Twin asymmetrical wing sail rig

Abstract

The problems associated with rotating a wing sail around a stayed rig mast; changing the airfoil shape of a wing sail on different tacks; and reefing a wing sail may be solved by using an A-frame mast with port and starboard mast extrusions for supporting two asymmetrical wing sails.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sailing rig comprising a fore and aftstayed A-frame mast having port and starboard mast extrusions; and two asymmetrical wing sails, wherein the port and starboard mast extrusions each support one of the two asymmetrical wing sails. 
     
     
         2 . The sailing rig of  claim 1 , wherein the port and starboard mast extrusions are directly joined together at about the pinnacle and center of effort of a sailboat, and wherein the port and starboard mast extrusions are supported by tabernacles. 
     
     
         3 . The sailing rig of  claim 1 , wherein the port and starboard mast extrusions are joined by a horizontal bar near their apex, and wherein the port and starboard mast extrusions are supported by tabernacles. 
     
     
         4 . The sailing rig of  claim 1 , wherein the port and starboard mast extrusions are stepped at the port and starboard stay chainplates. 
     
     
         5 . The sailing rig of  claim 1 , wherein the port and starboard mast extrusions are made of aluminum, carbon fiber or other composite material. 
     
     
         6 . The sailing rig of  claim 1 , wherein the port and starboard mast extrusions are rounded tubes of aluminum, carbon fiber or other composite material. 
     
     
         7 . The sailing rig of  claim 1 , wherein the port and starboard mast extrusions are fixed in place. 
     
     
         8 . The sailing rig of  claim 1 , wherein the port and starboard mast extrusions are rotatable in order to provide rotation to the asymmetrical wing sails. 
     
     
         9 . The sailing rig of  claim 1 , wherein the two asymmetrical wing sails can collapse accordion-style, such that the unused wing is lowered when not in use. 
     
     
         10 . The sailing rig of  claim 1 , wherein the two asymmetrical wing sails are complimentary to provide optimal wing shape for a port or a starboard tack. 
     
     
         11 . The sailing rig of  claim 10 , wherein the two asymmetrical wing sails include a plurality of asymmetrical airfoil shaped ribs, each rib having a front or leading edge and a back or trailing edge. 
     
     
         12 . The sailing rig of  claim 11 , wherein the asymmetrical airfoil shaped ribs have a S1223 wing profile. 
     
     
         13 . The sailing rig of  claim 12 , wherein a stack of asymmetrical airfoil shaped ribs are attached to a sail material at an interval that allows the asymmetrical wing sails to maintain its asymmetrical wing shape. 
     
     
         14 . The sailing rig of  claim 13 , wherein the asymmetrical airfoil shaped ribs include a plurality of openings or holes for encircling the port or starboard mast extrusion. 
     
     
         15 . The sailing rig of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of openings or holes in the asymmetrical airfoil shaped ribs are located from about 20-30% from the front or leading edge of the asymmetrical airfoil shaped rib. 
     
     
         16 . The sailing rig of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of openings or holes in the asymmetrical airfoil shaped ribs have the same shape as the port and starboard mast extrusions, and which the asymmetrical wing sails can be raised or lowered. 
     
     
         17 . The sailing rig of  claim 16 , wherein the port and starboard mast extrusions are rounded and are fixed in place, and the asymmetrical airfoil shaped ribs of the asymmetrical wings rotate freely around the port and starboard mast extrusions. 
     
     
         18 . The sailing rig of  claim 16 , wherein the port and starboard mast extrusions are not rounded and the asymmetrical airfoil shaped ribs of the asymmetrical wings rotate in unison with the port and starboard mast extrusions. 
     
     
         19 . The sailing rig of  claim 13 , further comprising a slat comprising a ribbon of sailcloth attached to and in front of the leading edge of the asymmetrical wing sails. 
     
     
         20 . The sailing rig of  claim 11 , wherein a top rib takes the role of a gaff in a gaff-rigged sailboat; and the bottom rib takes the role of a boom in a traditional Bermudan rig sailboat. 
     
     
         21 . The sailing rig of  claim 17 , where the rotation of the ribs is controlled by one or more mainsheets. 
     
     
         22 . The sailing rig of  claim 17 , where the rotation of the ribs is controlled by one or more aerodynamic tail wings. 
     
     
         23 . The sailing rig of  claim 22 , where the rotation of an individual rib or set of ribs may be separately controlled by a tail-wing to provide differing angles of attack at different elevations along the wing. 
     
     
         24 . The sailing rig of  claim 18 , where the rotation of the mast and ribs is controlled by one or more mainsheets. 
     
     
         25 . The sailing rig of  claim 18 , where the rotation of the mast and ribs is controlled by a lever such as a bar or tiller. 
     
     
         26 . The sailing rig of  claim 18 , where the rotation of the mast and ribs is controlled by automated actuators of any type.