self-fold / pleat neatly on top of the boom when lowered, ready to be covered. Preferred embodiments of the system incorporate one or more self-adjusting lazy jacks.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM [0001] The present non-provisional patent Application claims priority under 35 USC §119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application having Ser. No. 60 / 649,940, filed on Feb. 4, 2005, by Ma and titled SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE SAIL HANDLING SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS SAIL CONTROL TO BE CARRIED OUT SINGLE-HANDED FROM THE SAFETY OF THE COCKPIT, wherein the entirety of said provisional patent application is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to an improvement in sail raising, dousing, and stowing. It allows these operations to be carried out single-handed from the safety of the cockpit. The sail shape can be controlled continuously at any position as the sail is raised and lowered, offering a much wider range of sail configurations to suit wind conditions. The sail can self-fold / pleat neatly on top of the boom as lowered, ready to be covered. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] A conventional main sail set-up in the representative form...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] The system may be easily fit onto new or existing rigging systems without alteration of existing rigging. In other words, the system adds to, but need not supplant existing rigging components. This invention is non-intrusive to conventional sailing activity, i.e. friendly to conventional sail reefing operation. Thus, this invention can be seamlessly employed or detached with no impact on the normal sail operation. This invention is simple, easy to handle, economical, and light weight.

Problems solved by technology

This operation has been awkward at least and often is dangerous in a rising sea and in windy conditions.

Sail lowering also is a difficult and risky activity when sailing short handed, especially single-handed.

This method of sail lowering also is uncontrolled, relying mainly on gravity.

The loose sail itself is a hazard and may injure or knock crew overboard, block the view, fall onto the deck affecting the performance of other duty, and / or fall overboard into the water.

Inconveniently, the height of the lazy jack lines of this system are not self adjusted with the falling sail.

This highlights a drawback of the lazyjack systems in that the sail still needs to be folded / pleated manually along the boom.

However, they are expensive, require complete replacement of the existing rigging system, and they affect sail shape especially in light air.

In addition, furling is not as suitable as might be desired for battened sails.

However, these two systems lack a mechanism to prevent side blowing of the sail when not tied to the boom.

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