Types of sailing rig
The rigs of the majority of modern yachts follow the Bermudan sloop format, either fractional or masthead. Additionally, there are plenty of traditional yachts equipped with a wide range of wonderful rig variations, which maybe less practical, but at least they are delightful to senses, and still useful for short pleasant cuisers.
Traditional style
A fagg, gunter or lugsail rig may look very fine, but when they are compared to a modern sloop rig, is likely to be heavier, have more windage and drag, be considerably less efficient upwind and probably difficult to steer. A possible thing on the plus side is that a shorter mast is required (which is safer - and at a quickly lowered gaff is a useful feature for sailing on rivers that have low bridges.
Mizzen style
Yawls and ketches have a mizzen mast and sail aft of the mainmast. This mast is either sited behind the helm (yawl) or in front (ketch), and in most cases is considerably smaller than the forward mainmast. The exception is a two-masted schooner on which the mizzen mast is bigger and therefore becomes the mainmast supporting the mainsail.
The object of a mizzen is to produce a rig that is more balanced fore and aft, with an overall reduction in sail and spar size for easier handling, particularly in very windy weather when the boat can go pretty fast without a mainsail. The principal drawbacks are lost deck space taken by the additional mast and sail plus extra cost and complexity of handling.
The concept is only likely to be found in large yachts (27 m+), where it is desirable to decrease the height of the mainmast and sails.
Sloop style
The Bermudan sloop rig with a single main mast and a sail "wardrobe" around the two principal sails - mainsail and headsail (or jib). This type of rig style is the most preferred by modern sailboats, dingies, keelboats of all sizes and categories. Wooden masts, which are very heavy, tend to be replaced by lightweight tapered aluminium (rarely carbon) masts. High aspect rigs have been developed - they don't compromise safety when the yacht is heeling or pitching. Sails of this type can be increased or decreased in size very fast in order to match the fast changing conditions of the weather. Sailors refer to the mainsail as "the gears of the yacht" - being able to quickly vary with the shape of sails is very useful and can control the velocity of the yacht; the latter is particularly important in racing circumstances.
There are two principal types of sloop rig. The more traditinal masthead rig has a forestay that moves right to the top of the mast and can be used with a full-height genoa. This is very appropriate for most cruising requirements, but in many cases it has been superseded by the fractional rig in which the forestay only moves to a certain height up the mast. The fractional rig is a direct development from dinghi sailing .
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