| Once you know exactly how, where and when you | | | | want at least a cutter rig for ocean passages, with the |
| will use your dream boat, the next question to answer | | | | ketch and yawl being that much better. |
| is "what are the characteristics of a boat best suited | | | | Keels are the next consideration with two primary |
| for how I will sail the boat?" I believe this question is | | | | questions—how deep and what kind. Deep keels |
| best answered across five dimensions: Rig type, sail | | | | allow for more stability (less heel) and greater angles |
| plan, keel type, interior accommodations and overall hull | | | | to weather (into the wind), but limit the places you can |
| design. Many great books are available to discuss | | | | safely sail without running aground. For me, the depth |
| these considerations in any level of detail you would | | | | question is easy—racers should opt for the |
| like. Here is a quick overview. | | | | deepest keel practical for their sailing area, the |
| Rig type and sail plan go hand-in-hand. Typically, there | | | | difference on windward legs can be dramatic. I would |
| is a trade off between ease of sail handling and | | | | recommend deep keels to anyone else who spends a |
| safety/flexibility. For example, a cat rigged boat with | | | | lot of time beating to windward (whoever that may |
| one large mainsail and no headsail (think Laser) is very | | | | be). For everyone else, the shallower the |
| easy to handle by one person, since there is only one | | | | better—more cruising grounds, more safe |
| sail. If you are day sailing in a small lake or close to | | | | anchorages and less chance of hitting something as |
| shore where you can take cover if things heat up, this | | | | you go. As for type, if you are doing offshore |
| is a great rig—simple, easy to handle, quick to set | | | | passages or even long coastal passages, I |
| up. However, it is not a very flexible design, since the | | | | recommend a full keel—the boat tracks better |
| sail can't be reefed in big blows. A standard Marconi | | | | and gets much better "holding" than a shallow keel. |
| sloop is one step above in flexibility since it adds a | | | | Alternatively, if you do a lot of close quarters |
| second (head) sail that can be changed in size to | | | | maneuvering, I would NOT get a full keel and instead |
| accommodate wind velocity changes. In addition, these | | | | opt for the fin keel. |
| rigs today almost invariably offer roller-furling of at | | | | Interior accommodations range from practically nothing |
| least the headsail, if not both sails, making on-the-fly | | | | in race shells, to full blown luxury (microwave ovens, |
| adjustments simple and easy. This is certainly a rig with | | | | flat panel TV's, DVD players). The simple rule is to |
| enough flexibility for stronger wind. | | | | match the sailing type to the interior type. My guess is |
| The tradeoff is that you have now added a second | | | | for all but the hard core racer, budget will dictate here |
| sail to handle, change, and furl. Moreover, the sloop is | | | | (more on this in Part III). |
| still pretty limited in terms of the changes you can | | | | Finally, consider the overall hull type. I examine two |
| make to sail plans. The cutter rig is the next step up in | | | | dimensions: SA/D (sail area to displacement ratio) for |
| flexibility with 2 headsails and typically a much smaller | | | | overall speed estimate and D/L (displacement to length |
| mainsail. This configuration allows for significantly | | | | ratio) for overall stability and maneuverability. Neither is |
| greater variations in sail configuration and a much | | | | a perfect measure and manufacturers have a |
| wider spectrum on wind ranges within which the boat | | | | tendency to fudge the numbers (but that is a different |
| can comfortably be sailed. The tradeoff is a third sail | | | | article), but they are a good general reference point. |
| to manage. Finally, the double-masted | | | | In summary, the first step in buying a sailboat that will |
| designs—ketchs and yawls—provide the | | | | make you happy is to know exactly and in great detail |
| greatest level of flexibility and therefore the greatest | | | | how you will use the boat. The second step is to |
| range of wind velocities to comfortably sail through. | | | | identify the characteristics of a boat that will best |
| The obvious disadvantage is complication—2 | | | | match your usage and start looking for boats with |
| masts, 4-6 sails. For my money, the sloop wins for | | | | those characteristics. |
| Bay, Great Lakes and Coastal sailing, while I would | | | | |