Rig Design
Five different rig configurations make Rædwald extremely versatile.
With two mast steps; just one mast and mainsail can be used in four different configurations, plus the option of an additional "high performance" gaff rig.
I'm a great believer in the virtues of traditional rigs. Not because they are quaint or because they are prettier than modern bermudan rigs, but because they work really well.
The lug rig evolved from primitive square sails, and eventually became the gaff rig. Their design has been refined over centuries by sailors who relied on them to be efficient across a broad range of wind and easy to handle. Carrying a lot of sail area on a relatively short rig, means more drive and less heeling moment.
I feel many modern interpretations of traditional small boat rigs are clumsy and fail to meet the potential of the four-sided sail. This has, perhaps, unfairly tarnished their reputation, particularly when it comes to upwind performance.
By further refining these traditional rigs with modern materials, design and sail making techniques we have taken another step forward in achieving the full potential of these rigs. The result is a fraction of the weight of traditional Wooden masts and canvas sails, with upwind performance to humble modern racing dinghies, and huge amounts of easily controlled downwind power.
The core of Raedwald's design is four interchangeable rigs, all sharing the same mast and mainsail.
For singlehanded sailing, the boat can be rigged as either a balanced lug, or with a 'catboat' style gaff mainsail.
The addition of a small mizzen makes her a yawl, ideally suited to dinghy camping and cruising.
A removable, extending bowsprit allows the addition of a furling jib, with optional topsail and asymmetric spinnaker.
For those who want to explore the limits of what a gaff rig can really do; we have designed a 'high performance' rig. This uses a taller mast, bigger mainsail and a trapeze, along with the same furling jib and topsail as the standard gaff rig.
The bowsprit extends to fly a masthead asymmetric spinnaker (or smaller spinnaker hoisted to the hounds), giving over 500 sq.ft of downwind sail area!
In sea-trials with this rig, the boat planes (even upwind in optimal conditions) achieving 11kts in 15kts of breeze and 14kts in 25kts!
Boatbuilders always used the best materials they've had available, and if a shipwright from 100 years ago had access to carbon fibre I'm sure he'd have used it!
Pictured here are the prototype boom, mast, gaff & saddle and bowsprit. All designed and custom made specifically for Raedwald.
The rig is a fraction of the weight of a wooden rig, making it easier to handle ashore, improving the stability of the boat, and reducing the inertia of the rig, making her more manoeuvrable, less prone to pitching and easier to gybe.
gybing with a prototype hollow wooden mast with carbon fibre boom & yard