Ketch Rigs - How best to use them

[ccscott49]

Yes, I see a ketch, your point is?

Very nice ketch actually.

 

[Topcat47]

Well, I bin tol' arfen enuff that twin headsails make her a cutter and the position of the mizzen makes her a ketch so she's a cutter ketch. No one ever told me that "Ketch" took precendence over "Cutter" in the rig, but if you can point me to the definitions....................(Wikipedia don't count as you can publish any old crap in there.

 

[pampas]

please define your statement "No such animal" in Falmouth there is a cutter rig that has recently added a mizzen so what in your opion should it be called?

 

[Twister_Ken]

Not a yawl, then?

 

[jamesjermain]

I have always used the phrase 'cuttter headed ketch' to differentiate between a ketch with a single headsail and one capable of setting two. I don't see why this shouldn't be shortened to cutter ketch although I can't find it specifically referred to in my sailing dictionary.

 

[Mudplugger]

I don't think that I mentioned that the helm would load up a tad!! but it was fun!! & on one 4hour blast across the N.Sea to Oostende averaged 8.3 knots (GPS) across tide! till we blew the spinnaker

 

[ccscott49]

A ketch, unless of course it's a yawl, what would you call a yawl with a staysail, a cutter yawl?? They are either ketches or yawls, not with the cutter added on. Simple as that.

 

[ccscott49]

I direct you to the post below.

 

[jamesjermain]

Sorry, what post? I try to use language that explains what I want to say, and if I want to differentiate between a ketch with two headails and a ketch with one headsail, the term cutter headed ketch or cutter ketch does it for me. If it's insignificant either way then ketch would do. It would be a shame to mislead for the sake of pedantry.

 

[Bejasus]

[ QUOTE ]
It would be a shame to mislead for the sake of pedantry.

[/ QUOTE ]

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Liz_I]

Weathercock

 

[Rob_Webb]

[ QUOTE ]
My westerly 33 would tack thru 65- 70deg quite happily with the mizzen in play, but only 75-80deg with it down.

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Really? Motorsailing maybe? Given the AC boats typically tack thru 70 degrees maybe they should be looking at Westerly 33 design technology in Valencia! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[snowleopard]

I'm a cynic when it comes to ketches, my only experience being a crossing from Bermuda to Portugal in 48 ft Contest. As soon as the wind came forward, down came the mizzen, likewise on a run, leaving us underpowered. On that basis my conclusion was - saw off the mizzen and save the space and weight. I have heard others say no one buys a second ketch.

In contrast, on my only brief sail on a bermudian schooner I was amazed to find the main drew well going to windward and wasn't killed by the fore.

Obviously some like them from the replies above and no doubt this post will draw howls of indignation!