sailboat cutter vs sloop

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Cutter rig vs. sloop rig

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We are very new to sailing and have a few questions. What are the pro''s and con''s of a cutter rig vs. a sloop rig?  

While we wait for the real experts to reply, I can tell you what little I know: cutters are generally thought to offer more options for balancing your sailplan. Having, for example, a genoa on a headstay furler, and a smaller staysail (some prefer hanked-on over a furler), you can quickly quickly furl the genny and get the staysail into action in a blow. The staysail is closer to the mast, moving the center of effort closer to the midpoint of the boat, as well as lower. Some claim that tacking a large headsail around the forestay can be a problem, but there are designs for temporarily repositioning the forestay when you are using just the headstay and genoa. I believe that a cutter''s best point of sail is reaching. With the wind from close to broad reach, the extra sail can offer a lot of drive. While beating and running, the staysail is said to offer little to the sailplan. Of course, there are exceptions to this, too. I have seen some boats with two poles running the headsail and staysail "wing and wing." Duane  

Rigs-cutter vs. sloop rig Today these terms are used quite loosely as compared to their more traditional definitions. Traditionally the sloop rig was a rig with a single mast located forward of 50% of the length of the sailplan. In this traditional definition a sloop could have multiple jibs. Cutters had a rig with a single mast located 50% of the length of the sailplan or further aft, multiple headsails and reefing bowsprit. Somewhere in the 1950''s or 1960''s there was a shift in these definitions such that a sloop only flew one headsail and a cutter had multiple headsails and mast position became irrelevant. For the sake of this discussion I assume we are discussing the modern definition of a sloop and a cutter. Historically, when sail handling hardware was primitive and sails were far more stretchy than they are today, the smaller headsails and mainsail of a traditional cutter were easier to handle and with less sail stretch, allowed earlier cutters to be more weatherly (sail closer to the wind) than the sloops of the day. With the invention of lower stretch sailcloth and geared winches, cutters quickly lost their earlier advantage. Today sloops are generally closer winded and easier to handle. Their smaller jibs and larger mainsail sailplan are easier to power up and down. Without a jibstay to drag the Genoa across, sloops are generally easier to tack. With less hardware sloops are less expensive to build. Sloops come in a couple varieties, masthead and fractional. In a masthead rig the forestay and jib originates at the masthead. In a fractional rig, the forestay originated some fraction of the mast height down from the masthead. Historically, sloops were traditionally fractionally rigged. Fractional rigs tend to give the most drive per square foot of sail area. Their smaller jibs are easier to tack and they reef down to a snug masthead rig. Today they are often proportioned so that they do not need overlapping headsails, making them even easier to sail. One of the major advantages of a fractional rigs is the ability when combined with a flexible mast, is the ability to use the backstay to control mast bend. Increasing backstay tension does a lot of things on a fractional rig: it tensions the forestay flattening the jib, and induces mast bend, which flattens the mainsail and opens the leech of the sail. This allows quick depowering as the wind increases and allows a fractional rig to sail in a wider wind speed range than masthead rig without reefing, although arguably requiring a bit more sail trimming skills. While fractional rigs used to require running backstays, better materials and design approaches have pretty much eliminated the need for running backstays. That said, fractional rigs intended for offshore use, will often have running backstays that are only rigged in heavy weather once the mainsail has been reefed. The geometry of these running backstays typically allow the boat to be tacked without tacking the running backstays. Masthead rigs came into popularity in the 1950''s primarily in response to racing rating rules that under-penalized jibs and spinnakers and so promoted bigger headsails. Masthead sloops tend to be simpler rigs to build and adjust. They tend to be more dependent on large headsails and so are a little harder to tack and so require a larger headsail inventory if performance is important. Mast bend is harder to control and so bigger masthead rigs will often have a babystay that can be tensioned to induce mast bend in the same way as a fractional rig does. Dragging a Genoa over the babystay makes tacking a bit more difficult and slower. While roller furling allows a wider wind range for a given Genoa, there is a real limit (typically cited 10% to 15%) to how much a Genoa can be roller furled and still maintain a safely flat shape. Cutters, which had pretty much dropped out of popularity during a period from the end of WWII until the early 1970''s, came back into popularity with a vengeance in the early 1970''s as an offshore cruising rig. In theory, the multiple jibs allow the forestaysail to be dropped or completely furled, and when combined with a reefed mainsail and the full staysail, results in a very compact heavy weather rig (similar to the proportions of a fractional rigged sloop with a reef in the mainsail). As a result the cutter rig is often cited as the ideal offshore rig. Like fractional rigs, cutter rigs intended for offshore use, will often have running backstays that are only rigged in heavy weather once the mainsail has been reefed. Unlike the fractional rig, the geometry of these running backstays typically requires that the running backstays be tacked whenever the boat is tacked. Cutters make a less successful rig for coastal sailing. Generally cutters tend to have snug rigs that depend on larger Genoas for light air performance. Tacking these large Genoas through the narrow slot between the Jibstay and Forestay is a much harder operation than tacking a sloop. As a result many of today''s cutters have a removable jibstay that can be rigged in heavier winds. This somewhat reduces the advantage of a cutter rig (i.e. having a permanently rigged and ready to fly small, heavy weather jib). Cutters these days generally do not point as close to the wind as similar sized sloops. Because of the need to keep the slots of two headsails open enough to permit good airflow, headsails cannot be pulled in as far as on a sloop without stalling out the slot. Since cutter rigs are generally associated with the less efficient underbodies that are typical of offshore boats, this is less of a problem that it might sound. Cutters also give away some performance on deep broad reaches and when heading downwind because the Genoa acts in the bad air of the staysail. Jeff  

I have sailed on a 48' cutter with a 150 genoa. While running, or on a reach, we used the staysail. When beating or close hauled, we furled the staysail and brought the genoa out to 150 as if we were a sloop. It seemed to work for us. So I agree that a cutter rig does offer more versitility that a straight sloop.  

How's this for a record: I'm reading the original post after 14 years; and (while admittedly, I'm just a wanna be sailor thus far), it still seems relevant. I'm currently reading Desirable and Undesirable Characteristics of Offshore Yachts by the Tech Committee of the Cruising Club of America, and was getting confused by their description of various rigging styles. Incidentally, the copy I have appears to be a 1987 edition; does anyone know if there is a more up-to-date edition of Offshore Yachts ? Thanks greatly Landlubber  

One thing that wasn't mentioned here...maintenance. More sails means more sailmakers bills, more rigging to inspect/replace, more furlers that can get jammed/break bearings, more sheets to lead aft, more holes in the deck to leak, more tension points on the mast...etc. Just more overall systems complexity in general That being said, there is much to be said about the flexibility by having two headsails on roller furlers during a blow...  

nightOwl Or 2 headsails not on roller furlers.  

Hard to argue with aesthetic preferences.  

Stop reading. Go sailing.  

For long range cruising boat a staysail is very valuable but not essential. Our boat is happiest and easiest to sail in 30 knots+ with deep reefed main and staysail. However, the furler broke 50 nm out of Panama and we sailed 7,000 nm to New Zealand with only the genoa but when reefed the effort moved up the mast. Short tacking the genoa through the narrow slot between the two forestays is a pain and it makes it impossible to do well in the Wednesday evening club races. For a in-the-bay sailor I would buy a sloop but off-shore in bad weather I love my cutter! Phil  

Several years ago I sailed a thirty something foot hunter with a cutter rig. no problem tacking. that boat turned on a dime. My coronado 23 is sloop rigged but has trouble with tacking in light wind. I just did a sea trial on a Hans Christian 48T. Wind was light. No problems tacking. I like the cutter for appearance and more options. I plan on extensive cruising.  

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Sloop to Cutter, Pros v. Cons?

• Thread starter dwayne13628
• Start date Aug 7, 2005
• Forums for All Owners
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dwayne13628

Hello all, I am in the middle of my rebuild of the Northern 25, and since I have the Bulkheads out, and the cabin gutted I wonder if turning this boat into a cutter would make sense? I would of course add an aluminum arch bulkhead to take the load. My INTENDED use of the boat is learning to sail, then exploring the Great Lakes, then set sail for Newfoundland, and perhaps further some other year. The Blue Water sailing will not happen until I am comfy with my knowledge and boat handling skills, say 2008, I should be ready. The thing that I like about having another forestay is being able to have a storm jib always at the ready, but the con I see is it will be a more complex rig, in the beginning anyway. Could I expect some gains in speed.... that is closer to est. hull speed? Damn another question: Hull speed, is that the theatrical max I can expect under sail, or is that the fastest the hull will travel on the water, regardless of power source (Motor / Sail)?  

Richard Bryer

Cutter rig I also sail a San Juan 24. I have heard of people rigging an inside headsail tacked to the downhaul padeye and run on the second forward halyard. Apparently is good for a bit more speed. Something I have always meant totry but never got around to itNot sure how it would affect helm- probably add a bit of lee helm. The designer ( in this case Bruce Kirby) balanced the sailplan for a conventional sloop rig with mast head jib so more sail up front is going to have some effectAs I understand it, hull speed is the max speed you can get with that displacement hull unless you can figure a way to get it to plane. As in running down the backside of a good wave ( I have seen 9 knots on the SJ24 with the kite up and some 4 ft waves to surf down and a couple of very competent crew to fly the thing- I just drive the bus!)  

BIG difference between a sloop and cutter ...... .... and its all in the where the mast is positioned. Having two headsails does not make a sloop a cutter. A sloops mast is much farther forward than a cutter. A sloops CE usually balances somewhere BEHIND the mast while a Cutter's CE usually balances in FRONT of the mast - usually in the staysail. There is no contest when it comes to 'versatility of sailplan' when it comes to cutters; but, that is really an old-fashioned design thats not really needed anymore since the advent of stable (dacron) sail materials. A sloop is absolutely capable of sailing all by itself in open ocean conditions, just as stable, just as versatile, etc. The Brits and other sailors who are located in 'aggressive' tide/wind venues seem to prefer a 'solent rig' - Two forestays, one behind one another, one preloaded with a normal-light wind foresail and the other already loaded with a sail for higher wind ranges. If you look at the top-end cruising boats by the 'top' designers you probably see more solent rigs nowadays, than cutters. Besides, the fractional rig sloop is probably more versatile becausee it can point much higher than a cutter; a cutter because the CE is so far forward usually 'struggles' to weather. Sloops are for pointing, cutters are for reaching. If you intend lots of 'downwind sailing' or a venue that involves mostly reaching (tradewinds) then a cutter rig will probably be best; but, if you are planing routes that involve a lot of pointing/beating then a fractional rig sloop is probably the best. Why fractional rig? Easier to control the rig (mast bending, etc.) , easier to drop down to very deep reefed main only sailing. less 'dancing on the pitching foredeck' with a smaller jib/genoa. Only drawback is the sloop doesnt go straight downwind very well (without a spinnaker) and needs to tack downwind at an angle (adverse helm problems) in HIGH winds, etc. I greatly admire your planned trip the 'rock' .... contains some the friendliest people on the planet in those 'outports'. Enjoy the backflies, bergy-bits & Seal flipper pie! My viewpoint is thoroughly strengthen what you have (running back stays, beef up the hull, rigging, separate trysail track on the mast, boom gallows, boat heater, etc. etc. etc. etc.) and GO.  

JC on Bainbridge

RichH I have been sailing for a long time, and power boating before that. I have never "really" known the detailed difference between a sloop and a cutter. Thanks much for the info. Good explanation. BTW, I sail a sloop.Question: What is a Seal flipper pie? Is it really what the name implies? Is it good? and what are backflies, bergy-bits? I have had some dishes with really weird sounding names, or strange looking content, but sometimes they turned out really tasty. I just can't think about them while eating them. No, I have never had dog, monkey, eyeballs or the like. I do have to draw the line somewhere.  

Blackflies: natures 'remedy' for mosquitos...... These are ultra-teeny to house sized voracious flies that chew their way into your skin to suck your blood. Usually when they are 'out' you dont have to worry about mosquitos since the skin surface is so covered with them that the poor mosquitos dont have any place to land. A face net or slathering oneself with thick layers of noxema skin cream will 'slow them down'. STaying directly downind of a heavily smoking large fire will work, sometimes. When the ice in the northern areas breaks up in early summer the northern bays of Nfld can get choked with the now free floating ice coming south on the Labrador current .... the smaller ones: bergy bits or broken/ground up pieces ice bergs. They usally dissapear between the end of spring and begining of fall which 'starts' about 3-4 weeks after the beginning of spring. BTW - Nice thing about the northern lats is that the days are soooooooooo long in midsummer. Best thing is no hordes of tourists, no PWCs, etc. etc. The bad thing is the polar bears which have no ice to hunt on, so you gotta be somewhat careful the further 'north' you go.  

Seal Flipper Pie - a Nfld 'delicacy' SEAL FLIPPER PIESHOPPING LIST: baking soda, baking powder, carrots, flippers, flour, margarine, onion, pepper, salt, salt pork, turnipINGREDIENTS2 flippers, 1 tbsp. baking soda, 2 tbsp flour, salt, pepper, 1/4 lb. salt pork cut into small cubes, 1 chopped onion, 2 diced carrots, 1 diced turnip.Pastry: 1/3 cup margarine, 2 cups flour, 2 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. salt, 2 or 3 tbsp. cold water.INSTRUCTIONSCOOKINGSoak the seal flippers for 1/2 hour in cold water to which 1 tbsp. of baking soda has been added.The fat will turn white. Remove all the fat.Mix 2 tbsp. of flour with salt and pepperDredge the flippers with the flour mixture.CooK the salt pork in a fry pan.Fry the flippers until brown in the rendered salt pork fat.Add a little water and simmer until partly tender.Put the flippers in a roaster with the onion and the cubed carrot and turnip, and add 1 cup of water.Cover and bake at 350F degrees for 2 to 3 hours.Remove from oven and take flippers from roaster.Adding 1 1/2 cups of water to the roaster and stir wellAdd flour thickening (See recipe at the bottom,) and stir well until thicken to make gravy.Place the flippers back in the roaster and cover with pastry (See recipe at the bottom.) Bake at 400F for about 25 minutes until pastry is brown.Flour ThickeningTake a small jar with a cover.Place 1/4 cup of cold water in the jar.On top of the water place 2 tbsp. of flour.Place the cover on the jar and shake until the mixture is smoothAdd to liquid from meat to make it thicker.PASTRYCut margarine into flour, baking powder, and salt until the mixture resembles bread crumbs.Sprinkle in water, 1 tbsp. at a time and mix.Gather the pastry into a ball and place on lightly floured board.Roll out the pastry to a thickness of about 1/2" to 3/4" and to the correct size to cover the flippers.  

RE: BIG Diff. between Sloop and Cutter Thanks Rich, I remember reading somewhere that the mast was not in the same location as the sloop. As for Newfies, yes me son, we are a humble bunch. My family is from a little wee town called Dildo, which is in Trinity Bay, the Avalon region of Newfoundland.  

I just love this post. This post is great, learning so much about "things" in other countries. Seal flipper pie sounds interesting, but I don't think I will ever be able to find a place that serves them in the Pacific Northwest. Maybe someday. From the recipe, it sounded pretty good, maybe I can find a substute for the flippers. Also, now I know backflies, bergy-bits are not edible, but may get eaten or killed by them. Now, about that dildo in Trinity Bay, hmmmm..... I gotta think on that one a bit.  

flipper pie You should rent "Shipping News" and look at kevinSpacey's face when he first tries seal flipper piet  

I saw that movie You know, now that you've mentioned it, I sort of remember the scene where he was eating something weird, but couldn't remember what it was that he ate.Yeah, I will have to rent it again.You know, lot of things may sounds weird to us, but they are very tasty. There are probably lots of things we normally eat here in the US, but people from other countries may think it strange and weird. I remember knowing a guy from S Africa. We went out to lunch and he would not eat shrimp, or anything with shrimp in it. He says the shrimp eat the dead stuff on the bottom of the ocean, so yuck !  

Sanders LaMont

cutters vs sloops The earlier posts are correct that a cutter rig places the mast further forward. I suspect that without that initial design, the gains from adding a staysail might not be as advantageous. On the other hand, it adds options and a potential for storm sails and balance you might otherwise miss. Someone who knows your specific design should be able to address that.One of the advertised advantages is sail handling is easier because of the smaller sail size. I find that to be true, and worthwhile on a 37 foot cutter.That might not be an issue on smaller craft, but it certainly is on some of the new sloops with enormous mainsails. Either my wife or I can easily handle any of the sails on our boat.As for hull speed, that's a theoretical limit, and probably a parctical one as well.. Most of us have had the experience at some point of exceeding -- or at least appearing to exceed -- hull speed while under sail and/or power. That's thanks to a boost from wind, wave, engine or current. It's common to exceed hull speed over the ground due to a boost from current, but that hardly counts.I'll pass on the seal flippers, thanks, but they sound better than sea slugs.S.  

Anchor Down

Sloop/Cutter Distinctives Rich is right about placement of a cutter's mast being more abaft than the mast of a sloop. And it's because of this change in the Center of Effort that cutters won't point as high as sloops. All very good. A more apt description of a sloop with a forestay close inside the headstay is "double-headstay sloop".Still, making some mods to your sloop needn't crash just because of terminology. Adding an inner stay with a sail bagged and ready to fly is a good idea. It just depends on how you want to go about it.One way is to install a staysail stay that is deck mounted way back from the headstay, with its head attached at some fraction of the way up the mast. They normally do not interfere much with the headsail crossing the deck when tacking (or a little rolling up of the genny will be all that is required), and so are often permanently mounted, which makes keeping a bagged, ready-to-fly staysail hanked on at the deck practical. The staysail stay and the headstay are parallel to each other: their angles are the same. If you choose this course, usually running backstays are fitted to prevent the middle of the mast being bent out of column when that staysail stay flying the staysail pulls against it in heavy air. You still have a sloop. (A staysail sloop).Another way to achieve pretty much the same thing is to install a Solent Stay. This is a bit different, as the head of the stay is still attached at the masthead, but the foot is attached at some point well back from the stem. The Solent Stay, therefore, would have a more vertical angle than the headstay. The pro of this arrangement is that it does not require the rigging of running backstays, since the Solent Stay is mounted at the masthead, and won't be pulling at the middle of the mast. This makes it a much easier DIY project.The downsides to the Solent Stay is that it is useful through a narrower range of wind angles than a true staysail would be, and when tacking, rolling up some of the genny is now mandated. They are often fitted so as to be easily detached from the deck (usu. using a lever) and stored, sometimes with the sail hanked on, down near the mast, or outboard to a fitting next to a shroud, to get it out of the way when conditions don't require it, reverting you back to the tacking ease of an open foretriangle.Apparently the Solent Rig is seen more on the east side of the Atlantic. This link is to Jack Tyler's site, where he discusses modifications to his Pearson 424, Whoosh. The Solent Stay discussion and photos are very helpful when planing a similar mod.Hope this is helpful.  

Sorry, After hitting the link, you will have to click on "Boat Modifications" to arrive at the relevant page.  

double forestay? No one has suggested just doubling the forestay. It wouldn't need as much extra re-inforcement as either a solent stay, or a "inner headstay". And if you've already got a suite of hank-on sails you don't have to modify them. What are the downsides of a doubled forestay?  

inner forestay/solent stay..... Here's an interesting piece, with pictures, from a sailor making some of the modifications discussed so far. I think the solent stay is the way to go.  

"double forestay" clarification By "double forestay" I mean two forestays attached side by side both at the stem and at the masthead.  

Cliff Carter

Seal Flippers In The Spring Of The Year From A Newf who done good and got off the rock take this advice. Unless you love the smell of liver cooking then do not cook seal flippers the smell is 10 times as stong and "stinks". Now give me a good feed of tickleass or turs or even a brace of rabbits and I'd be fine me son.Cliff CarterC-30PlusOne  

My (almost) Cutter-rigged Sloop My Venture 21' came to me with a second forestay rigged from a bale 3/4 of the way up the mast (same bolt as the lower shrouds) to a padeye about 2' aft of the bow. I have a 130 genny, which is used without a second jib in light air, a standard jib which is about 2' shorter than the forestay, and a cutter jib (if I may be allowed to call it that, RichH) which is about 2' shorter than the after forestay. I love this rig, though I've recently removed the after forestay and just haul the cutter jib up tight when I use it; it has a cable in the luff that takes the load just fine, and leaves the space open when I'm on the genny.Flexibility is key: I can put the small jib up on the forestay in heavy wind (sort of a storm jib) when the wind is high. Between that high-wind option and the low-wind genny, I've got a sloop rig and a double jibbed sloop rig.I've never had a lee helm in any configuration. and the Mudpuppy points just fine with both jibs up, thank you very much.And it looks cool. And it gives the kids more to do when they're out with me, which relieves their boredom factor.One more thing: hull speed is NOT a limit! It's a sharp spot in the curve (effort vs. speed) beyond which it takes significantly more power to go faster. See the graph (link). I can't believe anyone would think of hull speed as a limit beyond which your boat will not travel. And planing isn't required to exceed it. That usually shows as an actual break in the curve. Unless you define planing as going faster than the hull speed.  

Ed Hanley14076

Sloop to cutter? Originally, a cutter was defined as having its mast located at least 40% of the lwl aft of the forward end of the lwl. Boats had low aspect mains, small foretriangles, fractional rigs and no lapping foresails. The Italian racing yacht "Genoa" changed that: masts got taller and moved back, forestays went to the top of the mast (or "jib"). Today, almost all small sailing craft are cutters. Number of headsails doesn't enter into it. I think you'd find that an inner staysail on a boat under 45' is not worth the trouble. They are effective over a very limited range of headings, and are not a big improvement over your forestay for a storm jib, either.  

A staysail IS of great benefit ..... Sorry Ed but I disagree and the supporting documentation URL is at the end of this post .....Perhaps its just that most 'vogue authors' really dont undersatnd the aerodynamics involved with staysails. 1. No one can deny the additional power delivered by a staysail when reaching (a cutter by design is a 'reaching' boat) .... many of the top of the line racing sleds are now mounting 'staysails'. 2. A staysail on a beat (even when not 'visibly drawing') adds aero efficiency by reducing mast turbulance (hence better main efficiency) and definitely adds upwash to the jib/genoa.The downside is that a staysail is 'bitch to trim' especially since the aerodynamics of thin foils/sails is impossible on a 'perception' or 'intuition' basis. Sorry but when the weather is stink, Ill take a self tacking bladed staysail over a jib any day of the week, especially if flown from a vanged boom.see http://www.arvelgentry.com/magaz/The_Double_Head_Rig.pdf  

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My Cruiser Life Magazine

Cutter Rigged Sailboats [GUIDE] Advantages, Sailing, Options & Features

Cutter rigs are often more prevalent in boating magazines and theory than they are in your marina. Most cruising sailboats are Bermuda rigged sloops with just one permanently attached headsail. So, are two headsails better than one? Or, are they double the trouble?

Table of Contents

• History of Cutters 

What is a Cutter Rig?

Cutter features, cutter rig options, sailing a cutter rigged sailboat, 5 popular manufacturers making cutter rigs, it takes two to tango, cutter rigged sailboat faqs.

History of Cutters

Cutters became popular in the early 18th century. These traditional cutters were decked (instead of open) and featured multiple headsails. Smugglers used cutters to smuggle goods, and the coast guard used cutters to try to catch the smugglers. 

Various navies also used the cutter rig. Navy cutters featured excellent maneuverability and were better at sailing to windward than square-rigged ships. 

Navies used cutters for coastal patrol, collecting customs duties, and “cutting out” raids. These “cutting out” operations consisted of a boarding attack. Fast, maneuverable cutters could stealthily approach an enemy vessel and board it. This type of attack was common in the late 18th century. 

US Coast Guard ships, now powerful, fast, engine-driven, steel vessels, are still called cutters today as a nod to their past.

A cutter rig sailboat has two headsails instead of just one. The jib is located forward and is either attached to a bowsprit or the bow. The inner sail is called the staysail and is attached to an inner forestay. 

Traditional cutters were built for speed. Today, cutter rigged sailboats are popular with ocean-crossing sailors, cruisers, and sailors looking for an easy to manage, versatile rig for all conditions.

It’s important to distinguish cutters from other types of boats with a single mast. Cutters regularly fly two headsails on nearly every point of sail. Many sloops are equipped to fly different-sized headsails, but it is unusual or unnecessary for them to fly more than one at a time.

Solent Rig vs Cutter Rig

A solent rig is traditionally called a slutter–a little bit sloop and a little bit cutter. This configuration features two large headsails mounted close together. The solent rig is good if you do a lot of downwind sailing. You can pole out both headsails and go wing-on-wing, with one headsail on the starboard side and one on the port side. 

If you are on any other point of sail, you can only use one solent rig headsail at a time. If you use the inner sail, the wind flow is disrupted by the furled forward sail. And, if you use the forward sail, you’ll have to furl it to tack because there’s not enough space between the forestays.

The solent rig is a way to add more sail options to a standard sloop. Most solent stays are not required rigging to keep the mast up, so owners remove them when not in use to make tacking the primary headsail easier. 

Advantages of a Cutter Rig

There are a lot of reasons to like a cutter. A cutter rigged boat has redundant rigging and spreads the sail load across its rigging. And a cutter rig offers increased sail options–it offers increased sail area in light winds and easy and efficient ways to decrease sail area in heavy weather. 

In heavy weather, a cutter will drop or furl her larger headsail – usually a yankee or a genoa. That leaves just the smaller inner staysail. This arrangement is superior to the standard sloop, which sails in high winds by reefing her headsail. The staysail, however, lowers the center of effort on the sail plan and maintains draft over the reefed mainsail. That makes the boat more stable, maintains performance, and reduces stresses on the rig. 

If you imagine the sailor going to sea and needing to reef, it’s easy to see how many more choices they have than the sloop sailor. While each sailor can reef their mainsail, a cutter skipper has full control over both headsails as well. 

Because a cutter rig spreads the load across two headsails, it’s easier to manage. There might be more sails, but each sail is smaller and has smaller loads on it. That makes cutters the preferred option for sailing offshore when short-handed, as are more cruising couples. 

Lastly, it has to be added that there’s something appealing about the traditional looks of a cutter. 

Disadvantages of a Cutter Rig

While there are many benefits of a cutter, there are drawbacks and disadvantages too. 

Sailors will have more lines to manage and more processes to think through. More sails mean more halyards and sheets. And when it comes to maintenance and upkeep, a cutter will have more standing and running rigging to replace, along with one more sail. 

Cutters are also harder to tack. You’ll be dealing with two headsails instead of just one. Many designs deal with this problem by making the staysail self-tacking. This has fallen out of favor, but it’s a great advantage if you find yourself short-tacking up or down rivers.

Regardless of whether you need to tack both headsails or not, getting the larger sail to tack through the slot and around the inner forestay is sometimes a challenge. Many skippers find themselves furling the headsail, at least partially, to complete the tack. 

Cutters need extra foretriangle room, which can mean adding a bowsprit, moving the mast back, or both. 

Cutter Rig Position

Looking at a cutter rigged sailboat diagram, you might see a bowsprit depicted. Often, cutters fly their yankee from a bowsprit. Bowsprits allow boat designers to increase the fore triangle’s size without making the mast taller. Other cutters don’t use a bowsprit and mount the yankee sail on the bow. 

A cutter sailboat might seem like more work. After all, there are two sails to trim and manage. In addition, you’ll have to perform maintenance on two sails and purchase and maintain double the hardware. 

However, the two headsail arrangement can be easier to manage when the sails are under load. Instead of having one jib or genoa to trim, the weight and pressure are spread across two sails. 

Mast Location

Today’s modern boat designers often focus on providing living space in the cabin. Designers often move the mast forward to create a larger, more open saloon. When the mast is forward, there’s less space to mount two headsails. A cutter sailboat needs a decent foretriangle area. 

A cutter rigged sailboat is also more expensive for boat builders. The deck must be strong enough to handle the inner forestay’s loads. Between the additional building costs, saloon design issues, and customers’ concern over increased complexity, boat builders often favor a single headsail. 

Easier on the Boat and Crew

Since the loads are distributed between two smaller sails instead of being handled by one large genoa. This means there’s less pressure on attachments points and hardware, and therefore less wear and tear. In addition, because there are separate attachment points on the deck for each sail, the load is distributed across the deck instead of focused on one spot. 

Because each headsail is smaller, the sails are easier to winch in, so the crew will find it easier to manage the sails.

There’s nothing cookie-cutter about a sailing cutter. From the cut of the jib to the configuration of the staysail, each cutter sailboat is unique. 

Yankee, Jib, or Genoa

Traditional cutters have a yankee cut headsail along with a staysail. The yankee is high-cut and usually has no overlap. The high cut improves visibility, and a yankee has less twist than a typical jib. By sloop standards, it looks very small, but on a cutter it works in unison with the staysail. 

A jib is a regular headsail that does not overlap the mast, while a genoa is a big jib that does overlaps. The amount of overlap is measured in percentage, so a 100-percent working jib fills the foretriangle perfectly. Other options include the 135 and 155-percent genoas, which are popular for sailors in light winds. 

The problem with using a big jib or genoa with a staysail is that there will often be a close overlap between the two headsails. If flown together, the air over the staysail interferes with the air over the outer sail, making each one slightly less efficient. In these cases, it’s often better to drop the staysail and leave it for when the wind pipes up. 

Roller Furler, Club, or Hank-On Sails

Sailors have many options to manage and store their cutter’s sails. Sailors can mix and match the options that work for them. 

Roller Furler vs Hank-on Sails

You can have both sails on roller furlers, both hanked on, or a mix of the two. 

Buying and maintaining two roller furlers is expensive, but it makes the sails easy to manage. You can easily unfurl, reef, and furl both headsails from the cockpit without having to work on the deck. 

Hank-on sails are fool-proof and offer less expense and maintenance. You can use a hank-on staysail, either loose-footed or club-footed, depending on your needs. Hank-on sails make sail changes easy and they never jam or come unfurled unexpectedly. 

The most common setup on most cutters is to have the larger yankee or jib on a furler, and the smaller and more manageable staysail hanked on.

Club-footed Staysail

A club-footed staysail is attached to a self-tacking boom. Since there is only one control sheet to handle, there’s a lot less work to do to tack from the cockpit. It tacks just like another mainsail. You can tack the yankee while the club-footed staysail self-tacks. 

Island Packets and many other cutters feature this arrangement, which makes tacking easy. 

However, a club-footed staysail takes up space on the foredeck–it’s always in the way. It’s harder to get to your windlass and ground tackle. In addition, it’s harder to store your dinghy on the foredeck under the staysail boom. The boom also presents a risk to anyone on the foredeck, since it can swing during tacks and jibes and is even lower to the deck than the mainsail boom.

Loose-footed Staysail

Keeping a loose-footed staysail on a furler clears space on the deck. Without the boom, you can more easily move around the foredeck, and you’ll have more space when you are managing the anchor. In addition, you can more easily store your dinghy on the foredeck. 

However, the staysail loses its self-tacking ability. You’ll now have to have staysail tracks for the sheet’s turning blocks and another set of sheet winches in the cockpit. When it comes time to tack the boat, you’ll have two headsails with four sheets and four winches to handle. Most owners choose to furl the outer headsail before the tack. Then, they can perform the maneuver using the staysail alone.

The good news is that most offshore boats are not tacking very often. If you’re on a multi-day passage, chances are you’ll only tack once or twice on the whole trip.

Downwind and Light Air Sails

There are a number of light air sails that will help your cutter perform better when the wind is light. Popular options include the code zero, gennaker, and asymmetrical spinnaker. 

Adding one of these sails to your inventory can make it a dream sailing machine. A code zero can be flown in light air. Since the cutter is already well equipped for sailing in heavy air, a light air sail really gives you the ability to tackle anything.

Sloop Rig, Ketch, and Yawl

While some describe a cutter as a cutter-rigged sloop or a sloop cutter, a modern sloop has one mast and one permanent headsail. 

But you’ll also find the cutter rig used on a ketch or a yawl. A cutter ketch or yawl offers a cruising sailor increased sail area and choices by adding the mizzen mast and sail behind. 

Sailing a cutter rigged boat is not that different from sailing a traditional sloop. Sailors will have to pay close attention to trim and tacking. 

Sailing a Cutter Rig to Windward

A cutter usually can’t point as high as a sloop when sailing to windward. The yankee hinders the staysail’s airflow, and the staysail starts to stall. 

Tacking a Sailboat Cutter

If you need to short tack up a narrow channel, and both your sails are loose-footed, you can roll up one of the headsails and just use one headsail to tack. Many staysails have a boom and are self-tacking. This means you can tack the yankee, and the staysail will take care of itself. 

Reefing a Cutter

A cutter sailboat has more options to easily get the right amount of sail. You can add a reef to your mainsail, then furl or reef the yankee a little, and then add another reef to the mainsail. As the wind increases, you can take the yankee in all together, and sail with a double-reefed mainsail and the staysail. Finally, you can add the third reef to the mainsail. Some staysails can be reefed, too.  

A cutter rig offers many options during heavy weather. For example, you may end up taking the mainsail down altogether and leaving the staysail up. Or, you might choose to replace the staysail with a tiny storm sail. 

Adding a storm jib on a sail cutter is much easier than a standard sloop. On a sloop, you’d have to remove the large genoa from the bow and then add the storm sail. This operation places the skipper in a challenging situation, which can be avoided on a cutter. 

On a cutter, you can remove the staysail and add the storm jib to the inner forestay. Working a little aft of the bow will give you increased stability while managing the staysail’s smaller load.  

While many modern sailboats are sloop-rigged, cutter-seeking sailors still have options. 

Rustler Yachts

While many new yachts have ditched the sturdy offshore cutter rig in favor of greater simplicity, Rustler is making a name for themselves by bringing it back. It’s still one of the best options for offshore sailing, and it’s great to see a modern yacht company using the rig to its full potential. 

The Rustler doesn’t need a bowsprit to accommodate its cutter rig. The Rustler is set up for single-handed and offshore cruising with all lines managed from the cockpit. Their smaller boats are rigged as easier-to-sail sloops for coastal hops, while the larger 42, 44, and 57 are rigged as true cutters with staysails and yankees.

Cabo Rico Cutters

Cabo Rico built cutters between 34 and 56 feet long. They aren’t currently in production but often come up on the used boat market. They are beautiful, semi-custom yachts that turn heads where ever they go. Of all the cutters the company built, the William Crealock-designed Cabo Rico 38 was the most long-lived, with about 200 hulls built. The second most popular design was the 34. The company also built a 42, 45, 47, and 56—but only a handful of each of these custom beauties ever left the factory. Most of the larger Cabo Ricos were designed by Chuck Paine.

Cabo Ricos have bowsprits, and the staysail is usually club-footed, although owners may have modified this. Cabo Ricos are known for their solid construction, beautiful teak interiors, and offshore capabilities. 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hold Fast Sailing (@sparrowsailing)

Pacific Seacraft

Pacific Seacraft features a full line of cutters. Pacific Seacraft boats are known for their construction, durability, and overall quality.

Just a few of the best-known cutters built by Pacific Seacraft include the following.

• Pacific Seacraft/Crealock 34
• Pacific Seacraft/Crealock 37
• Pacific Seacraft 40

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jeffersön Asbury (@skipper.jeff)

Island Packet Yachts

Island Packet boats are probably the most popular cutter design available today. Designer and company founder Bob Johnson created beautiful cutter-rigged full-keel boats with shallow drafts that were very popular around Florida, the Bahamas, and the east coast of the US.  

Island Packets are known for their comfortable, spacious layouts. Older models could be ordered from the factory as either sloop or cutter-rigged. The result is that you see a mix of the two, as well as plenty of cutters that have removed their staysails to make a quasi-sloop. 

Island Packet is still in business today, but now favors solent-rigged sloops with twin headsails. 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by SV Miette (@sv_miette)

Hess-Designed Cutters

Lyle Hess designed several famous cutter-rigged boats, including the Falmouth Cutter 22 and the Bristol Channel Cutter 28. These gorgeous boats are smaller than most cruising boats but are a joy to sail. Lyle Hess’ designs were popularized by sailing legends Lin and Larry Pardey, who sailed their small wood-built cutters Serraffyn and Taleisin around the world multiple times.

These beautiful cutters have a timeless look like no other boats. They have inspired many other designs, too. You’ll find them built from both wood or fiberglass, but a variety of builders and yards have made them over the years.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Professional photographer (@gary.felton)

Cutter rigged boats offer cruising sailors a flexible sail plan that’s perfect for offshore sailing. Sailors can adjust the amount of sail according to the current wind conditions. Traditional cutters were known for being fast and agile, and today’s cutters carry on the tradition with pride. 

What is a cutter rigged yacht?

A cutter rigged yacht features two headsails. One headsail, usually a high-cut yankee, is all the way forward, either on a bowsprit or the bow. The staysail is smaller and attached to an inner forestay.

What is the advantage of a cutter rig?

A cutter rig offers cruising sailors more flexibility. They can easily increase and decrease the sail area and choose the optimum combination for the sailing conditions. While there are more lines and sails to handle, each sail is smaller and therefore easier to manage.

Matt has been boating around Florida for over 25 years in everything from small powerboats to large cruising catamarans. He currently lives aboard a 38-foot Cabo Rico sailboat with his wife Lucy and adventure dog Chelsea. Together, they cruise between winters in The Bahamas and summers in the Chesapeake Bay.

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Cutter or Sloop Rig? Which is Best for Offshore and Ocean Cruising

Published by oceanwave on july 11, 2023.

When it comes to offshore and ocean cruising, choosing the right rig for your sailboat is crucial. Two popular options that often come up in discussions are the cutter rig and the sloop rig. Each has its own advantages and considerations, and understanding their characteristics can help you make an informed decision for your ocean adventures.

First, let’s take a closer look at the cutter rig.

The cutter rig is a sail plan configuration commonly used for offshore and ocean cruising. It consists of a single mast with two or more headsails. The key components of a cutter rig are the larger headsail, known as the genoa, positioned forward of the mast, and the smaller headsail, known as the staysail, located aft of the mast.

Single Mast with Two or More Headsails: The cutter rig features a single mast, which provides stability and support for the headsails. Unlike other sail plans that may have multiple masts, the cutter rig simplifies the rigging system and reduces the complexity of sail handling.

Configuration: Genoa Forward, Staysail Aft: The primary headsail in a cutter rig is the genoa, which is larger in size and positioned forward of the mast. This sail provides the main driving force for the sailboat when sailing close to the wind or on a beam reach. It captures the majority of the wind and propels the boat forward.

The staysail, on the other hand, is a smaller headsail located aft of the mast. It is set between the mast and the forestay and provides additional sail area and balance to the rig. The staysail helps to maintain a balanced sail plan and reduces the strain on the boat in strong winds.

• Versatility in Varying Wind Conditions: The cutter rig offers versatility in handling varying wind conditions. With the presence of multiple headsails, sailors have the flexibility to adjust the sail plan based on the strength and direction of the wind. By reefing or changing headsails, the sail area can be effectively controlled, allowing the boat to maintain optimum performance in different wind conditions.
• Ability to Handle Heavy Weather: One of the significant advantages of the cutter rig is its ability to handle heavy weather conditions. When strong winds prevail, sailors can reduce the sail area by setting the smaller staysail. This configuration helps to maintain a balanced sail plan, reducing the strain on the boat and allowing for better control and maneuverability in challenging conditions.
• Enhanced Safety during Ocean Passages: The cutter rig’s ability to handle heavy weather and its balanced sail plan contribute to enhanced safety during ocean passages. The reduced sail area and the flexibility to adjust the sail plan allow sailors to adapt to changing weather conditions, ensuring a more stable and controlled sailing experience. This can be particularly important during long-distance offshore voyages where sailors may encounter unpredictable weather patterns.

The sloop rig is the most common and widely used sail plan for cruising sailboats. It features a single mast and a single headsail, which is typically a jib or genoa, positioned forward of the mast.

Single Mast with a Single Headsail: The sloop rig simplifies the sail plan with a single mast, making it easier to handle and maintain compared to rigs with multiple masts. The headsail, whether it’s a jib or genoa, serves as the primary driving force for the sailboat.

• Simplicity and Ease of Handling: The sloop rig is renowned for its simplicity and ease of handling, making it a popular choice among sailors, especially those sailing solo or with smaller crews. The single headsail configuration reduces the complexity of sail handling maneuvers, allowing for smoother and more straightforward sail adjustments and trimming.
• Excellent Performance in Downwind or Lighter Wind Conditions: The sloop rig excels in downwind sailing and lighter wind conditions commonly encountered during coastal cruising or island hopping. The larger headsail, whether it’s a jib or genoa, captures and harnesses the available wind, propelling the sailboat efficiently. This configuration maximizes performance and speed in these specific conditions. You can also use a hull speed calculator to help you out!

The sloop rig is particularly well-suited for coastal cruising, where sailors often navigate shorter passages and enjoy exploring different destinations within sight of land. Its simplicity and maneuverability make it a preferred choice for those seeking a hassle-free cruising experience.

Choosing the Right Rig

When deciding between a cutter rig and a sloop rig for your sailboat, several factors should be considered to ensure the best fit for your cruising needs.

• Preferences and Sailing Style Consider your personal preferences and sailing style. Are you more inclined towards simplicity and ease of handling, or do you prefer a versatile rig that can adapt to varying conditions? Understanding your preferences will help guide your decision.
• Anticipated Conditions (Offshore, Coastal, etc.) Think about the types of conditions you anticipate encountering during your sailing adventures. If you plan to embark on offshore voyages with longer passages and potentially unpredictable weather, a cutter rig may be more suitable due to its versatility and heavy-weather handling capabilities. If your focus is on coastal cruising, island hopping, or shorter offshore trips with milder conditions, a sloop rig can offer excellent performance in downwind and lighter wind conditions.
• Crew Size and Experience Consider the size and experience level of your crew. If you often sail with a smaller crew or even solo, a sloop rig’s simplicity and ease of handling may be preferable. On the other hand, a cutter rig might be better suited for larger crews with more experienced sailors who can handle the additional complexity of managing multiple headsails.
• Characteristics of the Boat Take into account the specific characteristics of your bluewater sailboat . Some boats are designed and built with specific rig types in mind. Consult with boat designers or experts to understand the sailboat specs and optimal rigging configuration for your particular vessel. Factors such as mast height, stability, and overall balance should be considered when selecting the right rig.

Cutter Rig for Offshore and Ocean Cruising

Versatility in Varying Conditions The cutter rig’s ability to adjust to varying wind conditions is a significant advantage for offshore and ocean cruising. By reefing or changing headsails, you can maintain a balanced sail plan and optimize performance based on wind strength and direction. This adaptability allows for a more comfortable and efficient sailing experience.

Handling Heavy Weather In challenging weather conditions, the cutter rig shines. The presence of a smaller staysail allows for a reduced sail area and better control, reducing strain on the boat. This feature enhances safety and maneuverability when facing strong winds and rough seas, making the cutter rig an excellent choice for offshore passages.

Examples of Ocean Voyagers Ocean voyagers often rely on the cutter rig for their offshore adventures. Cruise ships like the “Ocean Navigator” and “Ocean Voyager” utilize cutter rigs to ensure stability, versatility, and reliable performance during long-distance ocean passages.

Sloop Rig for Coastal Cruising & Short Offshore Trips

Simplicity and Maneuverability The sloop rig’s simplicity and ease of handling make it ideal for coastal cruising and shorter offshore trips. With a single headsail, the sail plan is less complex, allowing for straightforward adjustments and maneuvering. This rig is particularly favored by solo sailors or smaller crews seeking a hassle-free cruising experience.

Performance in Specific Conditions The sloop rig excels in downwind sailing and lighter wind conditions, commonly encountered during coastal cruising or island hopping. The larger headsail maximizes performance, providing excellent speed and efficiency when sailing with the wind or in mild weather conditions.

Examples of Coastal Cruisers Coastal cruising destinations like Ocean City offer picturesque coastlines and opportunities for leisurely exploration. Sailboats rigged with sloop rigs are often seen cruising these coastal areas. Cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Ocean Joy Cruises provide luxurious ocean-view cruise rooms, allowing passengers to relax and enjoy the stunning coastal views.

Making an Informed Choice

When it comes to selecting the right rig for your ocean cruising adventures, it’s crucial to make an informed choice. While the information provided about cutter rigs and sloop rigs can guide you, it’s always beneficial to seek advice with sailing boat data , experienced sailors, and boat designers , and attend sailing seminars. These resources can provide valuable insights and recommendations based on their knowledge and expertise. Consulting with those who have firsthand experience with different rig types can help you gain a better understanding of their pros and cons and how they align with your specific cruising goals.

Experienced sailors can share their practical experiences and offer insights into the advantages and challenges of different rigging configurations. They can provide valuable advice on the best rig type for your sailing style, anticipated conditions, and the specific characteristics of your boat. Their expertise can help you navigate through the decision-making process and make a choice that suits your needs and preferences.

Boat designers are also a valuable resource when it comes to selecting the right rig. They have in-depth knowledge of sailboat design and can provide guidance on the optimal rigging setup for your particular vessel. Their expertise takes into account factors such as mast height, stability, and sail area calculations, ensuring that your rig choice maximizes the performance and safety of your sailboat.

Attending sailing seminars and workshops is another excellent way to expand your knowledge and gain insights from industry professionals. These events provide opportunities to learn about different rig types, their advantages, and how they perform in various conditions. You can also engage in discussions with fellow sailors and gain practical tips and advice from their experiences.

Maintenance and Safety

Regardless of the rig type you choose, maintenance and safety should be top priorities. Regular maintenance, inspections, and adherence to proper sailing practices are essential for safe and enjoyable ocean cruising.

Properly maintaining the rigging, including the mast, shrouds, and stays, ensures their structural integrity and reduces the risk of equipment failure while at sea. Regular inspections should be conducted to identify any signs of wear, corrosion, or fatigue. This includes inspecting the sails, ropes, and fittings for any damage or weaknesses. Any issues should be addressed promptly to prevent potential hazards and ensure the seaworthiness of your sailboat.

Adhering to proper sailing practices, such as reefing or reducing sail area in strong winds, following safe navigation procedures, and being aware of weather conditions, enhances safety during your ocean voyages. It’s important to stay informed about weather forecasts, maintain communication equipment, and always have proper safety gear on board.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right rig for ocean cruising is a crucial decision that depends on various factors, including personal preferences, sailing style, and anticipated conditions. The cutter rig with its versatility, heavy weather handling capabilities, and safety features is well-suited for offshore and long-distance ocean passages.

In contrast, the sloop rig with its simplicity, ease of handling, and excellent downwind performance is an ideal choice for coastal cruising, island hopping, and shorter offshore trips.

Whether you opt for a cutter rig or a sloop rig, it’s essential to consider your specific cruising goals, the characteristics of your sailboat, and consult with experienced sailors or boat designers to ensure the best rigging setup for your ocean adventures.

So, whether you embark on an adventure aboard the “Ocean Voyager” or “Ocean Explorer” cruise ships or set sail on a coastal journey with the “Oceania Cruise Regatta,” make sure to choose the rig that aligns with your cruising aspirations and enjoy the beauty and excitement of ocean cruising with the tips of Ocean Wave Sail .

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Guide to Understanding Sail Rig Types (with Pictures)

There are a lot of different sail rig types and it can be difficult to remember what's what. So I've come up with a system. Let me explain it in this article.

What are the different types of sail rig? The sail rig is determined by the number of masts and the layout and shape of sails. Most modern ships are fore-and-aft rigged, while old ships are square-rigged. Rigs with one mast are sloops and cutters. Ketches, yawls, brigs, and schooners have two masts. Barques have three masts. Rigs can contain up to seven masts.

'Yeah, that's a gaff brig, and that a Bermuda cutter' - If you don't know what this means (neither did I) and want to know what to call a two-masted ship with a square-rigged mainsail, this article is definitely for you.

On this page:

More info on sail rig types, mast configurations and rig types, rigs with one mast, rigs with two masts, rigs with three masts, related questions.

This article is part 2 of my series on sails and rig types. Part 1 is all about the different types of sails. If you want to know everything there is to know about sails once and for all, I really recommend you read it. It gives a good overview of sail types and is easy to understand.

The Ultimate Guide to Sail Types and Rigs (with Pictures)

First of all, what is a sail rig? A sail rig is the way in which the sails are attached to the mast(s). In other words, it's the setup or configuration of the sailboat. The rig consists of the sail and mast hardware. The sail rig and sail type are both part of the sail plan. We usually use the sail rig type to refer to the type of boat.

Let's start by taking a look at the most commonly used modern sail rigs. Don't worry if you don't exactly understand what's going on. At the end of this article, you'll understand everything about rig types.

The sail rig and sail plan are often used interchangeably. When we talk of the sail rig we usually mean the sail plan . Although they are not quite the same. A sail plan is the set of drawings by the naval architect that shows the different combinations of sails and how they are set up for different weather conditions. For example a light air sail plan, storm sail plan, and the working sail plan (which is used most of the time).

So let's take a look at the three things that make up the sail plan.

The 3 things that make up the sail plan

I want to do a quick recap of my previous article. A sail plan is made up of:

• Mast configuration - refers to the number of masts and where they are placed
• Sail type - refers to the sail shape and functionality
• Rig type - refers to the way these sails are set up on your boat

I'll explore the most common rig types in detail later in this post. I've also added pictures to learn to recognize them more easily. ( Click here to skip to the section with pictures ).

How to recognize the sail plan?

So how do you know what kind of boat you're dealing with? If you want to determine what the rig type of a boat is, you need to look at these three things:

• Check the number of masts, and how they are set up.
• You look at the type of sails used (the shape of the sails, how many there are, and what functionality they have).
• And you have to determine the rig type, which means the way the sails are set up.

Below I'll explain each of these factors in more detail.

The most common rig types on sailboats

To give you an idea of the most-used sail rigs, I'll quickly summarize some sail plans below and mention the three things that make up their sail plan.

• Bermuda sloop - one mast, one mainsail, one headsail, fore-and-aft rigged
• Gaff cutter - one mast, one mainsail, two staysails, fore-and-aft rigged
• Gaff schooner - two-masted (foremast), two mainsails, staysails, fore-and-aft rigged
• Gaff ketch - two-masted (mizzen), two mainsails, staysails, fore-and-aft rigged
• Full-rigged ship or tall ship - three or more masts, mainsail on each mast, staysails, square-rigged

The first word is the shape and rigging of the mainsail. So this is the way the sail is attached to the mast. I'll go into this later on. The second word refers to the mast setup and amount of sails used.

Most sailboats are Bermuda sloops. Gaff-rigged sails are mostly found on older, classic boats. Square-rigged sails are generally not used anymore.

But first I want to discuss the three factors that make up the sail plan in more detail.

Ways to rig sails

There are basically two ways to rig sails:

• From side to side, called Square-rigged sails - the classic pirate sails
• From front to back, called Fore-and-aft rigged sails - the modern sail rig

Almost all boats are fore-and-aft rigged nowadays.

Square sails are good for running downwind, but they're pretty useless when you're on an upwind tack. These sails were used on Viking longships, for example. Their boats were quicker downwind than the boats with fore-and-aft rigged sails, but they didn't handle as well.

The Arabs first used fore-and-aft rigged sails, making them quicker in difficult wind conditions.

Quick recap from part 1: the reason most boats are fore-and-aft rigged today is the increased maneuverability of this configuration. A square-rigged ship is only good for downwind runs, but a fore-and-aft rigged ship can sail close to the wind, using the lift to move forward.

The way the sails are attached to the mast determines the shape of the sail. The square-rigged sails are always attached the same way to the mast. The fore-and-aft rig, however, has a lot of variations.

The three main sail rigs are:

• Bermuda rig - most used - has a three-sided (triangular) mainsail
• Gaff rig - has a four-sided mainsail, the head of the mainsail is guided by a gaff
• Lateen rig - has a three-sided (triangular) mainsail on a long yard

The Bermuda is the most used, the gaff is a bit old-fashioned, and the lateen rig is outdated (about a thousand years). Lateen rigs were used by the Moors. The Bermuda rig is actually based on the Lateen rig (the Dutch got inspired by the Moors).

Other rig types that are not very common anymore are:

• Junk rig - has horizontal battens to control the sail
• Settee rig - Lateen with the front corner cut off
• Crabclaw rig

Mast configuration

Okay, we know the shape of the mainsail. Now it's time to take a look at the mast configuration. The first thing is the number of masts:

• one-masted boats
• two-masted boats
• three-masted boats
• four masts or up
• full or ship-rigged boats - also called 'ships' or 'tall ships'

I've briefly mentioned the one and two mast configurations in part 1 of this article. In this part, I'll also go over the three-masted configurations, and the tall ships as well.

A boat with one mast has a straightforward configuration because there's just one mast. You can choose to carry more sails or less, but that's about it.

A boat with two masts or more gets interesting. When you add a mast, it means you have to decide where to put the extra mast: in front, or in back of the mainmast. You can also choose whether or not the extra mast will carry an extra mainsail. The placement and size of the extra mast are important in determining what kind of boat we're dealing with. So you start by locating the largest mast, which is always the mainmast.

From front to back: the first mast is called the foremast. The middle mast is called the mainmast. And the rear mast is called the mizzenmast.

What is the mizzenmast? The mizzenmast is the aft-most (rear) mast on a sailboat with three or more masts or the mast behind the mainmast on a boat with two masts. The mizzenmast carries the mizzen sail. On a two-masted boat, the mizzenmast is always (slightly) smaller than the mainmast. What is the purpose of the mizzen sail? The mizzen sail provides more sail area and flexibility in sail plan. It can be used as a big wind rudder, helping the sailor to have more control over the stern of the ship. It pushes the stern away from the wind and forces the bow in the opposite way. This may help to bring the bow into the wind when at anchor.

I always look at the number of masts first, because this is the easiest to spot. So to make this stuff more easy to understand, I've divided up the rig types based on the number of masts below.

Why would you want more masts and sail anyways?

Good question. The biggest advantage of two masts compared to one (let's say a ketch compared to a sloop), is that it allows you to use multiple smaller sails to get the same sail area. It also allows for shorter masts.

This means you reduce the stress on the rigging and the masts, which makes the ketch rig safer and less prone to wear and tear. It also doesn't capsize as quickly. So there are a couple of real advantages of a ketch rig over a sloop rig.

In the case of one mast, we look at the number of sails it carries.

Boats with one mast can have either one sail, two sails, or three or more sails.

Most single-masted boats are sloops, which means one mast with two sails (mainsail + headsail). The extra sail increases maneuverability. The mainsail gives you control over the stern, while the headsail gives you control over the bow.

Sailor tip: you steer a boat using its sails, not using its rudder.

The one-masted rigs are:

• Cat - one mast, one sail
• Sloop - one mast, two sails
• Cutter - one mast, three or more sails

The cat is the simplest sail plan and has one mast with one sail. It's easy to handle alone, so it's very popular as a fishing boat. Most (very) small sailboats are catboats, like the Sunfish, and many Laser varieties. But it has a limited sail area and doesn't give you the control and options you have with more sails.

The most common sail plan is the sloop. It has one mast and two sails: the main and headsail. Most sloops have a Bermuda mainsail. It's one of the best racing rigs because it's able to sail very close to the wind (also called 'weatherly'). It's one of the fastest rig types for upwind sailing.

It's a simple sail plan that allows for high performance, and you can sail it short-handed. That's why most sailboats you see today are (Bermuda) sloops.

This rig is also called the Marconi rig, and it was developed by a Dutch Bermudian (or a Bermudian Dutchman) - someone from Holland who lived on Bermuda.

A cutter has three or more sails. Usually, the sail plan looks a lot like the sloop, but it has three headsails instead of one. Naval cutters can carry up to 6 sails.

Cutters have larger sail area, so they are better in light air. The partition of the sail area into more smaller sails give you more control in heavier winds as well. Cutters are considered better for bluewater sailing than sloops (although sloops will do fine also). But the additional sails just give you a bit more to play with.

Two-masted boats can have an extra mast in front or behind the mainmast. If the extra mast is behind (aft of) the mainmast, it's called a mizzenmast . If it's in front of the mainmast, it's called a foremast .

If you look at a boat with two masts and it has a foremast, it's most likely either a schooner or a brig. It's easy to recognize a foremast: the foremast is smaller than the aft mast.

If the aft mast is smaller than the front mast, it is a sail plan with a mizzenmast. That means the extra mast has been placed at the back of the boat. In this case, the front mast isn't the foremast, but the mainmast. Boats with two masts that have a mizzenmast are most likely a yawl or ketch.

The two-masted rigs are:

• Lugger - two masts (mizzen), with lugsail (a cross between gaff rig and lateen rig) on both masts
• Yawl - two masts (mizzen), fore-and-aft rigged on both masts. Main mast is much taller than mizzen. Mizzen without a mainsail.
• Ketch - two masts (mizzen), fore-and-aft rigged on both masts. Main mast with only slightly smaller mizzen. Mizzen has mainsail.
• Schooner - two masts (foremast), generally gaff rig on both masts. Main mast with only slightly smaller foremast. Sometimes build with three masts, up to seven in the age of sail.
• Bilander - two masts (foremast). Has a lateen-rigged mainsail and square-rigged sails on the foremast and topsails.
• Brig - two masts (foremast), partially square-rigged. The main mast carries small lateen-rigged sail.

The yawl has two masts that are fore-and-aft rigged and a mizzenmast. The mizzenmast is much shorter than the mainmast, and it doesn't carry a mainsail. The mizzenmast is located aft of the rudder and is mainly used to increase helm balance.

A ketch has two masts that are fore-and-aft rigged. The extra mast is a mizzenmast. It's nearly as tall as the mainmast and carries a mainsail. Usually, the mainsails of the ketch are gaff-rigged, but there are Bermuda-rigged ketches too. The mizzenmast is located in front of the rudder instead of aft, as on the yawl.

The function of the ketch's mizzen sail is different from that of the yawl. It's actually used to drive the boat forward, and the mizzen sail, together with the headsail, are sufficient to sail the ketch. The mizzen sail on a yawl can't really drive the boat forward.

Schooners have two masts that are fore-and-aft rigged. The extra mast is a foremast which is generally smaller than the mainmast, but it does carry a mainsail. Schooners are also built with a lot more masts, up to seven (not anymore). The schooner's mainsails are generally gaff-rigged.

The schooner is easy to sail but not very fast. It handles easier than a sloop, except for upwind, and it's only because of better technology that sloops are now more popular than the schooner.

The brig has two masts. The foremast is always square-rigged. The mainmast can be square-rigged or is partially square-rigged. Some brigs carry a lateen mainsail on the mainmast, with square-rigged topsails.

Some variations on the brig are:

Brigantine - two masts (foremast), partially square-rigged. Mainmast carries no square-rigged mainsail.

Hermaphrodite brig - also called half brig or schooner brig. Has two masts (foremast), partially square-rigged. Mainmast carries a gaff rig mainsail and topsail, making it half schooner.

Three-masted boats are mostly barques or schooners. Sometimes sail plans with two masts are used with more masts.

The three-masted rigs are:

• Barque - three masts, fore, and mainmast are square-rigged, the mizzenmast is usually gaff-rigged. All masts carry mainsail.
• Barquentine - three masts, foremast is square-rigged, the main and mizzenmast are fore-and-aft rigged. Also called the schooner barque.
• Polacca - three masts, foremast is square-rigged, the main and mizzenmast are lateen-rigged.
• Xebec - three masts, all masts are lateen-rigged.

A barque has three or four masts. The fore and mainmast are square-rigged, and the mizzen fore-and-aft, usually gaff-rigged. Carries a mainsail on each mast, but the mainsail shape differs per mast (square or gaff). Barques were built with up to five masts. Four-masted barques were quite common.

Barques were a good alternative to full-rigged ships because they require a lot fewer sailors. But they were also slower. Very popular rig for ocean crossings, so a great rig for merchants who travel long distances and don't want 30 - 50 sailors to run their ship.

Barquentine

The barquentine usually has three masts. The foremast is square-rigged and the main and mizzenmast fore-and-aft. The rear masts are usually gaff-rigged.

Faster than a barque or a schooner, but the performance is worse than both.

The polacca or polacre rig has three masts with a square-rigged foremast. The main and mizzenmast are lateen-rigged. Beautiful boat to see. Polacca literally means 'Polish' (it's Italian). It was a popular rig type in the Mediterranean in the 17th century. It looks like the xebec, which has three lateen-rigged masts.

Fun fact: polaccas were used by a Dutch sailor-turned-Turkish-pirate (called Murat Reis).

The xebec is a Mediterranean trading ship with three masts. All masts are lateen-rigged. I couldn't find any surviving xebecs, only models and paintings. So I guess this rig is outdated a long time.

A boat with three or more masts that all carry square-rigged sails is called a ship, a tall ship, or a full-rigged ship. So it's at this point that we start calling boats 'ships'. It has nothing to do with size but with the type of rigging.

More sails mean less stress on all of them. These ships use a lot of sails to distribute the forces, which reduces the stress on the rigging and the masts. Square sails mean double the sail area in comparison to triangular sails.

They are quite fast for their size, and they could outrun most sloops and schooners (schooners were relatively a lot heavier). The reason is that tall ships could be a lot longer than sloops, giving them a lot of extra hull speed. Sloops couldn't be as large because there weren't strong enough materials available. Try making a single triangular sail with a sail area of over 500 sq. ft. from linen.

So a lot of smaller sails made sense. You could have a large ship with a good maximum hull speed, without your sails ripping apart with every gust of wind.

But you need A LOT of sailors to sail a tall ship: about 30 sailors in total to ie. reef down sails and operate the ship. That's really a lot.

Tall ships are used nowadays for racing, with the popular tall ship races traveling the world. Every four years I go and check them out when they are at Harlingen (which is very close to where I live).

Check out the amazing ships in this video of the tall ship races last year near my hometown. (The event was organized by friends of mine).

What is the difference between a schooner and a sloop? A schooner has two masts, whereas the sloop only has one. The schooner carries more sails, with a mainsail on both masts. Also, sloops are usually Bermuda-rigged, whereas schooners are usually gaff-rigged. Most schooners also carry one or two additional headsails, in contrast to the single jib of the sloop.

What do you call a two-masted sailboat? A two-masted sailboat is most likely a yawl, ketch, schooner, or brig. To determine which one it is you have to locate the mainmast (the tallest). At the rear: schooner or brig. In front: yawl or ketch. Brigs have a square-rigged foremast, schooners don't. Ketches carry a mainsail on the rear mast; yawls don't.

What is a sloop rig? A sloop rig is a sailboat with one mast and two sails: a mainsail and headsail. It's a simple sail plan that handles well and offers good upwind performance. The sloop rig can be sailed shorthanded and is able to sail very close to the wind, making it very popular. Most recreational sailboats use a sloop rig.

What is the difference between a ketch and a yawl? The most important difference between a ketch and a yawl are the position and height of the mizzenmast. The mizzenmast on a yawl is located aft of the rudder, is shorter than the mainmast and doesn't carry a mainsail. On a ketch, it's nearly as long as the mainmast and carries a mainsail.

There are a wonderful lots of DIY changeability shows on the cable airwaves these days.

Rick the rigger

There are SO many errors on this site it really should be taken down.

First major mistake is to say you are no longer afraid of the sea.

One that truly gets up my nose is the term ‘fully’ rigged ship. It’s a FULL rigged ship!! Your mast names are the wrong way round and just because there may be 3 it doesn’t automatically mean the one in the middle is the main.

I could go on and totally destroy your over inflated but fragile ego but I won’t. All I will say is go learn a lot more before posting.

Shawn Buckles

Thanks for your feedback. If you like to point out anything more specific, please let me know and I will update the articles. I’ve changed fully-rigged to full-rigged ship - which is a typo on my part. I try to be as concise as I can, but, obviously, we all make mistakes every now and then. The great thing about the internet is that we can learn from each other and update our knowledge together.

If you want to write yourself and share your knowledge, please consider applying as a writer for my blog by clicking on the top banner.

Thanks, Shawn

Well, I feel that I’ve learned a bit from this. The information is clear and well laid out. Is it accurate? I can’t see anything at odds with the little I knew before, except that I understood a xebec has a square rigged centre mainmast, such as the Pelican ( https://www.adventureundersail.com/ )

Hi, Shawn, You forgot (failed) to mention another type of rig? The oldest type of rig known and still functions today JUNK RIG!

Why are so many of the comments here negative. I think it is wonderful to share knowledge and learn together. I knew a little about the subject (I’m an Aubrey-Maturin fan!) but still found this clarified some things for me. I can’t comment therefore on the accuracy of the article, but it seems clear to me that the spirit of the author is positive. We owe you some more bonhomme I suggest Shawn.

As they say in the Navy: “BZ” - for a good article.

Been reading S.M. Stirling and wanted to understand the ship types he references. Thank you, very helpful.

This site is an awesome starting point for anyone who would like to get an overview of the subject. I am gratefull to Shawn for sharing - Thanks & Kudos to you! If the negative reviewers want to get a deeper technical knowledge that is accurate to the n-th then go study the appropriate material. Contribute rather than destroy another’s good work. Well done Shawn. Great job!

Good stuff Shawn - very helpful. As a novice, it’s too confusing to figure out in bits and pieces. Thanks for laying it out.

First of all I have to say that Rick ‘the rigger’ is obviously the one with the “over inflated but fragile ego” and I laughed when you suggested he share his knowledge on your blog, well played!

As for the content it’s great, hope to read more soon!

Alec Lowenthal

Shawn, I have a painting of a Spanish vessel, two masted, with. Lateen sails on both masts and a jib. The mainsail is ahead of the main mast (fore) and the other is aft of the mizzen mast. Would this be what you call lugger rig? I have not seen a similar picture. Thanks, Alec.

Thank you for your article I found easy to read and understand, and more importantly remember, which emphasises the well written.. Pity about the negative comments, but love your proactive responses!

This vessel, “SEBASTIAN” out of Garrucha, Almería, España, was painted by Gustave Gillman in 1899.

Sorry, picture not accepted!

Thank you for a very informative article. I sail a bit and am always looking for more knowledge. I like the way you put forth your info and I feel if you can’t say anything positive, then that person should have their own blog or keep their opinions to their-self. I will be looking for more from you. I salute your way of dealing with negative comments.

Thank you for a great intro to sailing boats! I searched different sailboats because I use old sails tp make bags and wanted to learn the difference. Way more than I ever expected. Thanks for all the work put in to teach the rest of us.

Your description of a cutter is lacking, and your illustrations of “cutters” are actually cutter-rigged sloops. On a true cutter, the mast is moved further aft (with more than 40% of the ship forward of the mast). A sloop uses tension in the backstay to tension the luff of the foresail. The cutter can’t do this.

Also, a bermuda-rigged ketch will have a line running from the top of the mainmast to the top of the mizzenmast.

wow great guide to rig types! thanks

Interesting guide, however I am confused about the description of the brig. You say the main mast on a brig can have a lateen sail, but in your picture it looks like a gaff sail to me. How is it a lateen sail?

Hi Shawn, thank you for taking the time to share this information. It is clear and very helpful. I am new to sailing and thinking of buying my own blue water yacht. The information you have supplied is very useful. I still am seeking more information on performance and safety. Please keep up the good work. Best Regards

mickey fanelli

I’m starting to repair a model sailboat used in the lake I have three masts that have long been broken off and the sails need replacement. So my question is there a special relationship between the three masts I do have reminents of where the masts should go. they all broke off the boat along with the sails I can figure out where they go because of the old glue marks but it makes no sense. or does it really matter on a model thank you mickey

Cool, total novice here. I have learnt a lot. Thanks for sharing - the diagrams along with the text make it really easy to understand, especially for a beginner who hasn’t even stepped on a sailing boat.

Daryl Beatt

Thank you. Cleared up quite a few things for me. For example, I was familiar with the names “Xebecs” and “Polaccas” from recent reading about the Barbary War. I had gathered that the two Barbary types were better suited to sailing in the Med, but perhaps they were less able to be adaptable to military uses,(but one might assume that would be ok if one plans to board and fight, as opposed to fight a running gun duel). Specifically, the strangely one sided August 1, 1801 battle between the USS Enterprise under Lt. John Sterett and the Polacca cruiser Tripoli under Admiral Rais Mahomet Rous. On paper both ships seemed nearly equal in size, guns and crew, but pictures of the battle are confusing. While the Enterprise is usually rendered as the familiar schooner, the polacca Tripoli has been pictured in radically different ways. Thus the Wikipedia picture by Hoff in 1878 used to illustrate the Battle shows a Brig design for Tripoli, indicating 77 years later, polaccas were no longer common.

Lee Christiansen

I am curious as to what you would call a modern race boat with a fractional jib,not equipped for full masthead hoist? Thanks Lee

Thanks Guy: The information and pictures really eliminate a lot of the mystery of the terminology and the meanings. Also appreciate the insight of the handling idiosyncrasies “hand” (staff) requirements to manage a vessel for one that has not been on the water much. I long to spend significant time afloat, but have concern about the ability to handle a vessel due to advancing age. The Significant Other prefers to sit (in AC comfort)and be entertained by parties of cruise line employees. Thanks again for the information.

Gordon Smith

Your discussion made no mention of the galleon, a vessel with either square-rigged Fore and Main masts and a shorter lateen-rigged Mizzen, or, on larger galleons, square-rigged Fore and Main masts, with a lateen-rigged Mizzen and a lateen-rigged Bonaventure mast, both shorter than either the Fore or Main masts. Also, it was not uncommon for a galleon to hoist a square-rigged bowsprit topsail in addition to the usual square-rigged spritsail.

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