Sail for a wind-powered vehicle

Abstract

A sail for a wind powered vehicle such as a surfboard, sailing boat or the like is provided wherein a sail is connected along its front edge to a mast and wherein the .[.said.]. .Iadd.sail .Iaddend.at its clew or at its lower edge is connected to a boom. The boom is connected in a hinged manner to the mast. At the free rear edge of the sail, at least one sail part is provided which is adjustable in the sail plane so that the overall area of the sail can be decreased or increased.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the InventionThe present invention relates to a sail for a wind-powered vehicle such as surfboard, sailing boat or the like.Sails for vehicles of the kind mentioned above are widely known and there are several embodiments regarding their size and form. According to the wind situation although with a single vehicle a sail of an adapted size may be used in order to reach a high velocity at the one hand, and to diminish the danger of capsizing as far as possible. It is usual for sailing boats to reef the sailing area of the sail when required, i.e. to move the total sail downwards in relation to the mast, and to roll or fold the lower area of the sail. It is usual for sails of surfboards to use several differently sized sails for a single surfboard which are used according to the wind situation. A change of the sail area during the usage, however, is difficult and impractical.A surfing sail is known from WO 91 / 11361 comprising a base sail which at it...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

It is the object of the present invention to provide a generic sail wherein in a simple fashion a variation of the sail area is possible without having a negative influence on the sail characteristic, and which is suitable for a use with modern flex dynamic masts with a flexible upper mast end area without any restrictions. Therein the sail is to be used with sailing boats and catamarans as well as with surfboards and other wind-powered vehicles.

To attain a weight of the sail as low as possible, and for simultaneously guaranteeing high stability and rigidity it is proposed that the guiding profiles and the displacing webs are manufactured of plastic material, and that the sail cloth of the stationary part of the sail is connected with the guiding profiles, and the sail cloth of the displaceable part of the sail is connected with the displacing webs, preferably bonded or welded.

Problems solved by technology

A sail wherein the pressure point would be displaced upwards when increasing the sail area would require larger holding forces when compared with a sail with a lower sail pressure point which is very disadvantageous in particular in critical situations e.g. when turning the boat or in gust winds because the sail would not perform in a way the sailor or surfer is used to.

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