Patent ID: 7946237

Claim:
An apparatus for changing the direction of travel of a sailing vessel, the said apparatus consisting of a watercraft which includes: (i) at least one moveable flap mounted on at least one of a side of the watercraft, a bottom of the watercraft and a fore or aft section of the watercraft; (ii) at least one solenoid bank; (iii) at least one quick acting means for mechanical attachment to the sailing vessel; and (iv) at least one internal ballast tank; and wherein when the watercraft is in close proximity of the sailing vessel, the at least one solenoid bank is energised so as to electromagnetically bring into contact the wall of the watercraft and the wall of the sailing vessel, the at least one quick acting means is activated to mechanically secure the watercraft to the sailing vessel, the at least one internal ballast tank is opened to submerge the watercraft alongside the sailing vessel, and the at least one moveable flap is moved to a position to at least one of retard forward movement and change the direction of travel of the sailing vessel.