20 One-Design Class Sailboat Handbook 



of a cat and has more overhang. Its fastest point of sailing is with the wind 

 on the beam. 



Cutter. Has one mast, but it's stepped proportionately farther aft; its 

 regular suit of sails probably calls for two jibs, the inner called a "staysail" 

 flying under the jibsail. 



Yawl. In recent years, the yawl rig has found high favor with ocean- 

 racing fans. This is a handy rig with the sails divided onto two masts. The 

 shorter of the two is called the "mizzenmast," and is stepped aft of the 

 rudderpost. The same light sails carried on the sloop and the cutter may 

 be set, plus a hard-pulling mizzen staysail. In ordinary weather, the 

 mizzen sail is useful on all points of sailing except on a very broad reach, 

 where it may disturb the flow of air to the mainsail. In bad weather, the 

 mainsail may be reefed or even furled entirely, yet the boat will remain 

 in perfect balance with the mizzen sail offsetting the headsail. The yawl 

 rig is used in medium-sized boats sailed on open water where speed is 

 secondary to ease of handling. 



Ketch. Similar to the yawl, except that the mizzenmast is proportion- 

 ately larger and is stepped forward of the rudder. This makes a fine, easily 

 handled cruising boat with the sails divided into handy sizes. The rig is 

 a favorite among deep-sea voyagers. Its only disadvantage is that the 

 mizzenmast comes either in the middle of the cockpit, where it obstructs 

 working and lounging space, or against the after-cabin bulkhead, where 

 it interferes with access to the cabin. 



Schooner. This rig is seldom designed today. It requires a larger crew, 

 but when the wind is coming in abeam and sails are set full, the boat 

 really races through the water. There are many fine, used schooners avail- 

 able, with countless variations of rig; almost all are two-masted and the 

 aftermast is always the taller. The most common rig carries two jibs, a 

 gaff foresail with a small "fisherman's staysail" over it, and the mainsail. 

 A great variety of other sails can be used, from a spinnaker to a "golli- 

 wobbler"— a large fisherman's staysail set between the masts. 



CENTERBOARD VS. KEEL 



Sailboat hulls are divided into two definite shapes— "centerboard" and 

 "keel." The main function of both is to furnish lateral resistence to keep 



