Sailing a Yawl

[Kay]

I have always wondered about sailing a yawl. I have heard that one can steer the boat by trimming the mizzen sail and that when riding at anchor leaving the mizzz'n up and trimmed tight and fore and aft the boat will not hunt around on the anchor, but keep pointed into the wind. Also a sail can be hoisted from the mizzen going forward adding more sail area, I'm not sure what the name of the sail is called, stay-sail?What other benifits are there to sailing a yawl? I know they are out of fashion these days, however every once and in a while one comes up for sale. I have seen a few under sail and they have a certian appeal.

 

[Dennis Thomas]

Balance

Easier short handed as each sail is smaller requiring less effort. Easier to balance amount of sail as winds increase/decrease. In a hard blow use mizzen and smaller jib - no main = less sail area but balanced effort near the center of the boat. In a regular rig as you reef and reduce jib the center of effort moves forward. Your other comments are on the mark and if your motoring the mizzen is a perfect steading sail as evidenced by its use on trawlers. Down side is more complicated, stay busy managing another sail. It also takes up space in the cockpit.S/v Anodyne