Cutter vs Solent rig question.

[msl]

How is the purpose of a Solent rig different from that of a Cutter rig?

How do the sailing characteristics differ between the two types?

Thank you.

[chucklesR]

while the solent rig has two head stays it is NOT designed to fly both a jib and stay - it is designed for either or, not and/or when going upwind - for me for example I fly my genoa in normal air or my 200% light air screacher in air from 0-14knts.

I could, with poles fly both at once down wind -I'm not sure of the backtay holding out for heavy wind on that - but the gap between sails (about 2 feet at the base) is not sufficient for airflow working up wind.

Cutter rig is designed for both to fly at once, upwind/downwide all points of sail.

[Johnrb]

Jack Tyler (presently sailing somewhere aboard Whoosh) has a good discussion of the Solent rig and how he installed it on his Pearson 424.

BTW - has anyone heard anything from Whoosh? Jack's posts were always very helpful and interesting.

http://www.pearson424.org/exterior/r...tylerstay.html
http://www.svsarah.com/Whoosh/Whoosh.htm

[chucklesR]

and for a graphical demonstration with screacher furled on forward headstay, mounted to a curved track that helps position the the tack either too windward or off depending on course etc.. and the 150 genoa on aft headstay :

[sailingdog]

IIRC, the solent stay is often a removable stay that is used under specific circumstances, like flying a storm staysail. Unlike the inner forestay on a cutter, the solent stay is attached to the mast very close to where the normal forestay attaches, to avoid the need for running backstays. It often connects to the deck using something like a highfield lever, to allow it to be connected and tensioned relatively easily. The primary purpose of a solent stay is to allow a roller furled headsail to be furled and a proper storm staysail to be easily deployed in heavy weather. Since the solent stay is further aft, it will tend to bring the Center of Effort further aft, helping keep the boat better balanced in strong winds.

On a cutter, the mast is usually a bit further aft and a bit shorter, and both the inner and outer forestays are permanent fixtures. The inner forestay also attaches to the mast considerably lower than the outer forestay.

Here is a photo of a Solent stay and highfield lever from s/v Sarah's website.

[chucklesR]

OP asked 'rig' not 'stay', there is a difference as explained to me, but I'm just one opinion. Tartan calls there screacher over jib rig a solent rig, so I figured that's what he meant.
PCI just calls my rig an optional screacher. I refer to my boat as having a solent rig, as opposed to a cutter when asked if I'm a cutter rigged catamaran.

[sailingdog]

Good point Chuckles...

You're right AFAICT. The Solent Rig is not the same as Solent stay... The Solent rig is essentially what you and I have on our boats, with a screacher forward of the normal forestay.

The advantages of a Solent rig over a cutter probably have much to do with light air performance. Two smaller sails do not generally provide the same power as a single large sail equal to them in area. However, as you pointed out, a Solent rig isn't designed to fly both headsails at one time generally, and the outer headsail generally sheets outside both forestays.

[msl]

Thank you, kindly. ChucklesR and Sailingdog. I did mean rig and I understand it much better now.
Thanks again.

Mark L.