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A reversible wing sail for use with a wind-powered vehicle is provided herein that comprises a rotatable mast, a multi-surface sail cover, and a spring-assisted camber inducer. The rotatable mast generally has a longitudinally extending mast axis and the multi-surface sail cover runs along at least

A reversible wing sail for use with a wind-powered vehicle is provided herein that comprises a rotatable mast, a multi-surface sail cover, and a spring-assisted camber inducer. The rotatable mast generally has a longitudinally extending mast axis and the multi-surface sail cover runs along at least a portion of the mast, extending transversely in relation to the mast from a leading edge to a trailing edge. The sail cover has a first surface and a second surface that form a cavity therebetween. The spring-assisted camber inducer is arranged in the cavity between the first and second surfaces of the sail cover and configured to induce an asymmetric camber profile between the first and second surfaces to form the wing sail into an airfoil shape.

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1. A reversible wing sail for use with a wind-powered vehicle, the wing sail comprising: a rotatable mast having a longitudinally extending mast axis;a multi-surface sail cover running along at least a portion of the mast and extending transversely in relation to the mast from a leading edge to a tr

1. A reversible wing sail for use with a wind-powered vehicle, the wing sail comprising: a rotatable mast having a longitudinally extending mast axis;a multi-surface sail cover running along at least a portion of the mast and extending transversely in relation to the mast from a leading edge to a trailing edge, the sail cover having a first surface and a second surface that form a cavity therebetween, each surface having an inner side exposed to the inside of the cavity and an outer side exposed to the outside air; anda spring-assisted camber inducer arranged in the cavity between the first and second surfaces of the sail cover and configured to induce an asymmetric camber profile between the first and second surfaces to form the wing sail into an airfoil shape, wherein the spring-assisted camber inducer comprises a pneumatic spring mechanism and a mechanical spring mechanism arranged in combination,the pneumatic spring mechanism being formed from an array of air-filled cells that comprises at least two air-filled cells connected in sequence to one another, including a front cell disposed closest to the mast and a back cell disposed furthest away from the mast, the back cell being fixedly attached to the inner sides of the first and second surfaces of the sail cover, wherein the pneumatic spring mechanism is arranged to induce the wing sail into the asymmetric profile, andthe mechanical spring mechanism being formed from two or more rigid members rotatably coupled together by an elastic member, wherein the rigid members comprise a camber plate rotatably coupled to the mast and extending from the mast toward the trailing edge of the sail cover, a trailing surface arm rotatably and slidably coupled to the camber plate and extending from the camber plate toward the trailing edge of the sail cover, and an inner surface arm rotatably coupled to the mast and the trailing surface arm, and wherein the elastic member is a spring configured to drive the camber plate and the trailing surface arm into an extended position relative to the inner surface arm. 2. The wing sail of claim 1, wherein the spring-assisted camber inducer is further configured to reverse the orientation of the asymmetry in the camber profile between the first and second surfaces in response to wind pressure incident on the sail cover. 3. The wing sail of claim 1, wherein the spring-assisted camber inducer forms an asymmetric camber leading surface region in the sail cover that extends from the leading edge to a mid-point short of the trailing edge and a symmetric camber trailing surface region in the sail cover that extends from the mid-point to the trailing edge. 4. The wing sail of claim 3, further comprising an extension arm coupled to a base end of the mast and configured to extend the leading surface region of the sail cover relative to the trailing surface region. 5. The wing sail of claim 1, wherein each air-filled cell extends in the longitudinal direction at least halfway along the mast. 6. The wing sail of claim 1, further comprising one or more camber holders configured to rotatably couple the front cell to the mast. 7. The wing sail of claim 1, wherein the mechanical spring mechanism further comprises at least one stop configured to limit the induced camber to a predefined maximum amount. 8. The wing sail of claim 1, wherein the spring-assisted camber inducer further comprises a second mechanical spring mechanism formed from a lever, a guide arm, and a main plate rotatably and/or slidably coupled together by a tensioning member. 9. A reversible wing sail for use with a wind-powered vehicle, the wing sail comprising: a rotatable mast having a longitudinally extending mast axis;a multi-surface sail cover running along at least a portion of the mast and extending transversely in relation to the mast from a leading edge to a trailing edge, the sail cover having a first surface and a second surface that form a cavity therebetween, each surface having an inner side exposed to the inside of the cavity and an outer side exposed to the outside air; anda spring-assisted camber inducer arranged in the cavity between the first and second surfaces of the sail cover and configured to induce an asymmetric camber profile between the first and second surfaces to form the wing sail into an airfoil shape,wherein the spring-assisted camber inducer comprises a pneumatic spring mechanism formed from an array of air-filled cells that comprises at least two air-filled cells connected in sequence to one another, including a front cell disposed closest to the mast and a back cell disposed furthest away from the mast, the back cell being fixedly attached to the inner sides of the first and second surfaces of the sail cover, wherein the pneumatic spring mechanism is arranged to induce the wing sail into the asymmetric profile. 10. The wing sail of claim 9, wherein the spring-assisted camber inducer is further configured to reverse the orientation of the asymmetry in the camber profile between the first and second surfaces in response to wind pressure incident on the sail cover. 11. The wing sail of claim 9, wherein the spring-assisted camber inducer forms an asymmetric camber leading surface region in the sail cover that extends from the leading edge to a mid-point short of the trailing edge and a symmetric camber trailing surface region in the sail cover that extends from the mid-point to the trailing edge. 12. The wing sail of claim 11, further comprising an extension arm coupled to a base end of the mast and configured to extend the leading surface region of the sail cover relative to the trailing surface region. 13. The wing sail of claim 9, wherein each air-filled cell extends in the longitudinal direction at least halfway along the mast. 14. The wing sail of claim 9, further comprising one or more camber holders configured to rotatably couple the front cell to the mast. 15. A reversible wing sail for use with a wind-powered vehicle, the wing sail comprising: a rotatable mast having a longitudinally extending mast axis;a multi-surface sail cover running along at least a portion of the mast and extending transversely in relation to the mast from a leading edge to a trailing edge, the sail cover having a first surface and a second surface that form a cavity therebetween; anda spring-assisted camber inducer arranged in the cavity between the first and second surfaces of the sail cover and configured to induce an asymmetric camber profile between the first and second surfaces to form the wing sail into an airfoil shape,wherein the spring-assisted camber inducer comprises a mechanical spring mechanism formed from two or more rigid members rotatably coupled together by an elastic member, wherein the rigid members comprise a camber plate rotatably coupled to the mast and extending from the mast toward the trailing edge of the sail cover, a trailing surface arm rotatably and slidably coupled to the camber plate and extending from the camber plate toward the trailing edge of the sail cover, and an inner surface arm rotatably coupled to the mast and the trailing surface arm, wherein the elastic member is attached to the camber plate substantially on a longitudinal centerline and proximate the trailing end of the camber plate, and wherein the elastic member is a spring configured to drive the camber plate and the trailing surface arm into an extended position relative to the inner surface arm. 16. The wing sail of claim 15, wherein the spring-assisted camber inducer is further configured to reverse the orientation of the asymmetry in the camber profile between the first and second surfaces in response to wind pressure incident on the sail cover. 17. The wing sail of claim 15, wherein the spring-assisted camber inducer forms an asymmetric camber leading surface region in the sail cover that extends from the leading edge to a mid-point short of the trailing edge and a symmetric camber trailing surface region in the sail cover that extends from the mid-point to the trailing edge. 18. The wing sail of claim 15, further comprising an extension arm coupled to a base end of the mast and configured to extend the leading surface region of the sail cover relative to the trailing surface region.