BLUEMOMENT

Having just purchased a Corribee 21 with Chinese lug rig, I wondered if anyone could give me some tips on handling this, supposedly, simple rig. Is there anything dramatic that needs to be considered? Thanks.

My knowledge is strictly theoretical but I'd always understood it to be the least dramatic of rigs on nearly all counts. I'd love to sail one to find out.

I found myself in the same position just a few months ago when I launched my Coromandel, only about a years experience of sailing to draw on and none of it on a junk rig!

It turned out to be as easy as I'd been told, and a more relaxing experience altogether than a bermudan rigged boat.

I do know of one chap who, despite finding no problem with the sailing performance, just got bored as it was so easy!

Feel free to PM me if you want to ask anything.

My thanks for the reassuring comments. I have sailed sloop rig for over 25 years and now that health problems have compelled me to seek a 'quieter' form of nautical activity I have been studying this type of rig in detail. It certainly seems to be the thing for me, including the Corribee, which is half the weight of my previous boat. I am looking forward to getting used to the rig - after all, cruising should be relaxing. Cheers. Any tips always welcome.
Rob.

JohnS, I reckon that the racing fraternity have an excessive influence on UK cruising designs. Too many boats have to be "cruiser/racers in order to sail. The genuine cruising people tend to either have bespoke boats built (very few and very expensive) or just buy cheaply from the many rather older boats available.

Just look at the marketing blurbs for boats "Cruising doesn't have to mean slow", "our race developed hull", "no slouch on a passage" etc etc. Junk rig is perceived as slow upwind so not generally suited to racing. For most cruisers that is completely irrelevant, whether true or not.