which rig? Bermudan or gunter?

**Woodlouse** · 25-04-12, 13:28

Originally Posted by BobPrell

Everybody is in favour of efficiency. For some reason bermudan fans get away with claiming efficiency without saying what resource they are efficient with, and what they trade off for that.

So the gunter is efficient with space. It trades off pointing ability.

By efficient I was talking about aerodynamic drag, pointing ability, top hamper, ease of handling and simplicity. The bermudan rig wins on all points here. But please don't mistake me for a fan. I'm personally an old gaffer, but it doesn't stop me from recognising the benefits of different rigs.

Yes, the gunter is efficient with space, and if I was to choose between the two I would probably go for it, especially on a boat with a tabernacle that might require regular trailing.

**Sybarite** · 25-04-12, 13:37

Originally Posted by dylanwinter

here are two pictures of the same boat with different rigs

which would be better for sailing around the UK?

http://www.hlmoa.flyer.co.uk/images/mn.jpeg

http://www.hlmoa.org.uk/gallery/14George_Gunn_1.jpg

and would you be interested in an article in a well known yachting magazine about comparing the two rigs?

yours

Just curious of Buckingham

My frst boat was gunter-rigged. I found it a bit of a pain and would have converted it to Bermudan had I kept it.

**DJE** · 25-04-12, 13:43

Major advantage of the Bermudan rig will be when sailing to windward. How much sailing to windward are you likely to be doing?

Is to be the Limax maximus?

**BobPrell** · 25-04-12, 14:13

Originally Posted by Woodlouse

By efficient I was talking about aerodynamic drag, pointing ability, top hamper, ease of handling and simplicity. The bermudan rig wins on all points here. But please don't mistake me for a fan. I'm personally an old gaffer, but it doesn't stop me from recognising the benefits of different rigs.

Yes, the gunter is efficient with space, and if I was to choose between the two I would probably go for it, especially on a boat with a tabernacle that might require regular trailing.

Excellent, I have found someone like-minded. I was rather worried that I might have given offense.

I am a bit of a junk rig fan myself, it is efficient with the labour required to sail.

The bermuda rig is efficient with most of the things you have listed, but it has costs. One is the work required to sail. I hope you have seen the "Commands required to tack" thread. A junk sailor posted "I can't understand what all the debate is about, when I want to tack I just push the tiller over".

Dylan, my mind's eye keeps seeing your boats (slug and the minstrel's) with junk rig.

**Blueboatman** · 25-04-12, 14:54

Hmmm.
Perhaps a question should be: How well does a Minstrel sail to windward at all AT SEA without motor assist? Thats quite a bluff bow and high topsides and canoe stern and and .. very pretty.

I believe the Bermudan set up has/had tan sails too usually, unlike that pic..

Whilst I don't want to rain on your parade, i had a junk rig Corribee with bilge keels that i took places that others simply do not venture ( but not on your route) and it would tack in its own length and retain steerage way on a tide breeze drifting thru saltflats and marshes...You will surley be doing loads more of that than coastal pure sailing to windward?

Gaffers 'know' that a low aspect rig is often the best for drive..

So basically I would advocate the lower, gunter rig, even for powering to windward with that hull, it is pretty, unique, characterful, wont do your adventure or public image/ thread count/website hits any harm at all, easy peasy to up/down and stow.
As said, above all I would be looking at the quality or cost of a really decent motor with the ones for sale..

**Lakesailor** · 25-04-12, 15:26

Originally Posted by interloper

A Westerly Centaur is only available with a Bermudan rig.

Fascinating. Not sure how it helps in this thread.

**Fantasie 19** · 25-04-12, 16:58

Originally Posted by dylanwinter

here are two pictures of the same boat with different rigs

which would be better for sailing around the UK?

http://www.hlmoa.flyer.co.uk/images/mn.jpeg

http://www.hlmoa.org.uk/gallery/14George_Gunn_1.jpg

and would you be interested in an article in a well known yachting magazine about comparing the two rigs?

yours

Just curious of Buckingham

Sheer unadulterated boat porn....
http://www.western-horizon.co.uk/arc...hp?boat_id=25#

....I'd bite your arm off for that boat with either rig, but would prefer bermudan if given a choice.....

**wklein** · 25-04-12, 18:03

How would a gunter motorsail? If your a fan of motoring when conditions are ticky surely a bladed bermudian would be better than a gunter?

I have no real experience of gunters apart from two dinghy's i had rigged that way.

If your sailing around Britain on anything like a deadline there will be a fair amount of windward work and unless you are planning to drop mast regularly I would go bermudan every time.