Rig design THE PROS & CONS

Peter Poland looks at the history of popular rig designs and how the different types affect boat performance

- Peter K Poland

Having once asked yacht designer Andrew Wolstenholme if we could meet to discuss the evolution of modern rigs- and the continuing popularity of some older designs - we talked about boats in general and gaff rigs in particular, many of which he designs.

"The gaff still has much to recommend it. With stiffer, yet lighter carbon fibre spars, it can offer bigger benefits than it ever did in the past," said Andrew.

His recent gaff-rigged designs like the new Cornish Crabber 24 MkV and smaller Kite 21 prove this point.

It's generally accepted that the gaff evolved from the spritsail rig, which in turn evolved from earlier lugsail and before then-square sail rigs. The lugsail attaches to a spar that is hoisted at an angle. So part of the spar and sail protrude ahead of the mast, and this leading edge enables a boat to sail upwind. The evolution of the lugsail started when someone discovered that by setting a square sail at an angle-with one end of the yard pointing down towards the deck-the sail could set closer to the wind.

Upwind advantage

Some say the Chinese junk rig is also descended from square sails as used on Chinese ships before the 12th century. The junk rig, also known as the Chinese lugsail or sampan rig, evolved with full length battens extending the sail forward of the mast, providing a leading edge to help sail upwind.

The ever-inventive Blondie Hasler designed and built a modern version of the junk rig for his modified Nordic Folkboat, Jester. He then entered the first single-handed transatlantic race in 1960, helping to initiate the OSTAR and boosting the appeal of long-distance solo sailing in general, and the junk rig in particular.

David Tyler, Annie Hill and Roger Taylor are three leading lights of the Hasler-inspired move to modern junk rigs, and have sailed many thousands of miles between them.