Innovative technologies used for balancing and monitoring the rigging of sailing vessels

Abstract

The propulsion of sailing vessels is based on the transformation of potential wind energy into traction force, through rigging. The action of the wind can cause considerable loads that can lead to deformations in the elasto-plastic and plastic area of the mast elements, with detrimental consequences on the safety of the vessel's operation. In order to prevent these deformations, it is necessary to permanently balance the masts, which consists in pretensioning the metal cables supporting the mast, in order to have an equivalent distribution of loads depending on the wind speed and its direction. This article presents a method of balancing the masts, which is based on innovative technologies, the technology of tensometry for the permanent identification of loads in the rigging cables to support the masts, and IT technology for real-time monitoring. This method allows the use of numerical calculation corroborated in real time with the values of the stress in the metal cables. The implementation of this method on board sailing vessel will maintain the rigging of the masts in normal operating parameters, with positive consequences on the traction efficiency of the vessel and on the safety of the vessel, by reducing the possibility of damage to it.