Patent ID: 8739720

Claim:
A sail supporting assembly for a sailing vessel having a hull with a keel and gunwales, comprising: a. a straight mast, having a lower region and an upper region; b. wherein said straight mast is pivotally attached to said hull so that said straight mast rotates around a mast rotation axis which is perpendicular to said keel; c. wherein said upper region of said straight mast lies substantially above said gunwales; d. a curved mast, having a lower region, a middle region, and an upper region; e. wherein said lower region of said curved mast is joined to said upper region of said straight mast at a mast joint, so that said curved mast and said straight mast rotate in unison about said mast rotation axis; f. wherein said mast rotation axis has a windward side and a leeward side; g. wherein said lower region of said curved mast lies proximate said mast rotation axis; h. wherein said middle region of said curved mast lies on said windward side of said mast rotation axis; i. wherein said upper region of said curved mast lies on said leeward side of said mast rotation axis; j. a boom, having a proximal end connected to said mast joint and a distal end located distal to said mast joint, said boom being configured to rotate in unison with said straight mast and said curved mast; k. a sail attached to said curved mast and said boom, said sail defining a sail area; l. wherein at least 5% of said sail area lies on said windward side of said mast rotation axis; m. a curved mast extender, slidably connected to said upper region of said curved mast; and n. wherein when said curved mast extender is extended upward, said curved mast extender extends the overall height of said mast assembly.