Taddy and Doug... great answers! That's what I was looking for...

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"DSK" wrote in message
. ..
Capt. JG wrote:
So, what are the downsides to gaff rigs? I know about weight aloft and
possible handling issues with the gaff, but anything else?


Of course! There's always "something else!"

Flying Tadpole wrote:
The main downside, poorer pointing, is also a function of the main
upside, which is lower center of effort and greater ease of holding the
boat up under a press of canvas.


Yep... performance not so good to windward, GREAT off the wind.

A secondary downside is controlling twist. If the twist really upsets
you, the paraphernalia of downhauls and vangs needed to reduce it to
modern desires, you might as well go for a modern rig.


You can vang a schooner's foresail pretty well, but I've never seen a gaff
vang run to the aft quarters that was worth a durn. It does help bend the
gaff for flattening, though... just make sure your crew doesn't confuse it
for the running backs!


There is no point however in imitating the lightly sparred racing gaffers
of long ago: their rigs were every bit as prone to disintegration as a
modern highly-strung (!) bermuda racing rig.

Rather more so, I would think.
But let's mention in passing that the gaff-rigged maxi racers of yore
would shock many sailors with their speed off the wind, several were
clocked in the high teens and rumors abounded of 20 knot runs.


..... THe virtues come in cruising, on heavier boats (yes, Flying
Tadpole II was a quite intentional aberration, and she was terrible to
windward in any sort of a seaway). (Lady Kate's gaff by the way is
almost identical to Flying Tadpole II's mainmast).


Aerodynamically speaking?

The added weight of the gaff at the top of the sail can be advantage, the
sail definitely comes down when you want it to. It also can be shortend
down very quickly and easiy, much faster than a marconi can be reefed (of
course, it's sort of an emergency measure and you do have to straighten it
up later). Just cast off the peak halyard and let the upper half of the
sail drop into the lee of the lower half... "scandalizing" it's called.

Another advantage, often proclaimed by my grandfather as the reason why he
just couldn't get any enjoyment out of racing marconi-rigged boats, is
that between the peak & throat halyards you have a very fine adjustment
for sail shape.

Disadvantage... extra rope & pulleys flopping about on the mast.

Gaff rigs are cool. I keep toying with the idea of getting a gaffer
instead of a modern boat.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King