Why CUTTER rigged sailboats are the BEST! [Q&A]

[@henrystraley7384]

I am an 80-year-old man who gets seasick when the boat is on the hard. I enjoy watching others sail via video. I thoroughly enjoy your videos as you are not trying to prove you are better. You come across as average humans who have found what they enjoy and have no problems with sharing it. Thank you.

[@richames3608]

Love the technical discussions. As a non sailor, I'm learning a lot. Whatever you do, don't dumb it down. Language, terms, whatever. Challenge people to learn. Great videos!

[@jamieminton172]

I am an ol sailor and I agree. Keep the skills and culture alive.

[@Purlee100]

When I was learning to sail, some 45 years ago, I too asked, "When should you reef''? My instructor, a very wise lady, told me, "The first time you think you should''. I have followed that advice all my sailing life, and it has never let me down!

[@stevenr8606]

... if you just thought about reefing, you should have reef already.

[@Purlee100]

@@stevenr8606 No, that is faulty logic. To reef one needs to think about it, so at the point at which it seems to be a good idea, you do it! That does not mean that you wait until a reef becomes necessary, it means you are staying an hour ahead of your boat and reefing accordingly.

[@stevenr8606]

⬆️ your logic has no merit

[@TheInsultInvestor]

@@stevenr8606 your l1fe has no meaning

[@davidknowles7655]

Brilliant episode, nothing better to hear and see passion in others about what they love doing.

[@xhf8yxhf8y9]

This was a VERY informative... the sail management was great.

[@elvismikel2271]

Adam, you may be a geek, but your my kind of geek. Keep it up; love it!

[@josephclayton1835]

I love listening to the technology details! There are more engineers watching than you think! Funny how an engineer can pick out another one immediately.

[@johnq.public2621]

Don't forget those damned technicians!

[@Sommers234]

Terrific, terrific. The drive is more consistent. I love listening to the two of you talk sailing!

[@somadevo]

Good job skipper and mate...the more you know the more you are capable of learning which has no limits....'love ya...Highest Blessings

[@mikebarron5805]

As always, I'm smiling from notification to ending credits. 😁 As someone noted before, you 2 have become an addiction.

[@dougwatson821]

Another fantastic educational episode to teach all of us wannabee sailors more and more. Keep them coming! Between Adam's immense sailing knowledge and Khiara's infectious laugh and smile, I can't think of a better way to learn...

[@arevjohnkarabetyan9239]

Wow, that is one of the best q&a sessions on sailing I've seen! Well done & thank youn

[@thomasboldt4669]

Prattle away! One of your best sessions. Much enjoyed. Thank you.

[@RichardSwinton]

love learning. Adam can explain things in such a way even a rookie like me can understand. More learning please. Thank u

[@topc9858]

Khiara good job not bursting in to laughter or going to sleep ;).

[@scubaseas1]

Good job on the esplaining CLR/CE without a single vector drawn. Helps that Millie is a heavy beast too. In cruising boats heavy is good!

[@stevenwalker232]

I loved the technical discussions! Well done!

[@nonaparker564]

You are both so knowledgeable! Would always feel safe on a sail anywhere in the world with you two !!

[@larrymacaluso9051]

Well done you two, always enjoy the Q&A sessions, a great deal of knowledge is shared. Thanks for sharing. Fair winds and safe travels.

[@thepigwillfly5869]

I always enjoy Adam's technical answers.....great info!!

[@WillN2Go1]

This is one of the best sailing discussion videos ever, anywhere. I wanted to learn a bit more about my cutter rigged Hunter. (I just lashed the cutter stay to a shroud. (The first owner had it installed for a storm sail). I have to sell my boat, but now I'd just like to buy a stay sail and head over the horizon. Reefing. As a rookie I was out on a 28' charter in 15 knot winds with gusts. I was annoyed by the leaning, so I thought I'd practice taking a reef. The boat went back to vertical and I was going the same speed. (This can't be the case, but it wasn't much of a change.) I'd learned the ideas of 'if you think about it, take a reef,' and 'always reef at dusk' Both of which are predicated on safety, but also taking a reef doesn't slow you down so much that the negatives outweigh the comfort and safety. (Since then I've gained a lot of experience reefing in the middle of the night on other peoples' boats, even tying a parted third reef in 33 knot winds at the end of the boom on top of the dodger. At the time I thought, 'would make a great video, but wasn't at all dangerous.' Clipped in...) My boat has in mast furling so I have infinite reefing points. I did think I should make some markings on the out haul sheet (at the clutch) so I have a general idea of three reefing points.

[@gregvanderboom5011]

Congratulations on getting new sails! I look forward to seeing them in action!

[@michaelvanwinkle7919]

I appreciate your extensive coverage of reefing. Many inland sailors do very little reefing until you get on very large lakes in storm susceptible waters.

[@paulsj9245]

Gotcha, just short of a five hour Q&A! I'm thrilled to see my Q in your Q&A, and fascinated by your enthusiastic and knowledgeable description of the cutter rig effects! Lots of reading to follow, but the last part about the CE reminds me of the effect of torque opposed to horsepower in a diesel engine car... Thanks a lot!! Also, happy to see you head over heels in love with your new sails! Have fun with them!!

[@StephenJayGoodman]

Your videos are now much more valuable to me. Just bought a 1987 Tayana 42. Woohoo!! May we fender up some day.

[@ddyck8389]

Excellent q&a as expected. Keep up the excellent job and thanks for keeping it fun!

[@garyfroeschner2523]

Always learn a lot from your videos.

[@markhoene9984]

WOW, Arvel was the one who taught ME to sail. We both owed Ranger 23's and he wanted to check mine out. We had a lot of good times together sailing around Seattle.

[@AlienX69]

10+ on this one guys, so well done and all the technical questions answered superbly. Magnificent !!! Inner stay good for hankin on a storm jib too !!! Fair Winds and Calm Seas Guys !!

[@Gottenhimfella]

Agreed, and you're right to refer to it as the "inner" forestay. A babystay (which Adam referred to several times, incorrectly I think) is generally considered to be solely for stabilising the mast, usually on racing rigs with two or more pairs of spreaders. In a two-spreader rig there would be an inner forestay from around the upper spreader level, and a babystay from the lower. A "Solent" stay is a different beast again, from well above the top set of spreaders, for running a near-full-size furling headsail as an alternative to a forestaysail (also furling) .

[@Gottenhimfella]

I meant to say that you almost never would hank a sail to a baby stay. They're not usually sized for it (stays which will run hanks have to be bigger, firstly because of wear, because of side, or "off-axis" loads on the terminals, and because the "snigging" nature of the load increases the tension beyond what an ordinary stay will experience.

[@kevinmacdonald9849]

I agree with using a winch to furl the headsail. It's impossible to do by hand in heavy wind. You two are doing a great job and I enjoy your videos. Glad you got the shaft falling off problem solved. Way to stick with it. Sheer determination always wins.

[@arbleizbzh7672]

Best point of sail to douse/furl the jib isn't head to wind. It's on a broad reach. Head to wind, the jib will be flogging. And with good wind, in any other point of sail than broad reach or a run, there will be too much pressure on the sail for furling or dousing. I'd argue that in ocean passage, it might save some time and effort (to a slight loss of windward positioning) to just point to leeward for a minute while furling/dousing the head sails. Thanks for a great video, I'm loving the technical discussion, and thanks for the Gentry reference!!!

[@edkleinstuber2119]

Still my #1 channel. Always great to see you both

[@michaelvanwinkle7919]

Very Good answers to the questions and use of Expert John Kertschner's explanations.

[@annafraley5388]

W O W ... We must have missed the video, GREAT 👍 So Glad we did 😁 It’s a great time to find a “Missed Video” while you are on a long passage across the Atlantic.!! ✅

[@calcifer1402]

On all your q&A's you seem to have some great books on sailing go you go though them in a video or put together a reading list on your website? 😊 👍

[@mickeyfactory]

Awesome info and great questions. Thanks for taking me along.

[@jimmusson]

Such a long way from Puerto Rico and the propeller incidents. You are now seasoned sailors !

[@Big.Ron1]

Thank you for the explanation. What a surprise. As I said in the question I am not a sailor, never been on a sail boat (I was on aircraft carriers 3 times in the late 70s though 🙂) so my dumb questions don't get answered by the community very often. I am getting educated slowly but surely even if it is "book" learning and not practical learning. Thank you again and be safe.👍👍

[@stevelambert7496]

No such thing as a dumb question if you learn something

[@adamlancaster2]

Thanks for sharing, can't wait to see the new sails!

[@jefferyjeffery1707]

Oooo....!!! I'm excited to hear this one about cutters!!!! As I'm planning my next boat. My last one was a 62' ketch rig. That we built into Seattle, and I sailed for over 10 years. As one of the top charter yachts, in the USVI in the winter...New England or the Med, for the suumer. Sooo...I've done many deliveries in the deep ocean world. Been to Bermuda so many times.. That was a ketch rigged vessel. Which.... As a ketch rig, I never had to reef. Because if it was that windy. I just left the main down.. And just ran the fore sails, and mizzen. With a heavy genoa, on roller furling. To roll up as needed. All run from the main cockpit. But then... If the wind was heavy....I wouldn't have to use the staysail. Just keep rolling in the genoa, as the wind keeps rising. And with a full fin keel....she just drove right thru the waves. My vessel was designed for blue water. I'm building my next boat. And want to hear, why cutters are such a hot item, now!! When I loved the ketch. It gives SOOO many options. And combinations of sail. Where down wind. I'd use a spinnaker and mizzen stay sail....without poles. As I'd swing the main, and mizzen booms full out. With a snatch block at the end of each. The main boom for the head spinnaker....the mizzen boom, for the mizzen spinnaker. Sooo....getting ready to listen, during my dinnertime!! And by the way....you guys are quite, fun!!😍 Jeffery ⚘

[@joshcarlisle6792]

Thanks for sharing :) and looking forward to seeing the new sails!

[@TwoGetLost]

So true, we love our cutter rig!

[@kylen2288]

Mate totally get the dump and furl method on these large Genoa’s , my 130% powered up is almost impossible to furl via hand in pressure. One thing we have on our inner stay which may helps prevent chaff and ease of Genoa sheet when tacking is a length of pvc pipe slotted and attached to the inner stay along with one continuous sheet line to the Genoa reducing the extra sheet knot. My Ericson 39b is still challenging to tack but it’s these little subtle changes that help. Lovin your work.

[@SailingPuffin]

Love your Q and A times!

[@peterwalker5413]

I was waiting for Khiara’s eyes to glaze over while you were explaining the sails or when you cutting back from one of the many B-rolls to be find her asleep. Very informative but at a point I am lost. Might have something to do with never have sailed. I sail vicariously through the two of you. :)

[@TheHodgelings]

What do you think about a Ketch for a cruising couple/ family?

[@stevenr8606]

⬆️ Ketch = NO WEATHER HELM + spare mast

[@tinyb69]

@@stevenr8606 A Ketch's forestay, is attached to the top of the main mast. If you loose your Main, you've also lost your Mizzen. Perhaps you're thinking of a Yawl?

[@timevans8223]

@@tinyb69 not always true. Some ketches use a triatic. The good ones dont. We love our ketch. Quicker off the wind than the same hull rigged as a sloop. They lose out up wind in light conditions. We have so many sail options

[@kwwells9900]

Great discussion's enjoyed it , very good , right up my alley,

[@davemckidd6165]

You two are definitely becoming an addiction! Learning so much and smiling along the way!! Just one observation if I may, Khiara you need to lighten up and quit being so serious.... nah I can't finish that. You both are awesome, Please keep it up and Khiara, your smile is so infectious and that is a good thing!! Hope to run into you guys sometime.

[@davidd3377]

Adam that was one hell of an explanation... Too bad I didn’t understand a word 😆

[@thomasbjor2332]

Wow, so cool you answered my question😱😊😊❤ Thanks for the answer and fair winds guys, your videos keeps me going while I save for a vessel of my own😊

[@jackdellinger7072]

As always. Well done and very informative, thanks.

[@howardwhite9773]

Brilliant Q&A. Gr8 content.

[@calmauric8218]

I always furl my headsail under pressure... gets a nice tight wrap and i get good control. Ive got a 42ft cutter.

[@westmc45]

I have a Tayana 47 with back stays and I use them all the time at anchor they are good for holing up my sunshade while offshore.

[@PPKFilms]

Makes sense on the chaffing. On the furling the Genoa, just be careful at the end... Scariest experience on a sailboat is an exploded furler in 25 knts gusts less than a mile to the coast. We'd mesed up and basically used the winch to finish furling and didn't realize that we were already at the end of the line.

[@bowlbboy]

Always smile seeing you two. Hope to see you out on the water someday.

[@allornothing7957]

Awsome thanks guys! Can't wait to see the new sails! (Will you include a cost?)

[@sailingkirralana]

This is fantastic. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. You guys are awesome.

[@gregorysprimont550]

Great Q&A well done.

[@stuc322]

Hahaa "Ginning around the islands"... so Australian. Love it. For those not in the know, it doesn't refer to drinking gin

[@noahdinsfriend5843]

Fuckin loved your technical explanation of the physics of a cutter rig, I try talking to my friends about the different forces involved with sailing and it blows right past them😂

[@airlegs]

Thx for all of the info. Looking forward to see your destination for hurricane season. Lots of love.

[@TheAustinfuller]

Adam you alre know this but you’re one lucky fella !

[@vernholmes7940]

Great information with a smile!

[@sepharad58]

Answer to the caption begins at 5:04

[@robertfreeman2322]

For the record: I have always furled my headsail while under tension and have never turned into the wind. I do it exactly like you described and also for the record I never knew there was another way you were supposed to do it. I have a 45 ft steel ketch and a monster 150 for a headsail. :)

[@arbleizbzh7672]

Head to wind for raising/dousing Main. But Broad Reach for raising/dousing headsails (least amount of pressure on the headsails - no flogging).

[@snakeplisken4278]

My question is whether I should convert my staysail to a furler or not? I like the idea of being able to swop it for a storm jib, but never had to (yet) and perhaps it would be too dangerous on the foredeck by then anyway? Was able to handle the boat in 40 knots with just double-reefed main so far.

[@timevans8223]

We prefer the solent rig over a cutter rig. Far more efficient on trade wind routes. We can pole both sails out down wind. When reaching we dont reef the genoa, we simply drop to the working headsail. The working headsail is also on a furler so all done from the cockpit.

[@kenshores9900]

Interesting description of the cutter rig. (Jib sail with a Genoa. Like you said was a great explanation why you use the wench. You have self tailing wenches which are easier. You didn’t mention anything about getting your fingers caught. You don’t usually wear sailing gloves do you?

[@ricksimpson1543]

Agree with your evaluation of cat vs mono. Can see an advantage to having a cat if children are in the mix.

[@akjhome]

Before you are even gifted a catamaran, I hope you will test drive! I was working toward a catamaran boat, but once I got to charter one for a week, I really did not like sailing the box. That surprised me. To each her own, of course.

[@jamesc264]

Am thinking about retiring onto a sailboat and blue water cruising....Maybe an Amel 60

[@jonnorousseau3096]

I don't know if the video title is clickbait, but it worked, I haven't watched a second....... And my immediate knee jerk was "Harry Ballbags, bollocks, must comment now' 🤣 Firstly the term cutter is too loosely used, two headsails does not = a cutter, or a solent for that matter. A true cutter has the inner stay bearing the spar load and the masthead stay is not load bearing and terminates on a bowsprit, the inner stay goes to the stem and bears the rig load. The big downside to "cutters" is the requirement of either running backstays (rig breakers if you accidentally gybe) or the cow catcher diamond stay arrangement you've got, all added standing rigging and shite to deal with. If you can sail your boat efficiently in all conditions then its the perfect rig setup, make no mistake I am a massive fan of two headsail options but would far rather go solent style which requires no additional standing rigging and I'd have (do have) a removable inner stay. It also depends heavily on what rig you have as to whether cutter rigging is even possible (fractional rig) so basically you have to work within the parameters of what you have. Case in point, I have a steel hard chine Van De Stadt 34' 7/8 fractional single spreader with adjustable backstay, twin groove furlex, solent style removable dyneema baby stay and a 400mm stainless sprit with a masthead rigged carver continuous furling reaching spinnaker. I can fly all 3 (storm jib, genoa and furlung gennaker, or two identical genoas on the furler poled out wing on wing or doubled up on a tack, either or,storm jib and gennaker. Options for beating, heaving to, reaching, running; all vases covered, no additional standung rigging, extra furler, stay etc etc. I also don't have to have a high cut smaller yankee type genoa to clear the inner stay.

[@deanmonyo6212]

Great video! What type of performance can I expect from a cutter rig with winds between 5-8 knots? I'm thinking of trading my Sloop for a Cutter but on average the winds in the great lakes are less than 12 knots.

[@MikeLoveBuns]

Enjoy your latest sailboat ⛵️ video ! 😘⛵️😀 Mike from Missouri

[@EMTBEpicureanAdventures]

Great video! Your tech sailing talk blows my mind and is so interesting Adam, this coming from a novice that hopes to be out there with you on the water one day. Khiara it seems you know a lot more than you give yourself credit for, happy dreams and stay safe out there!

[@snakeplisken4278]

We consider moving from a small Catamaran to a larger Monohull, an upgrade, and like the full keel motion much better. Of course being on anchor, nothing beats a Cat.

[@conradlogan5201]

Missing you two tooo😘

[@trongod2000]

Wow! This video is legend. You look so smart by the knowledge you spew about sailing.

[@josephclayton1835]

I don’t have offshore experience, but I got caught in a sudden storm , while pointing upwind to lower Genoa, it starting flogging and the sheet got caught in a cleat and wind caught headsail, my wife never sailed again! So anything that can avoid that is likely a good thing.

[@wranglerjeepdogs906]

Love this. well done

[@budawang77]

Love the fact that a pair of millennials aren't getting carried away with the cat craze and like a more classical boat. Having owned both, I agree that the motion of catamarans underway is not as comfortable as a medium to heavy displacement monohull. Monos generally are more satisfying to sail: you actually want to hand steer sometimes rather than solely rely on the autopilot.

[@SapphosSails]

Great points made in this video but honestly... Khiara hair is just so beautiful here I was a little distracted #hairGoalsForReal!

[@biltongslaghuis2694]

Thankyou. I did enjoy that!

[@AlexGoesSailing]

Another great Q&A! Cutter rigs are the best😎

[@edvanrossum5146]

come on man . show the new sail. can t wait.

[@patrolrider]

Thank you very informative

[@mattgiardina6533]

come up two the north and do the great loop lots to see and do and its great i do it all the time

[@sideswipper]

GREAT VID

[@mhensen1]

Ha, you talk about the cutter for blue water, so I was waiting for the classic... so you can run with the stay sail and reefed main and furl the jib away to keep a lower centre of effort , I was like the kid in class waving his arm saying I know this one...and it didn’t come up waa waaa

[@Gottenhimfella]

Agreed, and it's not just the lower centre of effort, sailing without sail on the forestay keeps the sail area further in from the ends of the boat. As well as not pressing the bow so deep when heeled, this can alleviate the tendency of severe gusts to yaw the boat, because such gusts often cause rapid "flick" changes in the apparent wind direction.

[@Gottenhimfella]

Also better behaviour in most boats when hove to in strong winds with the staysail up.

[@DannoFZ1]

So, when I join Patreon can I see the footage you cut out at 5:04? :-)

[@Manguelana]

Yeahhhhh!!! Thank you guys!

[@anthonybeck2384]

Class act 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@crdorado1195]

Great info.

[@billhanna8838]

A cutter rig with a self tacking staysail on a roller reefing stay is the bees knees

[@christopherberthelet3977]

What about a trimaran the motion is some where in between a cat and a mono.

[@andrewspicer8768]

Would you consider a trimaran? Farrier F31

[@sailingcitrinesunset4065]

Nice video

[@dirkliddell]

You guys rock...!

[@OregonDaddywrites]

Ok, I love you guys, and I have to say, that was a lot of sailing nerd talk. Wow. I have no clue what you said, but it sounds like you know what you are doing. After that one, maybe I’m not smart enough to sail, My question is what would happen if you slapped four 300 horsepower outboards on Millie? :)

[@paulsj9245]

- add rails for 1,000 kg of weight extending from the stern. Constructed for 1,200 hp, you might have to add another 500 kg or more. - expect the bow to rise a bit(?) - at 72 (=4x18) gal/h, a regular diesel tank filled with gas may last for three hours full throttle. - it may look a tad strange when you lift the outboards out for sailing...