Cutter rig
- Thread starter Willemvan
- Start date
Many people do not realize that a cutter is designed for that rig - the mast is further aft than on a sloop. Just adding an inner forestay to a sloop does not a cutter make...the boat will not be as well balanced as when it was a sloop (assuming it was a well designed sloop in the first place).
Some offshore sailors add a removable inner forestay in order to fly a smaller head sail and to have a large headsail. The loads on the stay are significant, the deck fitting needs some engineering to properly distribute the loads. The deck structure is usually too weak to accept the loads without major work.
For these offshore sailors, the advantage to a removable forestay and head sail is to move the center of effort aft when the mainsail is deeply reefed. When it is blowing 25+k moving the center of effort makes a huge improvement in boat comfort and handling.
For these offshore sailors, the advantage to a removable forestay and head sail is to move the center of effort aft when the mainsail is deeply reefed. When it is blowing 25+k moving the center of effort makes a huge improvement in boat comfort and handling.
