What is the difference between sloops, cutters, schooners, and ketches?
People always ask this. Well here it is.
- A sloop rig has 1 mast, with a jib and mainsail.
- A cutter is a sloop with 2 foresails(jib, staysail) and a mainsail.
- A ketch has 2 masts. It has a foresail,main and missin. It could have a staysail, if it is a cutter ketch.
- A yawl has 2 masts, one behind the rudder post. The jigger on the 2nd mast is a control sail, not normally used for upwind power.
- A schooner has 2 masts, the 2nd mast is taller. It may also have additional masts, up to 7. Normal configuration consists of jib, staysail, foresail and main. You can add topsail, and/or yankee jib and fisherman sail.
Others include a dhow, junk, and catamaran and trimaran.
Larger includes ships, barks, barkentine, brig,brigantine, and sloop of war.