Article by Phil Truitt Boats and the water have been for me both a dream and a reality—never having a chance to enjoy either early in life. I am a combat veteran of this country and with a very proud unit. Upon our return I and many others wondered what to do and where to go. There are a number of ways it can happen to you, but many of us felt a desire for both peace and adventure. A friend introduced me to mountain climbing, which I got into heavily. The same friend later bought a nearly derelict Snipe and took me for my first sail. That was about 50 years ago. Though mountains are no longer where I seek adventure, both of these pastimes encourage a bit of reflection on mortality.
It happens every year, while hanging out at the Festival in Port Townsend a series of savants will come by with gleam in their eye and point out that my Eun Mara is really a ketch. I've learned to shrug and say that Iain Oughtred called it a "canoe yawl" and that is good enough for me.
I believe that an earlier usage of the term yawl referred to a rowing boat that hung from the stern of various square riggers. This would have placed it aft of the rudder/rudder post. Thus, it would be a natural progression for a sailing boat, with a mast stepped aft of the rudder post, to be called yawl rigged.
It happens every year, while hanging out at the Festival in Port Townsend a series of savants will come by with gleam in their eye and point out that my Eun Mara is really a ketch. I've learned to shrug and say that Iain Oughtred called it a "canoe yawl" and that is good enough for me.
I thoroughly enjoy this kind of discussion, especially when we are having fun with it.
I believe that an earlier usage of the term yawl referred to a rowing boat that hung from the stern of various square riggers. This would have placed it aft of the rudder/rudder post. Thus, it would be a natural progression for a sailing boat, with a mast stepped aft of the rudder post, to be called yawl rigged.
Time to drop anchor and splice the mainbrace.