Sailing craft

Claim 2

A sailing craft including a mast mounted thereon by a pivotal joint which permits the mast to heel relative thereto, and apparatus which supports the mast athwartship and provides automatic control of the extent of the heel of the mast according to wind condition, and which comprises standing and running rigging in combination each side of the mast, crosstrees pivoted on the mast, and fixed resilient tensioning means, the standing rigging comprising shrouds anchored at their lower ends to fixed parts of the craft and at their upper ends to the crosstrees which are pivoted to an intermediate part of the mast so that they can swing up and down relative to the mast, and the running rigging comprising stays which are connected at their one end to the crosstrees, pass around pulleys or sheaves at the upper part of the mast, and are connected at their other ends to the resilient tensioning means.

Claim 3

A sailing craft according to claim 1 wherein the mast is pivoted to the craft at or closely adjacent to the deck line.

Claim 4

A sailing craft according to claim 1 wherein the mast is permitted to heel through at least 20* to either side of its normal upright position.

Claim 5

A sailing craft according to claim 1 wherein the mast is permitted to heel up to 70* to either side of its normal upright position.

Claim 6

A sailing craft according to claim 1 including a plurality of masts adapted to heel independently of one another.

Claim 7

A sailing craft according to claim 1 including a plurality of masts adapted to heel together.

Claim 8

A sailing craft according to claim 6 wherein the masts are mounted on a common pivot shaft.

Claim 9

A sailing craft according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus which supports the mast athwartship and provides automatic control of the extent of the heel of the mast, is all mounted on the craft above deck level.

Claim 10

A sailing craft according to claim 1 wherein the mast is adjustable bodily longitudinally of the craft.

Claim 11

Apparatus for a sailing craft, comprising a mast adapted to be pivotally mounted on the craft so that the mast can heel relative thereto, and apparatus which is adapted in use to support the mast athwartship and provide automatic control of the extent of the heel of the mast according to wind conditions, and which comprises standing and running rigging in combination for each side of the mast, crosstrees pivoted on the mast and resilient tensioning means fixed against movement, the standing rigging comprises shrouds adapted to be anchored at their lower ends to fixed parts of the sailing craft and connected at their upper ends to the crosstrees which are pivoted to an iNtermediate part of the mast so that they can swing up and down relative to the mast, and the running rigging comprising stays which are connected at their one end to the crosstrees, pass around pulleys or sheaves at the upper part of the mast, and are connected at their other ends to the resilient tensioning means.

Claim 12

Apparatus for a sailing craft, comprising a mast adapted to be pivotally mounted on the craft so that the mast can heel relative thereto, and apparatus which is adapted in use to support the mast athwartship and provide automatic control of the extent of the heel of the mast according to wind conditions, and which comprises standing and running rigging in combination for each side of the mast, crosstrees pivoted on the mast and resilient tensioning means fixed against movement, the standing rigging comprises shrouds adapted to be anchored at their lower ends to fixed parts of the sailing craft and connected at their upper ends to the crosstrees which are pivoted to an iNtermediate part of the mast so that they can swing up and down relative to the mast, and the running rigging comprising stays which are connected at their one end to the crosstrees, pass around pulleys or sheaves at the upper part of the mast, and are connected at their other ends to the resilient tensioning means.

Claim 13

Apparatus for a sailing craft, comprising mounting means for pivotally mounting a mast of a sailing craft so that the mast can heel relative to the craft, and apparatus which is adapted in use to support the mast athwartship and provide automatic control of the extent of of the heel of the mast according to wind conditions, and which comprises standing and running rigging in combination for each side of the mast, crosstrees adapted to be pivoted to the mast, and resilient tensioning means adapted to be fixed against movement, the standing rigging comprising shrouds adapted to be anchored at their lower ends to fixed parts of the sailing craft and connected at their upper ends to the crosstrees which are pivoted to an intermediate part of the mast so that they can swing up and down relative to the mast, and the running rigging comprising stays which are connected at their one end to the crosstrees, pass around pulleys or sheaves at the upper part of the mast, and are connected at their other ends to the resilient tensioning means.

Claim 14

Apparatus for a sailing craft, comprising mounting means for pivotally mounting a mast of a sailing craft so that the mast can heel relative to the craft, and apparatus which is adapted in use to support the mast athwartship and provide automatic control of the extent of of the heel of the mast according to wind conditions, and which comprises standing and running rigging in combination for each side of the mast, crosstrees adapted to be pivoted to the mast, and resilient tensioning means adapted to be fixed against movement, the standing rigging comprising shrouds adapted to be anchored at their lower ends to fixed parts of the sailing craft and connected at their upper ends to the crosstrees which are pivoted to an intermediate part of the mast so that they can swing up and down relative to the mast, and the running rigging comprising stays which are connected at their one end to the crosstrees, pass around pulleys or sheaves at the upper part of the mast, and are connected at their other ends to the resilient tensioning means.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the resilient tensioning means on the mast above deck level.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the resilient tensioning means is hydraulically actuated.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the resilient tensioning means is spring actuated.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the resilient tensioning means is adjustable to vary the extent by which the mast is allowed to heel under particular wind forces, and to vary the initial resistance to heeling of the mast.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the resilient tensioning means imposes tension which takes effect in stages, each successive stage increasing the tension as the angle of heel increases.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the resilient tensioning means comprises three sets of springs which operate successively on a movable member connected to the running rigging to increase the resistance to movement of the movable member, and thereby of the running rigging, as the angle of heel of the mast increases.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the springs comprise a main helical tension spring which is connected directly to the movable member and provides initial resistance to movement of the member; a plurality of secondary tension springs connected to a movable element with which the movable member is arranged to cooperate after a predetermined extent of movement to cause the element to move with the member and bring the secondary tension springs into effect so that they act in combination with the main tension spring to resist movement of the movable member and running rigging; and a compression spring which is arranged to act upon the movable element after a predetermined extent of movement of the element to act in combination with the main and secondary tension springs, through the element, on the movable member to resist movement of the member.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the movable member is a threaded spindle connected to a tensioner included in the running rigging by means of which initial tensioning of the running rigging and springs of the resilient tensioning means can be adjusted.

Claim 23

Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the shrouds of the standing rigging are provided with tensioners for adjusting the initial tensioning of the rigging.

Claim 24

Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the shrouds are provided with tension springs to absorb shock loading on the shrouds.

Claim 25

Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the crosstrees are formed by pairs of arms which are pivotally mounted on each side of the mast.

Claim 26

Apparatus According to claim 11 wherein the pulleys or sheaves are adjustable to vary their spacings from the mast.

Claim 27

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the mast is coupled to means adapted automatically to convert heeling movement of the mast into drive for automatically operating and adjusting at least some of the other gear of the craft as the mast heels.

Claim 28

Apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the mast is connected to a gear wheel on a pivot shaft, about the axis of which the mast heels, which gear wheel drives through gearing a shaft from which the drive for automatically operating and other gear of the craft is taken.

Claim 29

Apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the mast is bodily adjustable axially of the pivot shaft to alter its position longitudinally of the craft.

Claim 30

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein stop means is provided to prevent excessive heeling of the mast and complete collapse of the mast in the event of failure of the apparatus controlling heel of the mast.

Claim 31

Apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the stop means comprises hydraulic buffers positioned each side of the mast near the pivot of the mast.