gaffrigged

Gaffrigged refers to a sailing vessel that uses a gaff rig for its mainsail. In a gaff rig, the mainsail is four-cornered and its head is attached to a spar called the gaff, which is mounted on or near the mast and can be raised or lowered with a halyard. The gaff gives the sail a deeper, more triangular shape with a relatively long foot, which affects sail handling and performance.

A typical gaff rig includes the mast, the gaff spar, the mainsail, and associated rigging such as halyards, halyard locks, stays, and lines for reefing. The tack and clew are the lower corners of the sail, with the peak of the sail controlled by the gaff angle. Reefing often involves hauling the sail down partway and tying it to shorter sections on the spar. Gaff-rigged sails are usually set on fore-and-aft masts and can be used on various hull designs, including schooners, cutters, and other traditional craft.

In terms of performance, gaff-rigged vessels typically have strong sail area relative to mast height and can perform well in light and moderate winds, especially when sailing downwind or with a staysail. However, they generally point less efficiently into the wind than Bermudan-rigged (or Bermuda) mainsails and require more rigging and handling effort, which can increase maintenance on some vessels. Gaff rigs remain common on traditional and historic sailing ships, cruise yachts that emphasize classic styling, and some working boats that value their distinctive appearance and historical provenance. The term is often written as gaff-rigged or gaffrigged.