Marconi vs Bahama sloop?

[Jim Cook]

I've seen both terms, almost always used together, but I don't know what the difference is between them.Please enlighten me.Thanks,Jim Cook"Dream Chaser", O'Day 27

 

[Clyde]

Sailing Rig Type vs. A Type Of Sailboat...

The term "Marconi" is used to describe a three sided mainsail on a sailboat, almost all modern sailboats uses a Marconi rig. It is a fore and aft rig sailboat with a tall triangular mainsail and a sharply raked mast. A "Marconi" rig uses just two spars (mast and boom), whereas a traditional "Gaff" rigged sail has four sides and uses three spars(mast, boom and gaff).A "Bahama Sloop" is a general style of sailboat that is based on a traditional Bahama working sloop, the type of craft used for fishing and inter-island transport by generations of islanders before the development of engine powered ships. I thought that the "Bahama Sloop" used a "Gaff" rigged mainsail instead of a "Marconi" rig. It also had a "Jib" set on a bowsprit. The "Bahama Sloop" is similar to an "New England" centerboard Cat boat which was popular around the turn of the century for fishing and oystering in shallow coastal waters. The classic Cape Cod Cat was a "Gaff" rigged sailboat with a beam measurement that was half the waterline length, which made the New England Cat boat a very stable boat. A "Bahama Sloop" also has a wide beam, but not has wide as "New England" Cat boat and it also has jib set on a bowsprit.I've haven't heard about or seen a "Marconi" rigged "Bahama Sloop", is it new?Fair WindsClyde

 

[Clyde]

Bermuda Sloop???

After looking at your question again, I think you meant to ask what is a "Marconi" vs. "Bermuda Sloop". A modern sailboat is sometimes called a "Bermuda Sloop" or "Bermuda Rigged" sailboat. A Bermuda sloop is a sailboat that is rigged fore and aft with a "Marconi" mainsail and jib.Since a "Berumda" type sloop always has a "Marconi" sail, I guess that's why they are often used together.Fair WindsClyde

 

[Wanderer138]

Marconi rig vs Bahama Sloop

I'm no expert, but I always thought the Bermuda rig was a sloop with a high-aspect ratio triangular main and possibly loose-footed jib, as opposed to a shorter, gaff-rigged main and self-tacking jib on a jibboom. Gaff mains are characteristic of small traditional working sail. The Bermuda rig was more efficient working upwind and may have been what they needed in Bermuda. I guess when you live on a small island you have to sail upwind at least half the time.I thought the term "Marconi rig" was coined when tall metal masts supported by a network of spreaders, stays and shrouds were developed. This rig resembles a radio transmitter antenna (invented by Marconi) supported by guy wires.Bahamas sloops have triangular mainsails. However, because of their shape and size, the headboards on bigger sloops (raced in The Bahamas today as Class A sloops) almost look like gaffs. Bahamas sloops have long booms, large mainsails and a small jib.PeterH23 "Raven"