An elevated sailing apparatus that includes one or more wings, tethered to a
conveyance,
and suspended from beneath a streamlined, lighter-than-air blimp. The wings generate
both propulsive and lifting forces from the wind. The propulsive force is used
to propel a conveyance. The lifting force prevents the apparatus from being pushed
into the water by the propulsive force. The wings use stabilizers to orient them
to the oncoming wind and control surfaces to adjust the angle of orientation. A
ballast weight provides a vertical reference relative to the blimp, so that the
propulsive and lifting forces can be controlled independently. A remote control
system allows the degree of lifting force and propulsive force to be controlled
from the conveyance. Thus the pilot may tack the apparatus and control its altitude.
The use of a streamlined blimp and high aspect-ratio wings allows this elevated
sailing apparatus to achieve the low drag-angle necessary for high-speed sailing.
