Rich Hampel wrote:
Cruisers are downwind sailors and the bermudian rig has its peak
efficiency upwind.
Ever hear of someone 'purposely' beating through the tradewinds?

Yes, I've had to do it to get from Panama to the NW
Caribbean. I wouldn't want to do it in a ketch or a gaff
rigged schooner . Sometimes you have to sail upwind, even
on a traditionally downwind passage.

Seriously, 95% of the boats out there are sloops or perhaps
cutters, so why worry about it?

Evan Gatehouse