Patent ID: 7752987
Filing Date: 2010-07-13
Classification: B63H

Abstract:
1. A method of propelling a watercraft by deploying a mastless sail to capture the energy of wind above water, comprising the steps of: providing a sail, said sail comprising a hollow body having an open front end and a closed rear end, said open front end defining a perimeter sleeve, a perimeter support batten comprising a single, closed-loop resilient structure housed within said perimeter sleeve; deploying the sail by allowing the perimeter support batten to self expand from a folded configuration to an expanded configuration, whereby in the folded configuration said support batten is coiled upon itself and in the expanded configuration said support batten is shaped as a single, substantially circular loop; positioning the sail in the wind to capture the energy of the wind, whereby said sail when fully expanded by the captured wind defines a substantially hemispherical shape; and allowing the captured wind to propel the watercraft.