Patent ID: 7641524

Claim:
A wave-powered water vehicle which comprises (1) a float, (2) a swimmer, (3) a first tether which connects the float and the swimmer, and which is attached to a fore position on the float and to a fore position on the swimmer; and (4) a second tether which connects the float and the swimmer, and which is attached to an aft position on the float and to an aft position on the swimmer; the float, swimmer and tether being such that, when the vehicle is in still water, (i) the float is on or near the surface of the water, (ii) the swimmer is submerged below the float, and (iii) the tether is under tension; the swimmer, when the vehicle is in wave-bearing water, interacting with the water to generate forces which tend to move the float horizontally; and each of the tethers comprising (A) an elongate tensile member which carries load when the tether is under tension and which passes through a leading edge portion of the tether, and (B) a jacket which provides the outer surface of the tether.