We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Boating

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Cutter Rig?

By Matthew Koenig
Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 9,723
Share

A cutter rig is a sailboat with a type of sail configuration in which two or more sails are set forward of the mast. These are known as the head sails. A common design for modern cutters contains two head sails, with the inner sail referred to as the stay sail and the outer sail either a jib or genoa. The stay sail is set from the inner forestay, and may be self-tending on its own boom, or “loose footed.” The jib is set from the head forestay and is fixed to either a bowsprit or the bow itself.

Traditionally, the mast on a cutter rig was more centrally located than those on any other single-masted sailboat. This was to allow more room on the bow for multiple head sails. Since the mid 20th-century, however, mast positioning has become mostly irrelevant, and the only distinguishing feature of modern cutter rigs is multiple head sails.

This re-defining of a traditional cutter rig has led to a proliferation of the cutter rig sloop, which is basically a sloop with a retrofitted stay sail boom and an additional forestay. Not all sloops will support these modifications, however. Whether or not the modification is possible is due to the composition of the mast, hull strength, and other factors.

A cutter rig is considered by many sailors to be a more versatile and safer sail configuration. Its versatility has led to its resurgence in popularity among leisure and cruising sailors. If the stay sail is self-tending and can be controlled from the cockpit, short-tacking upwind becomes much easier than with a sloop rig, especially when single-handing.

Of course, in light winds the extra sail area is of some benefit, but the boat is also easier to handle if winds increase suddenly. The stay sail will keep the boat controlled while the other head sails and the main sail are reefed. With the main sail completely reefed, a cutter rig running on its stay sail makes for an ideal heavy-weather craft. When running straight downwind, the extra sail also acts as a roll stabilizer, a feature not available with other sail configurations.

On the downside, when tacking with a large jib on a cutter rig, the sail must pass through the narrow space between the inner forestay and the head forestay. This can be alleviated in some modern cutter rigs with a removable inner forestay. Also, a cutter rig is not considered as fast under most conditions as a sloop rig, which tends to make it unpopular with racing sailors.

Share
WikiMotors is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wikimotors.org/what-is-a-cutter-rig.htm
Copy this link
WikiMotors, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WikiMotors, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.