Tall Rig vs Regular Rig

[grasspack]

Hello,

Looking to buy our first sailboat and the one we like is "tall rigged". What is the difference? Where is one more appropriate than another? We plan on sailing the coast of Maine and NH and want to make sure we get what we need/want

Thanks
Alice

[Randyonr3]

A tall rig is just that, taller and more usefull in lite wind conditions.. the sail can be reefed just as a standard rig..
The down side, when you buy a sail, you pay a little more for the build..

[grasspack]

Thanks....thats what I thought. Appreciate it.

Alice

[Jim Cate]

G'Day Alice,

If the only change to the boat is a taller mast (no additional ballast, etc) then you will likely need to reef a bit sooner than with the shorter mast. This may or may not bother you, but isn't usually a big deal. Depends somewhat on how well set up the reefing systems are.

My own feelings have always lead me to the bigger rigs -- you can reef down a big rig in heavy conditions, but you can not "unreef up" a short rig in light airs.

Cheers,

JIm

[Marksman]

A tall (high aspect ratio) rig is more efficient to windward as the forward 30% of the sail is the lions share of the driving force at that point of sail. So a taller, narrower sail will give better performance on the wind and allow you to point a little higher, but as others have pointed out, this also brings the center of effort higher as well and lengthens the moment arm resulting in greater heel so you will have to reduce sail a litter sooner. I have a 50ft. stick with a 13ft boom and can point 30deg. appearant when close hauled fairly easily. I have to reef earlier than folks with shorter rigs (largely due to the admiral) but that's no big deal to me.

[maine50]

Certain boats such as the Catalina 30 with the std rig are undercanvased. Other boats such as the Taratn 30 are more easily driven and its not as important to find a tall rig version. What boat are you looking at?