Dear readers,
Perhaps you feel the same as I do and have enjoyed reading about traditional sail shapes in the latest issue of YACHT Classic or on these pages. In this three-part article, Klaus Berger provides a detailed explanation of Junk and sprit sails or Gaff and spreader gaff I was particularly taken with the Rah and lugger sails. Broad jib, half-spitzer, head-ra – relics of a bygone era? Not an anachronism in sailing, as far as I’m concerned. I find it fascinating and enjoy delving into old-fashioned technical terms. Even if – or perhaps precisely because – few sailors actually come across them in practice, this knowledge should be cherished.
Just learning about the Dipplugger sail – marvellous! And then there are the lovely illustrations with brown cloth and handwritten explanations. Just as it should be. The details about the lugger reminded me of Roger Barnes think. For a while, I was completely hooked on his YouTube channel, his enthusiasm and his Northern English accent. The Brit lives in Brittany and often sails along the coast on his own in an old-fashioned cruising dinghy. One man, an open boat, one sail, many destinations.
Heavy traditional boats and ships involve far larger sets of sails, whilst complex rigging systems allow for a wide variety of combinations. It never ceases to amaze one to see how, in the appropriate wind conditions, scarcely a centimetre remains unfilled between the wooden or steel spars. In the IOR era, artfully shaped bloopers complemented and stabilised the propulsion provided by bulbous spinnakers, creating colourful scenes on the regatta courses.
The ‘we sail with what we’ve got’ maxim also comes into play, in a sense, with modern performance rigs. As the mast moves further and further aft, the foredeck becomes a testing ground for experimentation. In some cases, sailors choose from a whole range of headsails, which in turn can be combined with one another. Generally speaking, constantly adapting to the airflow is one aspect of sailing that makes it so exciting for me. This constant optimisation through trimming, tweaking or simply switching sails back and forth.
Whether the cloth is now green, purple, black, colourful, triangular, rectangular, trapezoidal, square, fan-shaped, distinguished, air-filled or even between the rows is no longer available, it’s the diversity swaying in the wind that makes it so appealing. It’s all there. To remain. Let’s hope so.
Sören Gehlhaus
YACHT editor
Editor’s reading recommendations
New podcast episode
A 21-year-old strategist at SailGP in Sassnitz – with Anna Barth
A strategist in SailGP at the age of 21: Anna Barth talks about the home race in Sassnitz and her role on board in the 86th episode of the YACHT podcast.
Communications
Elon Musk has no time for sailors; Starlink scraps Global Roam
Starlink is discontinuing Global Roam and limiting Roam Unlimited to 30 days outside the registered home country. What this change means for long-distance sailors, what the costs will be, and why the cruising sailing community is now calling for its own solution.
SailGP Sassnitz
Getting there, road closures and parking
On 22 and 23 August 2026, SailGP will be returning to Sassnitz. This service guide explains road closures, car parks in Neu Mukran, shuttle buses and the most important information for visitors.
Invasive species
Kill them, eat them – or wait and see?
Invasive species are altering fishing grounds, harbours and ecosystems. What sailors need to know about the calcareous tube worm, the quagga mussel and the like – and why they’re so hard to get rid of.
Hanse 461
First photos from the YACHT test
The Hanse 461 is the successor to the 460. The first pictures from YACHT’s exclusive test show an extended stern section, a new staysail and a significantly wider choice of interior fittings.
Distress at sea
Unmanned sailing boat adrift off the coast of France – man missing
Off the French Atlantic coast, rescue teams are searching for a man who is believed to have been on board a sailing boat adrift without a crew.
Bizarre maritime accident
The schooner “Rara Avis” runs aground at a salmon farm
A French schooner has run aground at an Irish salmon farm. There were 25 people on board, and 100,000 young salmon were evacuated. Was the farm poorly lit?
Maritime emergency
Several people injured following a catamaran collision on Lake Constance
The Lake Constance catamaran “Constanze” collided with a harbour wall on Friday morning (14 August). Twelve people were injured in the collision.
SailGP
The wish list for the home race – “Sun, wind, a podium finish”
The countdown clock for the Rockwool Germany SailGP is ticking ever louder. On 22 and 23 August, the ‘Formula 1 of sailing’ will be making its second visit to Sassnitz on the Baltic Sea.
Linjett 36
The sporty Swedish yacht put through its paces – the test video
The new Linjett 36 combines sporty sailing characteristics with plenty of control and good manoeuvrability. The first part of the video presentation on YACHT-TV focuses on the concept, the design and, above all, how the new Swedish yacht performs under sail.
Newsletter: YACHT-Woche
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