Simon Brooke wrote:

Classified by type of mainsail it can be

Bermudan
Gaff
Gunter - rare except in very small boats
Junk - rare
Lug - rare
Sprit - rare

Note that a 'una rig' is the same thing as a 'catboat rig' or 'cat
rig', and there are 'catboat ketches' which have no staysails on
either mast, but they're rare. You are very unlikely indeed to find a
junk or lug sloop or cutter, although neither is strictly
impossible. Other than that if you make a matrix of the first six
against the second six you'll account for 99.9% of all sailing boats,
with 90+% being bermudan and probably 90+% being sloops.

And that's just boats with sails!!


I still think you're best off with sail number and class for most
sailing boats.

Yes, your reasoning is becoming very clear to me ;-)

Thanks for the detailed explanation, your time is much
appreciated. There is so much I don't know.

--
Grunff