How to Sail a Ketch
A ketch is a two-masted sailing vessel that has a second mast behind (aft of) the rudder post, making the fine-tuning of the boat more precise and flexible. Sailing a ketch is a bit different than sailing single masted sloops, or even yawls, so it's important to follow some steps to sail the boat correctly.
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Instructions
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Learn the rig of your ketch, particularly the mizzen mast. The mizzen mast's rig (sloop or gaff, for example) should be the same as the main mast rig. Still, since the ketch's mizzen is aft of the rudder post you need to know how to set the various sails, especially less familiar sails such as a mizzen staysail.
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Play with the sailset of the mizzen mast to achieve a comfortable balance on your boat. Since each boat responds slightly differently to the effects of a mizzen mast you should try trimming and easing the mizzen under various weather conditions and with full main in order to ease or, in the more rare case, increase your weather helm.
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3
Furl your mizzen mast sails when your ketch is running in front of the wind (downwind), since the mizzen sail is more likely to grab wind out of the mainsail than provide any extra downwind propulsion.
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4
Bring your mizzen sail all the way in to the centerline on close reaches. Ease the sail if you find that it causes excessive weather helm. As the wind approaches high speeds (in excess of 20 knots, for example), consider bringing down the main and reefing the ketch's mizzen sail for a more comfortable and safe ride.
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Try to use the mizzen mast and the other two sails to steer the boat. You'll find that with experience, intelligent, minor sailset changes with the mizzen can alter the boat's course without upsetting the balance you've achieved.
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Tips & Warnings
If your vessel is run aground, the ketch's sail design allows the foresail to spin around allowing you to re-sheet the forward sail and dislodge your craft.
When sailing in strong winds or gusty conditions, have the end of your double-ended sail close to let it go to reduce wind pressure if you encounter a strong gust.
The ketch rig will sail directly downwind with more stability than a sloop rigged vessel.
Always wear a flotation device. Remember safety first.
Sail with a partner. There is safety in numbers. Check weather conditions periodically.
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Comments
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A number of items unclear and wrong with this post, the definition of a ketch, re-sheeting a foresail, I'm not sure how this is done? a double ended sail not sure what that is?
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stack
Oct 08, 2008
A ketch is commonly defined as having the mizzen mast placed ahead of the rudder post. A sailing vessel with the mizzen mast placed aft of the rudder post is normally referred to as a yawl. -
stack
Oct 08, 2008
A ketch is commonly defined as having the mizzen mast placed ahead of the rudder post. A sailing vessel with the mizzen mast placed aft of the rudder post is normally referred to as a yawl.
