"Bart" wrote in message
ps.com...
If it falls and you catch it, it's a ketch!
If it falls, on a yawl, y'all go get it.

A good way to remember the difference
between a yawl and a ketch. It
helps people remember, and it is a lot
easy to explain than a complicated
discussion how a yawl has it's mast
behind the rudder post and is typically
1/2 the height of the main mast, while
on a ketch the mizzen mast is about
2/3 the height of the main mast and is
located ahead of the rudder post.

Anyone know where the word
mizzen comes from?


It comes from the word "missing." Of course the Brits then slurred it
into mizzen. The reason it was called the missing mast was because it's
position caused it to "miss" all the wind on anything other than a
reach. Another reason was because it was on the end of the vessel and
in heavy weather no sail was carried and it whipped so badly it often
carried away.

I hope this helps.

Wilbur Hubbard