THE ROYAL YACHT

Hokitika Guardian, 11 April 1931, Page 2

THE ROYAL YACHT

BERMUDA RIG ADOPTED. (British Official IVireiess.) RUGBY, April 8. The King’s yacht Britannia left Cowes to-day for Gosport to have her new mast adjusted suitably for the Bermuda rig in which she will race during the coming season. The Bermuda rig differs from the old- fashioned English cutter rig in that the mainsail, instead of being spread on a gaff or short spar at the upper edge, is triangular, tapering away to nothing at the masthead. This rig is also known as the Marconi on account <Jf the mast needed to carry it. It was developed by American yachtsmen over a decade ago and grew very rapidly in popularity among racing skippers. English yatchsmen held to tlie gaff rig for a time, but one by one first-class yachts such as AVlute Heather, Cambria, Livonia and Sir Thomas Lipton’s boats changed to it until only the royal yacht Britannia; maintained the old tradition. The decision announced in the cable will finally settle all controversy on the subject. 'Hie great. recommendation of the Bermuda rig is the increased speed that it gives, the reasons for which have only recently been discovered by research int othe aerodynamic properties of the wings of birds, which the Bennulda mainsail, of curse closely resembles. Its great drawback is that to obtain a sail area equal to that which tlie gaff rig gives, the height of the mast has to be increased, making the standing rigging a littl c top-heavy and necessitating a heavier spar. For these reasons it has never been considered as seaworthy as the gaff rig. though it is widely employed among racing schooners hi American waters particularly those of the staysail types.