Bill Farina wrote:
Hunter Sailboats have something called a B&R "fractional rig" with swept
back spreaders. For the life of me, I can't figure out the advantage(s) of
this design.

Well, then don't buy one.

... On the downside, they seem to make running downwind difficult
and create a high wind load.

What's a "high wind load"?

BTW the B&R rig was the rig of choice among Int'l 14s and other open
design super high performance dinghies for a number of years (they have
advanced beyond that now, but the current rigs are recognizably derived
from the B&R type). To say that you "can't figure out the advantage(s)"
is basically admitting that you don't know how to sail a performance boat.

OTOH it's kind of a mismatch IMHO for a heavy keelboat. But hey, if it
makes you feel tough & salty to diss Hunters, go ahead. Everybody needs
a hobby.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King