Sailing Directly Into the Wind

As shown above it has three components along an aluminum spar. Below water, a) is a small model airplane propeller ballasted with lead at the hub. Next, b) is a streamlined float at water level. Last, c) is a wind fan of aluminum that turns the whole craft along its axis. The wind knocks the craft over to a shallow angle and the whole thing begins to spin, literally screwing itself into the wind. Careful design and tuning insured that lift from airfoils and hydrofoils exceeded the leeward drag of all components, making windward progress possible.

This project was one of several designed to demonstrate far fetched concepts. Others were a rain powered vehicle, flying spheres, the ProtoAndroid, and a flapping wing flying machine that runs on legs to take off. SailBalls Are a recent related effort.

This work was done in Austin, Texas by David Santos. Success came on the 10th of October of 1990 and the watercraft was shown off at Armadillicon '90 shortly thereafter.

Order plans for this unique watercraft from Dave, for ten US dollars.

Intellectual property statement- Patents Pending. Designs protected by copyright. Noncommercial personal and educational use encouraged. Commercial licensing generously negotiable. Proposals to David Santos.