Everything about Ketch totally explained
A
ketch is a
sailing craft with two
masts: a main mast, and a shorter
mizzen mast abaft (rearward of) the main mast. Both masts are rigged mainly
fore-and-aft. From one to three
jibs may be carried forward of the main mast when going to
windward. If a ketch isn't rigged for jibs it's called a
cat ketch, sometimes called a
periauger. On older, larger ketches the main mast may in addition carry one or more
square rigged
topsails. A ketch may also carry
extra sails, see below.
The lowest fore-and-aft sail on the main mast is called the
mainsail, while that on the mizzen is called the
mizzen sail. These may be any type of fore-and-aft sail, in any combination. The Scots Zulu, for example, had a dipping lug main with a standing lug mizzen.
The ketch is popular among long distance cruisers as the additional sail allows for a better balance, and a smaller more easily handled mainsail for the same overall sail area. It also allows sailing on mizzen and jib only without introducing excessive lee helm, and in an emergency can be quite well steered without use of the rudder. The ketch is a popular rig in northern European waters where sudden increases in wind strength sometimes requires a rapid reefing: the mainsail can be dropped, reducing sail and leaving a balanced sail-plan with jib and mizzen set.
Running before the wind or reaching across the wind, a ketch may carry
extra sails such as a
spinnaker on the main mast, and a
spinnaker or (mizzen
staysail) on the mizzen mast.
Similar rigs
The ketch rig is often confused with a
yawl. The difference is that the ketch has her mizzen mast forward of the
rudder post or
waterline thus having more sail area, which contributes significant forward propulsion, whereas the mizzen on a yawl is aft of the rudder post and is used primarily to balance the sail plan (and as a riding sail while at anchor). This is often a matter of intent rather than a physical difference.
The ketch rig can be distinguished from the similar two masted
schooner rig by the shorter aftermost mast on the ketch. A schooner has the shorter mast forward. In the case where both masts are approximately the same height, the rig with the larger sail forward is usually called a ketch, while the rig with the larger sail aft is a schooner.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Ketch'.
|
External Link Exchanges
Do you know how hard it is to get a link from a large encyclopaedia? Well we're different and will prove it. To get a link from us just add the following HTML to your site on a relevant page:
<a href="http://ketch.totallyexplained.com">Ketch Totally Explained</a>
Then simply click through this link from your web page. Our crawlers will verify your link, extract the title of your web page and instantly add a link back to it. If you like you can remove the words Totally Explained and embed the link in article text.
As long as your link remains in place, we'll keep our link to you right here. Please play fair - our crawlers are watching. Your site must be closely related to this one's topic. Any kind of spamming, dubious practises or removing the link will result in your link from us being dropped and, potentially, your whole site being banned. |
