How to choose your rig

Rigging refers to all the masts, ropes, cables and other elements that support and maneuver a boat's sails.

Among the various existing rigs, there are several categories which we will briefly review:

Rigging categories on sailboats vary widely, depending on the configuration of masts, sails, and specific applications (cruising, racing, work, etc.). Here's an overview of the main rigging categories:

• Monomast rigs 

  • Sloop: The most common sloop for modern cruising. A single mast with a mainsail and headsail (usually a jib or genoa). Simple to handle, offering a good compromise between performance and simplicity.

  • Cutter : Similar to a sloop, but with an additional forestay for a smaller headsail (staysail) in addition to the genoa or jib. Allows better sail distribution in various wind conditions.

  • Sloop Cat: A sloop with a headsail that can be hoisted in front of the main mast, often used for small boats or dinghies.

• Multi-mast rigs

  • Ketch : Two masts, with the aft mast (mizzen) shorter than the main mast. Useful for cruising, allowing better sail distribution, easier maneuvering and sail reduction.

  • Yawl : Similar to the ketch, but with the aft mast further aft of the cockpit. The mizzen is often smaller and used for balance rather than main propulsion.

  • Schooner: The aft mast is equal to or larger than the forward mast. Allows large sail area with many configuration options. Historically used for trading and fishing.

  • Brigantine : Two masts, with the aft mast (mainmast) carrying square sails and the foremast (foremast) carrying gaff sails. Very rare today.

• Specialized or Modern Rigging

  • Catboat: A single mast far forward in the boat, with a single mainsail. Very easy to handle, ideal for small pleasure sailboats.

  • Wishbone rig: Uses a wishbone (or curved boom) instead of a traditional boom, reducing drag and improving upwind performance.

  • Furling rig: Uses systems to furl sails (mainsail or headsail) for reefing or lowering, facilitating use and safety on board.

  • Junk Rig: A sail with horizontal panels held in place by battens, with a simple and effective adjustment system. Very popular for reasons of simplicity and safety.

  • Wing Sail: Used for racing or high-performance boats, this rig uses rigid wings instead of flexible sails for maximum aerodynamic efficiency.

Each rig category has its own advantages in terms of performance, handling, complexity and cost. The choice will depend on the yacht's intended use (regatta, long-distance cruising, coastal sailing), local sailing conditions, and the sailor's personal preferences.

This is an Andaman Sails unit, sloop-rigged with a gennaker.
Conventional standing rigging

The overwhelming majority of modern cruising yachts are sloop-rigged, i.e. with a single mast, mainsail and headsail. This type of rig combines simplicity, efficiency and habitability.

Whatever category you choose, you'll find two types of rig within it: the first supports the sails, the second allows them to be maneuvered. These are known as standing and running rigging.

• Le Dormant :

   

  This is what holds the mast in place, with cables such as the shrouds, forestay and backstay hardly moving once installed. They're there to ensure that everything stays in place, even in difficult conditions. They are distinguished by their two fixed ends. The rigging supports the sails, in the strictest sense of the term, and forms the structure on which the sails are laid.

   

  • Materials :

    • Monotoron stainless steel: Used for classic rigs, offering a good price/lifetime ratio but less rigidity and greater weight.

    • Textiles such as Dyneema or Spectra : For "performance" rigs, these materials provide weight and rigidity gains, improving performance but at a higher cost with a shorter lifespan requiring more regular maintenance.

• Le Courant :

   

  In contrast, running rigging includes all the ropes and blocks you actively use to adjust the sails to the wind. Halyards allow you to hoist or lower the sails, sheets to steer them, and other ropes like reefing lines to adapt the sail's surface. It's how you react to the moment, optimize your run or simply enjoy the ride. This rig has one fixed end and one movable end.

   

  • Key elements :

    • Halyard: For hoisting and lowering sails.

    • Sheeting: For steering the sails.

    • Bosse de Ris: To reduce the sail area.

    • Cunningham, Outhaul: Adjust sail shape and profile.

Analogy:

If the mast is the backbone of your sail, then the standing rigging is the tendons, and the current is the muscles. You can bandage your muscles, but don't break a tendon, especially not a bone...

How to choose your standing rigging?

The choice of standing rigging is limited to the materials used.

• Classic Rigging :

  • Materials: Aluminium mast and boom, stainless steel monotor shrouds.

  • Advantage: Good price/lifetime ratio.

  • Disadvantage: Less rigid and heavier.

• Performance" rig :

  • Materials: Carbon mast, textile shrouds in Dyneema or Spectra.

  • Advantages: Reduced weight (especially in the tops), increased rigidity for better performance, less pitching.

  • Disadvantage: High cost, short service life, requires more regular maintenance.

Advice from Andaman Sail:

• For a long-haul configuration, a standard standing rigging is recommended for its durability and low maintenance requirements.

• For a regatta unit, a "performance" rig with the latest remote tension display technology can offer highly promising optimized boat control.