Photogenic Ketch

[Paul Pless]

Speaking of photogenic boats. I snapped this quick picture while sailing on Airlie. She appeared to be wood, I'd guess close to 60' on deck. Nice!
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg239/PaulPless/IMG_0551.jpg

[JimD]

Wish that were me straddling the bowsprit.

[Russ Manheimer]

Any Airlie pics Paul?

[Dave Hadfield]

Love that backstaysail! I use one on Drake, except it sets with a sprit for better shape.

Sweet!

Dave

[John B]

hmmm. The sort of thing you can do without a mizzen forestay.

[Captain Blight]

Marconi rigs on ketches look odd to me. I've always thought of a ketch as kind of a natural for gaffrig. It's built-in, like.

[John B]

Gaff looks great on a lot of boats , cutters and schooners included, but handling wise a macaroni ketch is the bee's knees. Easy with small sail areas and all sorts of options for crowding on in lighter airs in an incremental way.
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd48/Waione_photos/coastal%20classic%2007/riada002_1.jpg
I just loooove my mizzen staysail.
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd48/Waione_photos/coastal%20classic%2007/riada006_1.jpg

[sobraon]

I agree John, the Marconi rig means that Wendy and I can sail Spirit of Sobraon (a cutter rigged ketch) in most weather conditions without the need for any other crew because of the sail plan options and the ease of sail handling.

At 23 tonne she would be a real struggle for the two of us with a gaff rig.

http://www.sobraon.talkspot.com/uploads/8185/Apr081.jpg

http://www.sobraon.talkspot.com/uploads/8185/jun23.jpg

I also agree that it is hard to not admire a gaffer. I think Spirit of Sobraon would look stunning as a gaff rigged schooner although we never are short of admirers in anchorages and marinas which I think is more a product of her traditional look and the level of preparation we put into her finish.

http://www.sobraon.talkspot.com/uploads/8185/Apr084.jpg

The backstay sail looks great in the top photos although in our case I don't think that it would assist with our performance. We have a headsail selection of the stay sail and either a 120% Genoa or Asymmetrical Cruising Spinnaker for light weather and a Yankee for stronger breezes. With these we are able to sail in a reach at above 50% of wind speed up to hull speed.

If we could we would sail a Mystic Schooner like 'Bluenose' if looks were our only consideration but for the two of us 'Spirit of Sobraon' is our ideal compromise.

Fair Winds

Garry and Wendy
www.sobraon.talkspot.com (http://www.sobraon.talkspot.com)

[michigangeorge]

I agree John, the Marconi rig means that Wendy and I can sail Spirit of Sobraon (a cutter rigged ketch) in most weather conditions without the need for any other crew because of the sail plan options and the ease of sail handling.



Garry and Wendy
www.sobraon.talkspot.com (http://www.sobraon.talkspot.com)

Garry, that is a beautiful boat you have there but it would properly be considered a ketch with double head rig. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A CUTTER RIGGED KETCH ! Sorry for shouting but we are losing our nautical terminolgy at a prodigious rate :-(

[Dave Hadfield]

Drake is only 9 tons, but very old-fashioned, and I can solo-sail her because of the ketch rig (with no autopilot or tricks). As you say, the sails are small, and they can be hoisted one at a time starting at the mizzen, and the boat stays under control the whole time.

And reefing while solo is easy, just drop the main while under way (she self-steers with the wind on the beam or ahead). Carry on.

The only thing that's awkward when solo is docking, and I've solved that by going to a mooring rather than a slip.

It all works for me. I've had a couple of terrific day-sails this year, solo, and in winds up to 25 kts.

I think a lot of larger boats sit idle because of crew issues. Being able to get it sailing on your own adds a lot to the utility of the boat.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y79/DaveHadfield/closeupdrakeanchorsunglinting.jpg

[John B]

After dreams all night of 1 reef or two and mizzens stowed or 1 reef and #4 jib and will it be furled and is that enough off, my 2 handed race today is cancelled due to a 45 knot gale warning.

Cutter rigged ketch is probably not quite technically correct I agree. Cutter head, which is only a little more specific, is certainly common usage here.
But as someone who is known to have a terminology rant from time to time Middles, I admire your stand.:D
Shall we do highfield levers and LOA next ?:D:D

[Paul Pless]

Dave, thanks for posting, Drake is lovely as always!