Preview: Virtues of a Yawl Rig

32 Responses So Far to “Virtues of a Yawl Rig”

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  Peter Strock says:

  I have helped deliver big sloops from Bermuda to the Cape and raced H-12 1/2s. I also have single handed or with small children cruised Concordias. This video gives power to L.F.H.’s “Simplicity afloat…” remark. Somehow it catches the beauty and power of good design decisions and sensible seamanship. The mizzen and jigger example and boat performance say it all. . In an era of hard charging how-much- will- the- rig- take mentality one is reminded of the admonition: if you consider the need to reef you are already late with the decision.

  This video is a spectacular example of the beauty and stress clearing benefits of a well balanced boat, skipper, and an elegant design, all with a harmony of purpose.

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  Conbert Benneck says:

  I had a Bolger MICRO, when I down-sized to get away from hords of powerboaters on the Connecticut coast – which was a cat yawl – and was amazed at its sailing capabilities.

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  Wolfgang Doughty says:

  Neat

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    Steve Marks says:

    Nice vid, nice yacht thanks 🙏

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  Eric Hansor says:

  Enjoyed the video. I have a Bounty2 yawl
  and like where the mizzen sheet is cleated.
  Got me thinking about where to move mine.

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  Christian Nadeau says:

  Comparie to a ketch how does it behave?

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  Douglas Henschen says:

  I sailed on Saphedra with Queene many, many years ago and I hope she still has her here in 2020. Queene taught me a lot about sailing and great wooden boats. I’m still on a glass sloop, for now, but I remember well and still dream. — Doug Henschen

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  Nate Rooks says:

  Hi William – the video is still there and is playing for us.

  Perhaps try a different browser – hope you can view it soon.

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  Randall Colker says:

  Great, very instructive video. Boats don’t get much prettier than the Concordia yawl. I also found the comments useful. I sometimes have trouble coming about in my canoe yawl when it is in the jib and jigger configuration. I can’t wait to try Gordon Talley’s solution.
  Could someone please address; is it the same to “hove-to” in a yawl?

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  Dogan Ozut says:

  I am building francois Vivier’s Jewell plan of a 6 meter yawl.Hopefully to be launched at the end of may 2019.I had couple of sailing and motor yatches before between 9-16 meters but not a yawl! If you can provide me how to profoundly sail a yawl information İ will be very happy.Thanks

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  Donald Bland says:

  Really nice vide9o folks! Had a 43′ ketch 35yrs back, mast step is the mani difference???

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  Captain Nemo says:

  Beautiful, and I think the point is that the Yawl rig provides a few more options. (I seem to recall that Capt. Slocum’s boat was a yawl – am I correct?) About the only “not completely positive” comment I can make is that the sailing jargon is a tad much in some places for a non-sailor to follow, and – for me at least – it would be neat if the video could be expanded a bit and the different concepts explored a little. Other than that I think that were i ever fortunate enough to afford a nice boat like this, I’d want to look closely at a yawl, for the reasons explained here.

  Thanks for another great video
  Greg

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  Charles Jackson says:

  Tried a home made mizzen hanked on the back stay of my 32 foot sloop, wonderful !… dropped the main, she was perfectly balanced with a neutral helm ! Really simple. (sail needs a hollow leach).

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  R. Gordon Talley says:

  Sooo serene! The yawl is a wonderful rig and Queene an etherial sailor. Thank you for this video.
  Aida has some heft, so she may never have necessitated putting into play the yawl rig’s unique capabilities in coming about. My lightweight Elver canoe yawl, on the other hand, has about 4″ under the keel and nearly 4′ of freeboard. The first summer, I was constantly getting in irons while tacking. Just couldn’t get the bow through the wind. Over that winter I happened to be reading about manoeuvering a full-rigged ship. They would loosen the headsails to avoid pushing filled sails against the wind and to move the center of effort and the boat’s pivot point sternward. The next year, I began to pop the jib just as I put the helm to lee. The yawl’s mizzen at the back spreads the sail plan enough to make the shift of effort dramatic. The bow swings easily across. And, if it’s really blowing, I can always back the mizzen too.
  Also, if you missed it, see Gubby William’s blog (“bank-breaker”) for use of the mizzen while mooring.

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  Daniel DeZwarte says:

  Amen to the comments above! I, too, sail a yawl. 34 feet of my own building. Here in south Florida, sailing with jib & jigger near the Gulf Stream and tailing a fishing line; it does not get any better on the water. It is a shame that the Yawl rig fell out of favor. Daniel

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  Thomas Ietswaart says:

  Great video, and a lovely boat. Nice to see that the tricks to use the mizzen for are similar on Saphedra and my half-sized 22′ Drascombe yawl. I sail the shallows around the Friesian islands in Holland, often solo, and my mizzen is my invisible crew member, giving me lots of control while hoisting or reefing the main, anchoring, or just fetching a cup of coffee.
  Many thanks, makes me long for the spring ….

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    David Green says:

    “my mizzen is my invisible crew member” That’s a really great way of saying it!

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  Charles Zimmermann says:

  A wonderful video. I completely agree with Queene, there are times when you need to have the boat under control, without too much sail area up, and without asking too much in terms of sail handling skill. This yawl makes it all possible – and this is a beautiful boat. Balance is very important in rough weather, on any boat, even a sloop, and there is an art to knowing exactly how to take the weather helm off without having the slightest risk of lee helm. An excellent demonstration. Many thanks.

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  GARY wheeler says:

  Great video, hit all the good stuff. I have had sloops, ketches and a yawl and I must say the Yawl was the easiest and most enjoyable to sail in most conditions- — gary

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  Carol Rice says:

  And one more advantage – it’s a great way to stabilize the boat at anchor if the wind is up. I cruised once on a yawl in Maine (or boat is a sloop) and we never lowered the mizzen. It was awesome.

  And one last thing – the boat had a wheel instead of a tiller. We could lock the wheel and use the mizzen as an autopilot – just by adjusting the sheet.

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  Douglas Semivan says:

  Very beautiful, it’s the dead of winter in Michigan so any sailing video is a tonic – but this one especially.

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    Eric Blake says:

    I must say Douglas, with the winter winds and sub zero temps outside, it always makes me smile to revisit the incredible boats and people passionate about them we get a chance to meet at Off Center Harbor. I am glad you enjoyed it.
    Best, Eric

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  Fred Wise says:

  Very nice little film. How much Good Fortune can one person have ??
  “Saphedra” may be a tad longer than 46′. She and her predecessor “Sea Flower”
  are among my favorites. Hope “Sea Flower” found a good home as she had fallen on
  hard times around 10 years ago. Cheers……..

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  Brian Crow says:

  Nice video! Aida is a beautiful, well maintained yawl and it was a pleasure to see her sailing.
  I have a 32′ cutter, but sailed for eight years aboard a 54′ OD S&S yawl on SF Bay and coastal; we often used just a small jib and “jigger” in the “Slot” especially with a small crew. Mostly, I remember doing so when we would cook Thanksgiving dinner aboard (or Christmas) while sailing, and didn’t want too much heeling to happen with the oven crammed with bird…We also had a mizzen spinnaker that was a handful and a pleasure to fly, requiring its own sheet trimmer as we flew down wind.
  I’m surprised, however, that the most useful functions of the mizzen were not mentioned; it provides a place out of the hurly-burly action of the cockpit to hang out, and is excellent for leaning on while drinking a beer….;)

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  David Tew says:

  Thanks! Roy Downs makes nice sails.

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  Freddie Estremera says:

  I love my Tartan 27 Yawl setup! It performs well in all settings like mentioned here…Many like to complain and say the mizzen is just another sail to set which equals more work/money…but it’s actually quite simple and fun…and once you have a yawl, it’s hard to go back to anything else…

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  Bruce Robbins says:

  I’ve always felt that that the yawl is much more beautiful to watch under sail than a sloop. Great video!

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  Anne Bray says:

  Great video Queene! I’ll always remember your ‘angel with wings’ comment. Thanks for the AIDA moments.

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  Geoff Kerr says:

  I will never leave home without a mizzen!

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  Michael McClure says:

  Aha, so that’s why the Canoe Yawl was Capt. Nat G Herreshof’s favorite sailboat!

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  Richard Williamson says:

  Great video. I own a 36′ Winslow yawl. Video is certainly correct on advantages of a yawl. Jib and jigger is the way to go with an inexperienced or timid crew. Will not get much power going to weather with much chop but ease off the the wind a bit and things are fine. Beautiful boat, knowledgable captain.

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  Doug Wood says:

  I’ve never sailed a yawl rig, but have always wanted to give it a go. After watching this, I now REALLY want to. Thanks!