Waterborne vessel with loop keel

A vessel for traveling on water, comprising:

• a hull;
• and
• a keel comprising a member depending from the hull, the member comprising two limbs each depending from a respective lateral side of the hull, the two limbs defining at least in part an enclosed flow path extending in a bow-to-stern direction, the enclosed flow path being configured to allow water incident on the vessel to flow over inner and outer surfaces of the two limbs, wherein the two limbs each have a foil surface which is angled to generate in use a component of hydrodynamic force directed outwardly from the enclosed flow path when there is a net flow of water incident in the bow-to-stern direction, each limb having a forward edge and a rearward edge, the inner and outer surfaces extending between the forward and rearward edges, wherein each of the inner and outer surfaces is continuous over its entire length between the forward and rearward edges, wherein the two limbs each comprise a substantially straight portion, and wherein the two limbs comprise a pair of substantially straight limbs connected together to form a V-shape as viewed in the bow-to-stern direction with a portion of the hull completing a loop to form the enclosed flow path.

A vessel for traveling on water, comprising:

• a hull;
• and
• a keel comprising a member depending from the hull, the member comprising two limbs each depending from a respective lateral side of the hull, the two limbs defining at least in part an enclosed flow path extending in a bow-to-stern direction, the enclosed flow path being configured to allow water incident on the vessel to flow over inner and outer surfaces of the two limbs, wherein the two limbs each have a foil surface which is angled to generate in use a component of hydrodynamic force directed outwardly from the enclosed flow path when there is a net flow of water incident in the bow-to-stern direction, each limb having a forward edge and a rearward edge, the inner and outer surfaces extending between the forward and rearward edges, wherein each of the inner and outer surfaces is continuous over its entire length between the forward and rearward edges, and wherein the two limbs are substantially curved.

A vessel for traveling on water, comprising:

• a hull;
• and
• a keel comprising a member depending from the hull, the member comprising two limbs each depending from a respective lateral side of the hull, the two limbs defining at least in part an enclosed flow path extending in a bow-to-stern direction, the enclosed flow path being configured to allow water incident on the vessel to flow over inner and outer surfaces of the two limbs, wherein the two limbs each have a foil surface which is angled to generate in use a component of hydrodynamic force directed outwardly from the enclosed flow path when there is a net flow of water incident in the bow-to-stern direction, each limb having a forward edge and a rearward edge, the inner and outer surfaces extending between the forward and rearward edges, wherein each of the inner and outer surfaces is continuous over its entire length between the forward and rearward edges, and wherein at least one limb of the two limbs has a part having a leading edge which is locally swept relative to a central, longitudinal axis of the hull.

A vessel for traveling on water, comprising:

• a hull;
• and
• a keel comprising a member depending from the hull, the member comprising two limbs each depending from a respective lateral side of the hull, the two limbs defining at least in part an enclosed flow path extending in a bow-to-stern direction, the enclosed flow path being configured to allow water incident on the vessel to flow over inner and outer surfaces of the two limbs, wherein the two limbs each have a foil surface which is angled to generate in use a component of hydrodynamic force directed outwardly from the enclosed flow path when there is a net flow of water incident in the bow-to-stern direction, each limb having a forward edge and a rearward edge, the inner and outer surfaces extending between the forward and rearward edges, wherein each of the inner and outer surfaces is continuous over its entire length between the forward and rearward edges, and wherein each limb of the two limbs has a lower part which is longitudinally offset relative to an upper part thereof.