Device for reducing the surface area and for favourably modifying the aerodynamic profile of a sail with a free-flying luff

Abstract

The invention relates to a reefing device (100) for a sail (1) with a free-flying luff (2), which sail is equipped with a head (5) and a tack (6), the device comprising: a hooking system comprising a first hooking device (102) intended to equip a folding surface (Sr) which extends between the luff and a folding curve (Cp) substantially parallel to the luff, the folding curve having a so-called upper end on the head side and a so-called lower end on the tack side; a second hooking device (104) intended to equip another hooking surface (Sa) which extends between the folding curve and a hooking curve (Ca) substantially parallel to the luff, the second hooking device cooperating with the first hooking device; another head (5') attached at the upper end, and another tack (6') being attached at the lower end.

Description

Device for reducing the surface area and favorably modifying the aerodynamic profile of a free-hauled sail.

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for reducing the surface area and favorably modifying the aerodynamic profile of a free-haul sail. The invention also relates to a free-haul sail equipped with at least one such device. It also relates to a nautical craft equipped with at least one such device. State of the prior art

[0002] Sails usually have attachment devices at their corners consisting of an eyelet, for example a metal one, intended to receive a "line" (rope) or a shackle. In the case of a triangular sail, the corners are called the halyard point, the tack point, and the clew point.

[0003] More generally, a sail may include other attachment devices, for example allowing a reef to be taken in.

[0004] Reefing involves reducing the surface area of ​​a sail by partially folding it in, the aim being to adapt the surface area of ​​the sail to the wind force. The sail is reduced by generally folding it over the boom (on the yard on a square rigging of the old navy).

[0005] On modern sailboats, the mainsail can be equipped with "automatic reefs" which allow, by pulling on the ropes from the cockpit, to reduce its surface area by tightening the tack and clew points of the reefing band.

[0006] Downwind sails are generally free-hauled: spinnaker or gennaker. These sails are designed for a specific range of strength, wind angle, and rigging plan. Using them outside the design parameters can result in their destruction or significantly degrade the boat's performance.

[0007] Existing devices allow a headsail, with a free or fixed luff, to be reefed by rolling the lower part of it along the edge and keeping it rolled with a fastening system such as a zipper for example.

[0008] These devices have several disadvantages.

[0009] The furled section creates a concentrated mass that impairs the dynamic behavior of the sail. Water evacuation in the furled section is difficult, which aggravates the previous point. The slenderness of the sail is reduced, which is detrimental to the performance of the sail plan. The aerodynamic profile of the sail retains a significant camber, particularly in the lower part, which goes against the objective of reducing power sought when reducing sail area.

[0010] One aim of the invention is in particular to remedy all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0011] To this end, according to a first aspect of the invention, a reefing device is proposed for a free-hauled sail equipped with a halyard point and a tack point, the device comprising a fastening system which comprises: a first fastening device provided to equip a surface of the sail, called the folding surface, the folding surface extending between the luff and a folding curve substantially parallel to the luff, the folding curve having an end, called the high end, on the halyard point side and an end, called the low end, on the tack point side, and a second fastening device provided to equip another surface of the sail called the fastening surface, the fastening surface extending between the folding curve and a fastening curve substantially parallel to the luff.

[0012] The second hooking device cooperates with the first hooking device.

[0013] The reefing device further comprises: another halyard point provided to be attached to the upper end, and another tack point provided to be attached to the lower end.

[0014] Preferably, the first attachment device is formed by one half of a zipper system intended to be attached to the folding surface, preferably by sewing, the second attachment device being formed by the other half of the zipper system intended to be attached to the attachment surface, preferably by sewing.

[0015] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a free-hauled sail, the sail having a halyard point and a tack point, equipped with a hooking device according to the first aspect of the invention, or one or more of its improvements.

[0016] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a nautical craft equipped with at least one attachment device according to the first aspect of the invention, or one or more of its improvements.

[0017] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of reefing a free-hauled sail according to the second aspect of the invention, or one or more of its improvements, comprising the following steps: folding the folding surface of the sail against the sail attachment surface, attaching together the first sail attachment device and the second sail attachment device. Description of figures

[0018] Other advantages and particularities of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description of implementations and embodiments which are in no way limiting, with regard to the appended drawing in which:

[0019] schematically represents a nautical craft equipped with a sail on which is attached a reefing device according to the invention,

[0020] illustrates a detail at the halyard point of the sail shown on,

[0021] illustrates a detail at the tack point of the sail shown on. Description of embodiment

[0022] The embodiments described below being in no way limiting, it will be possible in particular to consider variants of the invention comprising only a selection of the characteristics described, subsequently isolated from the other characteristics described, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention compared to the state of the prior art. This selection comprises at least one characteristic, preferably functional without structural details, or with only a part of the structural details if this part only is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention compared to the state of the prior art.

[0023] In the figures, an element appearing in several figures retains the same reference.

[0024] schematically represents an embodiment of a nautical craft N equipped with a free-guiding sail 1 according to the invention.

[0025] The sail 1 shown is for example of the gennaker or spinnaker type, and has: a free luff 2, a leech 3, on the side of the sail intended to be towards the stern of the ship, and a foot 4, on the side of the sail facing the deck of the ship.

[0026] Sail 1 has three attachment points 5, 6, 7, respectively: at the halyard point 5, which designates the angle located at the top of the sail when it is hoisted, at the tack point 6, which designates the angle attached to the fixed point towards the front of the boat, and at the clew point 7, which designates the lower rear corner of the sail to which the sheet is attached.

[0027] Sail 1 may still have other attachment points at reefing points.

[0028] Each of the attachment points, respectively 5, 6, 7, is for example formed by a ring.

[0029] The sail is further equipped with a reefing device 100 comprising a hooking system, which comprises: a first hooking device 102 provided to equip a surface of the sail, called the folding surface Sr, a second hooking device 104 provided to equip another surface of the sail called the hooking surface Sa.

[0030] The folding surface extends between the luff and a folding curve Cp. The folding curve Cp is inscribed on the surface of the sail 2 and substantially parallel to the free luff 2. The folding curve Cp is arranged on a forward part of the sail. The folding curve Cp has an end, called high, on the halyard point side and an end, called low, on the tack point side

[0031] The gripping surface Sa extends between the folding curve Cp and a gripping curve Ca substantially parallel to the guide 2.

[0032] The second attachment device 104 cooperates with the first attachment device, that is to say that the attachment system has a so-called open configuration, in which the two attachment devices are free and a so-called closed configuration in which the two attachment devices are secured.

[0033] The reefing device 100 further comprises: another halyard point 5′ attached to the upper end, and another tack point 6′ attached to the lower end.

[0034] Each of the other 5′ halyard point and the other 6′ tack point can be formed by a ring. Suitable reinforcements can be brought back, for example using straps sewn to the upper and lower ends.

[0035] According to one possibility, the first hooking device can be formed from one half of a zipper system which is attached, preferably by sewing, to the folding surface Sr, while the second hooking device can be formed from another half of the zipper system which is attached, preferably by sewing, to the hooking surface Sa.

[0036] Other attachment devices can be considered, such as snap fasteners or hook-and-loop fastening systems.

[0037] A method of reefing in the sail 1 with free luff 2 is thus proposed which comprises the following steps: folding the folding surface Sr against the attachment surface Sa, attaching together the first attachment device 104 and the second attachment device 104.

[0038] Before the folding stage, the sail must be completely lowered.

[0039] A simple fold along the luff allows the unused surface of the sail to be distributed over a large area, which limits the concentration of its mass.

[0040] Having a simple fold in a near vertical direction also allows for easy water flow.

[0041] Folding along the luff increases the slenderness of the sail plan by reducing the foot length more significantly than the leech and luff length.

[0042] The folded part being located at the front, it is the one with the most camber, the new profile obtained is therefore less cambered.

[0043] The device according to the invention thus makes it possible to reduce the sail area while overcoming the defects of the prior art.

[0044] The luff length is reduced, it is recommended to send the sail on a second halyard coming out lower in the mast, called the halyard.

[0045] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described and many adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, the various features, forms, variants and embodiments of the invention can be combined with each other in various combinations to the extent that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive.

Claims

Device (100) for taking reefs for a sail (1) with a free luff (2) equipped with a halyard point (5) and a tack point (6), the device comprising:a hooking system which comprises:a first hooking device (102) provided to equip a surface of the sail, called the folding surface (Sr), the folding surface extending between the luff and a folding curve (Cp) substantially parallel to the luff, the folding curve having an end, called the high end, on the side of the halyard point and an end, called the low end, on the side of the tack point, anda second hooking device (104) provided to equip another surface of the sail, called the hooking surface (Sa), the hooking surface extending between the folding curve and a hooking curve (Ca) substantially parallel to the luff,the second hooking device cooperating with the first hooking device, and another halyard point (5′) intended to be reported at the level of the upper end,and another tack point (6′) intended to be reported at the level of the lower end., Reefing device according to the preceding claim, in which the first attachment device is formed by one half of a zipper system intended to be attached to the folding surface (Sr), the second attachment device being formed by the other half of the zipper system intended to be attached to the attachment surface (Sa). Free-hauled sail, the sail having a halyard point (5) and a tack point (6), equipped with a reefing device (100) according to either of the two preceding claims. Nautical craft (N) equipped with at least one reefing device according to claim 1 or 2. Method for reefing a sail (1) with a free luff (2) according to claim 3, comprising the following steps: folding the folding surface (Sr) of the sail against the attachment surface (Sa) of the sail, attaching together the first attachment device (102) of the sail and the second attachment device (104) of the sail.

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