Gaf rigged sailing

[joeirish]

can anybody suggest a good book or internet resource for somebody thinking of starting gaff rigged sailing. I have just begun sailig lat year and have a day skipper cert. I have seen a beautiful gaff rigged cutter. What are the advantages and disadvantages of sailing gaff rigs.

many thanks

 

[mainmarine]

you could try :http://www.oldgaffersassociation.org/ for information. The book, "Hand ,Reef and Steer" by Tom Cunliffe published by Thomas Reed ISBN. 0-901281-94-8 is a practical guide to rigging and sailing gaff rigged boats, "Gaff Rig" by John Leather, Adlard Coles ISBN. 0-229 97489 9 is another one
Malc
Mainmarine

 

[Peterduck]

Martin Tregonning also wrote a good book on the sailing of gaff rigged boats, but I don't recall the title. Gaffers tend to stand up and sail on their bottoms, unlike the bermudans which sail on their ears. Don't try to tension a gaff rig like harp-strings, they don't like it, and neither do the boats. You'll also have to learn to relax a bit more and enjoy the sailing and the scenery around you. I cn't comment on racing a gaffer, as I've never tried it.
Peter.

 

[John_B]

this American site has a swag of references for you.

http://www.messing-about.com/gaffrig/

 

[daveyjones]

My last boat was a 27 ft gaff cutter. Gaff rig has many advantages - the rig isn't set up tight, so it doesn't stress the hull, and it sails well downwind. For me, sailing mostly single handed, I found it very useful to be able to reef the main without having to come head to wind. You can just spill the wind from the sail by lowering the gaff. Also there are no nasty tracks and slides to jam at the wrong moment, causing you to disappear over the horizon like a latter-day Flying Dutchman. I have just started building a 40 ft Colin Archer, with a gaff ketch rig, and personaly I would favour gaff over Bermudian every time, especially since I have no interest in racing. Besides, it looks so much prettier, even if you can't sail so close to the wind!

 

[Wayward_Son]

Gaff rigs rule!

 

[kestrel1891]

Afraid I must disagree with other contributors comments on this one.
I'm sure the main reason that Gaffers are thought to sail upright and not go to windward is that the rig is often too slack, the peak not tight enough and few sailmakers really understand the rig.
With a decent set of sails, properly set up and some tight rigging a gaffer will match a bermudan on overall performance, hull for hull.
The Old Gaffers Association should definitely be the first point of contact. Anyone who has tried racing with the OGA will tell you its certainly not sedate!
And of course it looks much prettier.

I still think Bermudan is a passing phase and everyone will go back to Gaff eventually.

 

[Wayward_Son]

Agreed on most points. As far as sailing upright, our schooner will heel to a max of 20 degrees before stalling - far from standing on on her bottom! We have North Sails which have been made to the exact specs of our spars and can be as taught as any bermuda I've ever owned.

On the note of upwind sailing - it's true you shouldn't get too greedy with your angle to wind. Also, gaff top sails and fisherman sails should be doused if not already in the bags.

I cut my teeth working on a 100' square-sail gaff-rigged ketch (we dubbed it a barquenteen) during the mid 1990's in the Red Sea. If you like blocks, lots of canvass, and so much rope it looks like a nest of snakes, then you would like gaff-rig sailing. This is not an idle, relaxing with a drink in hand on the deck, slow sailing activity. You have to be attentive, in good shape, and knowledgable about your rig. Two triangle, two halyard sialing it is not!