Gaff rigged yachts

[Rum_Pirate]

I like gaff rigged yachts because I have been fortunate enough to sail regularly on KATE.

But before that, gaff rigged yachts have always instilled a special fondness in my mind.

Can anyone explain (in laymans or nautical terms) what it is about gaff rigged yachts that makes us(?) think that they look lovely when under sail?

 

[peter radclyffe]

is it because the gaff juts out, i prefer gaff, i dont know why, bermudan seems bland in comparison tho more efficient

 

[jason -and the arguenauts]

Can anyone explain (in laymans or nautical terms) what it is about gaff rigged yachts that makes us(?) think that they look lovely when under sail?

Same sort of thing that has people buying Morgan cars, and living in draughty old houses. Sentimentality.

 

[sarabande]

is it something to do with the graphical integrity and proportions of a gaff rig ? It's not possible to put up a pic of bermudan rigged vessel without having a long tall format. Gaff rig seems more suited to the golden mean which, I hesitate to remind such a cultured bunch as the evening forum, is conveniently best expressed by

varphi = {1+\sqrt{5}}{2}\approx 1.6180339887

roughly.

 

[Tranona]

Same sort of thing that has people buying Morgan cars, and living in draughty old houses. Sentimentality.

No, not sentimentality with Morgan. What else can you buy new that is beautifully built, gives absolutely no trouble, will last a lifetime and you can sell for at least what you paid for it? 6 years a happy Morgan owner. Car bought new. Imagine what would have happened if I spent my £20k+ on an MG F at the same time?

Don't know about draughty houses though!

 

[bilbobaggins]

I think they look at their best with a topsail and two headsails.

So also, in my view, do ORMA 60 trimarans. But you're quite right, there's an aesthetic which suggests a superiority of visual pleasure of a 'Fife' which has tucked away several oceans, over a 'Laurient-Prevost' or 'Irens-Benoit' sprinter. ( as has Tony's quite special Irens boat )

Now, I'm aware that the more recent boats are well tough enough - last weekend I was 'specing Tony Bullimore's ever-lasting 'Spirit of Antigua' in Bristol's Floating Harbour, where she was having a bottom-scrub before heading off to cruise around the Fastnet course. ( d'you remember her considerable provenance? )

Nevertheless, should I ever have the luck to be invited for a weekend on 'Spirit' at the same time as Taberly's 'Pen Duick', then I'd have a very hard decision. And I suspect I'd favour the ould gaffer.....

Wouldn't you?

 

[Cornishman]

is it because the gaff juts out, i prefer gaff, i dont know why, bermudan seems bland in comparison tho more efficient

Only when sailing close hauled. I recall several 1975 Fastnet yachts of similar size going home from Plymouth could not keep up with Hoshi in a Force 4 just forward of the beam. She did have 7 sails set against their 2.

 

[jason -and the arguenauts]

No, not sentimentality with Morgan. What else can you buy new that is beautifully built, gives absolutely no trouble, will last a lifetime and you can sell for at least what you paid for it? 6 years a happy Morgan owner. Car bought new. Imagine what would have happened if I spent my £20k+ on an MG F at the same time?

Don't know about draughty houses though!

I'll give you the depreciation bit but in every other respect - primitive. Tried one and went and bought a Lotus instead. With Toyota engine, GRP and ally structure it should indeed last a lifetime and gives no trouble at all. Whats more, unlike the Morgan ( except the Aero), it will perform on the road / track and doesnt leak in the rain. Got an excellent driving position too rather than bent arms. . Even got a boot.

All in all, it's a tribute to progress which is just what people are denying with gaff rig.

 

[Iota]

I'll give you the depreciation bit but in every other respect - primitive. Tried one and went and bought a Lotus instead. With Toyota engine, GRP and ally structure it should indeed last a lifetime and gives no trouble at all. Whats more, unlike the Morgan ( except the Aero), it will perform on the road / track and doesnt leak in the rain. Got an excellent driving position too rather than bent arms. . Even got a boot.

All in all, it's a tribute to progress which is just what people are denying with gaff rig.

I ran a Morgan for many years but sold it to act as the deposit for the first proper boat in 1986. Great cars but not the most comfortable but for driving with the roof down (ours only went up a few times to preserve the higher authorities hair when going to posh do's) cannot be bettered. Gaff rigged boats pull to the nostalgia side of ones feelings. Not practical and wouldn't have one. I don't like horses either

 

[Tranona]

I ran a Morgan for many years but sold it to act as the deposit for the first proper boat in 1986. Great cars but not the most comfortable but for driving with the roof down (ours only went up a few times to preserve the higher authorities hair when going to posh do's) cannot be bettered. Gaff rigged boats pull to the nostalgia side of ones feelings. Not practical and wouldn't have one. I don't like horses either

Agree. Only had the hood up 4 times in 6 years. The day we picked it up and 3 of the service days. all in July and peeing with rain! Heated screen is a boon, but still claustrophobic, particularly when you are 6 ft 3 like me!

Cannot be compared with a Lotus - completely different experiences. Perfect for me because I would love something like a Riley Sprite or an MG K3 for a toy, but I can't afford one nor have the skills to look after them - so a Morgan it is (and a big lazy Ford Diesel for everyday use)!

Same with boats. Near 50 year old wooden boat for a toy and a Bavaria for serious holiday cruising.

 

[oldharry]

what it is about gaff rigged yachts that makes us(?) think that they look lovely when

Like a woman - more curves.

 

[electrosys]

I wonder if a gaff rig looks good because it was originally a working rig (?) - same 'form follows function' logic as to why a steam locomotive and a Dutch-style windmill both look good, whereas a diesel loco and modern wind turbines don't have the same visual appeal.

 

[KristiferColumbus]

Love the romantic aspect of them but are they practical?

 

[lw395]

I think a boat of that quality could be quite pretty with a bermudan rig too.
I don't think gaff is necessarily less efficient- define 'efficient'??
Its worth reading Frank Bethwaite's comments about them in his book 'High Performance Sailing', the designer of such things as the 49er is not at all dismissive about the advantages of a gaff rig.
To get the same sail area from a bermudan rig often either means a very tall mast or a ketch. Somehow I have just never found ketchs attractive.

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

I defy you to watch a harbour full of working boats racing out of Falmouth on a summer's evening and not get a warm tingle somewhere! Perhaps someone could post a pic?

 

[jason -and the arguenauts]

Agree. Only had the hood up 4 times in 6 years. The day we picked it up and 3 of the service days. all in July and peeing with rain!

Actually thats another plus for the Morgan - a proper tonneau cover that allows you to drive in rain with the roof off. Took the Lotus down to the club today and even the small amount of rain we had meant stopping, getting out, messing around with hood sticks etc.

But at 6ft 3, how do you manage the bent arms driving position? You must have the wheel under your chin.

 

[Tranona]

Actually thats another plus for the Morgan - a proper tonneau cover that allows you to drive in rain with the roof off. Took the Lotus down to the club today and even the small amount of rain we had meant stopping, getting out, messing around with hood sticks etc.

But at 6ft 3, how do you manage the bent arms driving position? You must have the wheel under your chin.

No, if you buy a post 97 car with the long doors and have the simple seats and little leather covered wheel that comes with buying the el cheapo "Runabout" model it is tolerable.

Every time I drive it - which I shall do tomorrow if the weather forecast is correct I think what a lucky B***** I am to own it. Even more so because my SWMBO absolutely loves it - even if she never drives it. What more could one want?

If you want a real experience then do a late night drive in the middle of summer from Shaftesbury to Blandford through Melcombe Regis. Long bonnet, little red light glowing on top of the sidelights and not another car in sight but never going faster than the speed limit (well, not much anyway!). Straight out of Dorothy Sayers!