The present invention relates to a sailboat rig which comprises an A-form lowerable mast with fore-stays and after-stays. The mast is longer than the vessel and includes two straight mast halves which are joined together such as to define an acute angle at the top of the mast. The mast halves are joined together by means of a number of cross-braces and are placed aft of midships. A double roll-reefing jib is fitted to the forward stay.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The masts of sailboats are normally mounted on the deck of the boat at a point forwards of midships of the hull centre line. One serious drawback in this regard is that sight is impaired in the forward direc¬ tion.

In order to obtain a stronger construction, the mast is often extended to the bottom of the hull, which encroaches upon available space below deck. Those solutions that have been proposed with the intention of solving these problems normally require an expen- sive and structurally troublesome beam or like stiff¬ ening transversely of the boat.

Normally, a plurality of braces are needed in order to obtain stability against the forces that act on the mast when sailing, such as fore and aft braces for instances. In some cases up to six side-braces may be required. This means that up to eight bottle screws must be adjusted when raising the mast on the boat. The side braces impede movement on board the boat and complicate handling of the foresail sheets.

In conventional sailboats, or yachts, it is necessary to carry a number of different sails, such as main sail with battens, storm jib, genoa, and spinnaker,

which take up considerable space and make sailing onerous on the whole. Moreover, the foresail of more modern boats has been made larger than the foresails that are used in 7/8-part rigs, which has made han- dling of the sails even more difficult, even though the relatively recent introduction of the roll-reefing jib has meant a great improvement when sailing, be¬ cause the total sail area can be varied from 100 to 0 percent easily and comfortably in accordance with wind strength.

In the case of conventional sailboats, the rig in¬ cludes a boom on to which the main sail is made fast. This boom is a hazard to the crew, both when tacking and gibing.

Reasons are often found to work on the mast top, which can be difficult and highly dangerous. Access to a mast crane is normally required in this regard.

Various known solutions concerning lowerable A-form rigs lie within the technical field of the present invention. Examples of such rigs are disclosed in US- A-4 723 498, US-A-4 934 295 and US-A-4 886 008 among others. It would appear that none of these rigs has been used to any great extent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above mentioned drawbacks associated with conven¬ tional sailboats and to improve the A-form rigs so that they can be brought into practical use.

According to the concept of the invention, this object is achieved by constructing the sailboat rig with a sail which is attached to the after-stay, wherein the

sail can be sheeted together with the foresail and can be made self-shifting, or automatically shiftable, by connecting the sail to the foresail which is also self-shifting, in accordance with the characterizing clause of the following main claim.

By constructing a boat rig with sails in this way there is obtained a practical and radically simplified boat that can be easily sailed. The boat can use a larger roll-reefing jib than is possible with a conventional mast and rig. Since the roll-reefing jib is doubled it is possible to obtain a maximum sail area when running before the wind, because one half of the jib is sheeted to port and the other half to star- board. When sailing close hauled or by the wind, further sail area can be obtained by securing a boom- less sail to the after-stay. This sail, which may also be a roll-reefing jib type sail, is sheeted in "reverse" and can be made self-shifting by coupling the sail to the sheet of the large foresail, which in this embodiment is also self-shifting. The two sails are, in this case, sheeted at a common point. The risks that are associated with movement of the boom across the open cockpit of the boat are eliminated when an aftersail is attached to the after-stay in this way. The position of the mast also enables a foresail of such large sail-area to be used as to obviate the need for a conventional main-sail.

Because of the ease in which access can be had to the mast top, it is possible to mount a readily removable wind-driven electric generator at the top of the mast for recharging electric batteries stowed in the keel of the boat. These batteries may be of a size which will enable the conventional auxiliary petrol or diesel engines of the boat to be replaced with a

silent-running electric motor, which has many practi¬ cal and economic advantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 illustrates the construction of the mast and its position, and also shows the fore-stays and after- stays;

Figure 2 illustrates principally how the roll-reefing foresail is attached to the fore-stay and how the roll-reefing foresail is coupled to a sail on the after-stay and therewith becomes self-shifting;

Figure 3 illustrates sailing by the wind while tacking to port with both foresail and aftersail;

Figure 4 illustrates sailing by the wind while tacking to starboard with foresail and aftersail;

Figure 5 illustrates sailing in half wind with the wind coming from starboard and with foresail and aftersail;

Figure 6 illustrates sailing large with the wind from the port quarter;

Figure 7 illustrates running before the wind with an unfurled double foresail;

Figure 8 illustrates sailing large with the wind from the starboard quarter;

Figure 9 is a perspective front view of a device by means of which the sail can be made self-shifting; and

Figure 10 is a view of the device shown in Figure 9 from above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Figures 1 through 8 illustrate a preferred embodiment of an inventive sailboat rig with the mast 2 posi¬ tioned sternwards of midships. The mast is comprised of two halves 3, 4. One mast-half 3 is attached to the port railing or gunwale 5 and the other mast-half 4 is attached to the starboard railing or gunwale 6. The two mast-halves are joined together at the top so that the mast has an A-form. The A-form mast is braced by means of a fore-stay 8 and an after-stay 9. The mast attachments 10, 11 are constructed so that the mast can be easily lowered and raised, for instance when passing under a bridge. In order to obtain a maximum strength/low weight combination, the mast halves are straight and are mutually joined by a plurality of horizontal cross-stays or braces 12, 12'. These stays or braces also provide ladder-type rungs which provide ready access to the top of the mast. The lowermost brace 12 is extended on both sides of the mast at 13 and 14 respectively, so as to provide sheet points 20, 21.

A double foresail 15, 15' can be secured to the fore- stay 8, which conveniently has the form of a roll- reefing jib, while an aftersail 16 can be secured to the after-stay 9, which also conveniently has the form of a roll-reefing jib. As will best be seen from Figure 3, there are included two sheets 17 and 18. Each sheet 17, 18 is connected from the after-deck to

a respective foresail 15, 15' via respective sheet points, while a further sheet 19 is connected to the aftersail 16 via a deck-mounted sheet point. All sheeting can be effected from one point from the after-deck.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate how the sheets can be arranged and coupled in order for the sails to be self-shifting. Pulleys or guide blocks 20'and 21'are mounted on vertical shafts on the extensions 13 and 14 of the bottom cross-brace 12 and are connected by means of wire or non-stretchable rope in the form of an endless loop or sheet ring-fastener 22. Mounted on the forward side of the cross-brace 12 are two blocks or pulleys 23, 23' for the jib sheets 17, 18, which can be pulled down to the deck or the cockpit via the blocks 23 23' and there secured conventionally with the aid of cleat clamps. Mounted on the sternward side of the cross-brace 12 is a block 24 for the aftersail sheet 19, which may also be pulled down to the,deck or the cockpit and secured in place. The length of the sheet can therewith be adjusted from the cockpit for instance, in a simple fashion. Since the sheet ring- fastener 22 is movable on the blocks or pulleys 20' , 21', the sails will be self-shifting, i.e. will shift or jib automatically.

As mentioned in the aforegoing, the invention thus provides a particularly simple and effective rig which is readily accessible and can be easily handled.

It will be understood that the invention is not re¬ stricted to the described and illustrated embodiment and that modifications can be made within the scope of the following claims. -