Ketch

From Boat Design Wiki

A ketch rig is a two-masted fore-and-aft rig, where the mainmast is located forward of a smaller mizzen mast. Each mast carries either a gaff or Bermudan sail, and one or more jibs may be carried ahead of the mainmast. If the mizzen accounts for a substantial part of the sail area, additional staysails are occasionally carried on the mizzen mast.

Due to the added drag of the extra mast it is advisable to have the mizzen as 20% or more of the total ‘design’ sail area, (the fore triangle + main + mizzen ). A good separation between the two masts allows the carrying of a large light air mizzen staysail which is a real boon with this rig. A smaller staysail can be flown in the triangle between the leech of the main and the mizzen mast, this is called a mizzen mule, the clew of the mule is sheeted to the mizzen mast top. On larger boats the fore-triangle with often be a cutter arrangement and we often see this rig with a bowsprit.

Characteristics

The ketch is distinguished from its close cousin the yawl by the location of its mizzen mast. Where a yawl carries a small mizzen mast aft of the rudder post for helm balance, the ketch carries a larger mizzen for both balance and propulsion, with the mizzen mast stepped ahead of the rudder.

A variant known as a cat-ketch moves one mast close to the bow, catboat style, with the second mast usually just aft of amidships. In this setup, both masts are usually free-standing and carry sails of about the same size.

Examples

Performance

Handling

- Members with experience on this rig: Advice on the handling of this rig would be welcome:

Upwind

Reaching

Downwind

Storms