My Research...
Fractional Rig Offers Advantages Over Masthead Rig In my sailing experience I have learned to prefer a fractional rig to a masthead version, whether cruising, racing or daysailing. Here are some of the reasons why I believe that more people should be sailing boats with fractional rigs: Fractional headsails are smaller and easier to use. A large 140-150% masthead genoa is a terrible sail for a cruiser. It is a pain to tack, requires a lot more winch grinding, reduces forward visibility, and takes either larger winches or more muscle to trim. As the wind picks up it soon overpowers the boat, requiring either a sail change or partial furling of the sail. A large genoa has an inefficient shape when partially furled (reefed). The larger the sail, the more it has to be reefed in a breeze, and the worse the shape becomes. To make matters worse, as you reef the genoa, you end up raising the center of effort of the sail, giving excess healing moment for the amount of sail actually exposed to the wind. Very inefficient! On the other hand, the fractional headsail is smaller to begin with and, as the breeze picks up, the mainsail can be reefed, an easier operation which results in a better sail shape. When it is necessary to reef the fractional genoa, it can be rolled up less which means shape is still decent. Fractional rigs require fewer sails: since the power of the frac rig is in the main, the headsails are smaller and you don't need as many for racing. If you end up with the wrong headsail up on a frac rig, it is not as detrimental as it is on a masthead rig. The total number of sails on a fractional-rigged boat is usually less than on a masthead. Fractional spinnakers are smaller and easier to handle: the biggest beast on most boats - the one that is hardest to handle - is the spinnaker. On a frac rig, the sail is smaller and the pole is shorter, and the spinnaker therefore is easier to set, douse and gybe. If it gets out of control, which eventually happens to all of us, it is less of a handful. A frac rig boat can sail on mainsail alone: there are times when one would prefer to sail with one sail up, for a variety of reasons. On a masthead rig boat, sailing under main alone is so inefficient as to be almost worthless, especially upwind. So what most masthead-ers do is sail with jib alone, especially when it is blowing. It drives me crazy to see this: without the wind pressure on the mainsail, the mast is not steadied and all the load on the spar is strictly in compression. If the mast gets out of column (bends too much) while you are plowing through waves you can end up with the rig in your lap. Not much fun! The frac rig, on the other hand, is easily sailed under main alone. In addition, the masthead rig becomes unbalanced when you sail with only one sail up, as you will develop too much weather or lee helm as the sail area is not centered over the keel. On the frac rig the mast is far enough forward so as to provide better balance of sail area over keel, for an easier helm. If you do use the jib alone on a frac rig it is small and easily handled and the pull on the mast is not strictly in compression, so it is safer. The frac rig spar is farther forward in the boat, meaning that its' position relative to the logical location of the forward main cabin bulkhead is better, with the result that it is less intrusive in the cabin. The frac rig spar is taller and reaches cleaner air higher off the water. It also gives a more nicely proportioned rig for aesthetic reasons. The frac rig mast is more easily bent, producing more sail shape control. The loads on the frac rig spar are generally less, as the compression load generated by the headsails is less. The backstay on a masthead race boat is often tensioned to the point that it puts terrific loads on the whole rig, causing flexing of the boat and associated problems. The frac rig backstay is never tightened to the same high loads, which is easier on the structure. I think frac rigs are more fun to sail. The mainsail is more fun to trim, you have more shape control, yet the headsails are a lot easier to use. If something goes wrong on a frac rig it is usually easier to control. If you are caught in a blow, or your furler jams, or your headsail starts to go over the side, the smaller headsail on a frac rig causes less of a fire drill than the larger masthead genoa will cause. The most hazardous place to be on a boat when trouble hits is up on the bow, especially when short or single-handed. So any reduction in the frequency or magnitude of a problem up forward is a good thing. On the other hand, the mainsail is more centered over the boat, and a problem with it is usually easier to get under control. So why are so many cruising boat built today with masthead rigs? For one reason they are simple and cheap. The mast is usually just a straight un-tapered extrusion. For another reason, builders seem to be reluctant to change, a problem in our industry that has stifled growth and innovation. The masthead rig is largely an anachronism left over from days when the racing rules gave favored treatment to boats with masthead rigs. This is no longer the case, but cruising boat design was adversely influenced for years by handicap rules, even though most boats never see the starting line. Fortunately, the situation is starting to change. I applaud Hunter for the use of the frac rig on their boats, and from much personal use i can say that their rigs are just plain easier and better for cruising. J/boats also uses mostly frac rigs, and they are known for making boats where sailing performance (speed, ease of use, efficiency and fun) is paramount. The Beneteau First series boats, also performance oriented, are frac rigs. If more people would try the frac rig they would find that it is indeed a step forward in convenience, performance and safety.
