Professional BoatBuilder - February-March 2018

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 47

maintain a wide performance groove,

but the fractional rig requires far greater

understanding before the same or bet-

ter performance can be achieved” (Blue

Water Sailing Manual, Barry Pickthall,

2006).  is comment is applicable to

a rig whose mast bend is varied as

From the ocean-racing perspective,

one disadvantage of the fractional rig is

that it can be di cult to sail: “ e mast-

head rig can be sailed to within 90% of

its optimum with comparative ease,

requiring only subtle changes to hal-

yard or sheet tension in order to

genny’s advantage. As it turned out,

the genny conferred no speed advan-

tages, and the  eet stayed with the

blade-type working jibs.  e moral of

the story might be that jib overlap on

many boats can be seductive but

misleading.”

The P-32 Petrel at anchor with the mast partially bent by the diamond shrouds with their aft-swept spreaders. At the stern the six-

part tackle on the starboard leg of the backstay has not been fully taken up to increase the bend to the sailing con guration and

to further tension the forestay. The two-part outhaul/secondary jibsheet leads from the clew down to the car on the jib club track.

The midclub primary jibsheet just forward of the house leads down to the foredeck traveler. The four-part mainsheet leads from

blocks at the gooseneck to those at the chainplates, thence aft port and starboard to the cockpit.

JEP

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