Both masts are rigged fore-and-aft, that is, with sails set in the same line as the keel (rather than perpendicular to it, as in the case of a square-rigged yacht like a junk).
Ketch vs Yawl vs Schooner
A ketch is similar in design to a yawl and a two-mastered schooner, but different to both. A ketch is distinct from a yawl in that a yawl’s mizzen mast is positioned behind (aft of), not forward of, the rudder post. If the mizzen is positioned forward of the rudder post like on a ketch, it can carry a larger mizzen main and hence deploy more sail area. A ketch is different from a schooner in that, on a schooner, the mizzen mast is stepped forward, not aft, of the main mast.
In some instances, a sailing boat may have two masts of the same height. In these cases, if the forward mast carries a smaller sail, the boat is considered a schooner. If the boat carries a larger sail, it’s said to be a ketch.
Ketch style sailing boats were common in earlier centuries. They are now considered somewhat old-fashioned. Most modern yachts have only one mast, this design being known as a sloop.
Benefits of a Ketch
Nevertheless, a small proportion of yachts built these days continue to be designed as a ketch. Some yachtsmen consider them to allow a yacht to be sailed with greater precision, flexibility and sail area than a sloop. Various examples illustrate these benefits.
First, a ketch offers particular advantages when a stiff breeze (say, 20 knots or more) necessitate reefing (pulling in) the mainsail or dropping it all-together. In these situations, a ketch can be sailed with stability and at good speed with a mizzen main plus one or two foresails. This will generally be more sail area, and hence more forward momentum, than a sloop.
Second, if the rudder fouls and becomes inoperable, a mizzen sail can be used as a surrogate rudder to steer the boat. This can clearly be of critical benefit if there are no other materials with which to rig a temporary steering mechanism.
Third, when a yacht is at anchor and a strong cross-current interacts with the wind to cause side-to-side roll, a mizzen sail may be raised to help steady the boat. Care needs to be taken to ensure the mizzen sail is set in a neutral position so to not cause forward thrust and place undue strain on the anchor system.
Fourth, when sailing towards the wind, the basic sail plan for a ketch is a mainsail, a mizzen main and as many as three foresails – five sails in all – compared to two sails for a conventional sloop.
Fifth, when running with or reaching across the wind, a ketch may carry as many as eight sails – the basic sail plan plus a spinnaker on the main mast plus a spinnaker and staysail on the mizzen – compared to three sails for a conventional sloop. In these situations however, the mizzen main (or indeed any other mizzen sail) may “rob” wind from the mainsail and so detract from forward thrust. It’s the skipper’s responsibility to be vigilant against this possibility.
The main disadvantage of ketch, compared to a sloop, is that there are extra sails to handle.
A ketch is a two-masted yacht design that has stood the test of time. This classic configuration remains popular with many sailors, particularly those that regularly cruise long distances.
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