Sails and Rigging
5.2
Sails & Rigging
Most sailors believe that sailing is hard work: all those lines
to tend, halyards to yank and sails to lug. Hunter Marine
has dispelled that myth once and for all! Innovations by
the crew at Hunter Marine have made sailing easier, safer
and more comfortable. �he result - much more sailing fun!�he result - much more sailing fun!
Whether you are ready to set sail for the day or just
around the buoys, your Hunter can really make a differ-
ence. Starting with the tall, fractional rig, which is a direct
descendent of the B&R rig, Hunter has engineered the
mast to carry less weight aloft with a smaller sections.
�his is accomplished by utilizing swept-back spread-
ers and reverse diagonals. �his combination provides
superior strength without a backstay and increases the
stability at the same time. By using a large roach main
as the power sail, Hunter has eased the effort in sail
handling and allowed for real versatility for all wind and
sea conditions.
Your benefit: better performance with less effort. �he deck
layout reflects the innovation that accompanies the rig.
Refer to Boating Safety, and the Getting Underway
chapters for safe boat handling information.
If this is your first boat of this type or you are changing
to a new boat you are not familiar with, please ensure
that you obtain handling and operating experience before
assuming command of the boat. �his document is not a
course on boating safety or seamanship. Your dealer or
national sailing federation or yacht club will be pleased
to advise you of local sea schools, or competent instruc-
tors.
Never underestimate the potentially dangerous power of
wind, tide and the sea. Always ensure there is sufficient
trained and proficient crew on board to handle the boat
and its operating systems even in adverse conditions.
NOTE: Standing rigging will stretch slightly when initially
loaded. Therefore, the rigging may have to be further tensioned
slightly after a few sails in a strong breeze to compensate for
this initial stretch. Once the mast is tuned and initial stretch is
taken out, the rig should need retuning only at the beginning of
each season.
5.1 Main Rig Components
Anodized B&R Rig Mast
Boom
Furling Jib
Internal Halyards led to Cockpit
Large Roach Mainsail w/Flaking System
Mainsheet and vang
Over the course of the next few pages we will outline
some of the components featured here, along with some
of the optional components of your sails and rigging
aboard your Hunter sailboat.
5.2 The Mast
Your main and most vital rig component is the mast. It
carries the sails and is supported by the standing rigging
as shown on pages 5.6 and 5.7.
H15 B&R Rig Description
�he B&R rig, utilized on the Hunter 15, eliminates the
need for a backstay to allow for a more efficient mainsail
shape. Fixed backstays are commonly being designed
out of today’s performance-oriented boats to allow the
mainsail to incorporate a full roach design - a more
aerodynamic shape both for racing and cruising perfor-
mance.
�o accomplish this, the B&R rig has 30 degree swept
spreaders, creating 120 degrees between each rigging
point. �his tri-pod arrangement has excellent strength
for sailboat rigs, and has been used for years to support
huge radio towers.
�he B&R rig is designed to be pre-bent to further add
rigidity to the mast section and eliminate the need for
adjustable rigging (like backstay adjusters). �his design
should prove more reliable than a rig with adjustable
backstays or runners, as there is less chance for error.
�he large main, small jib, sail plan on the H15 also elimi-
nates the need for large overlapping headsails (genoas),
as the driving power comes from the much improved
shape and size of the mainsail. �his offers an easier
tacking small jib, creating good performance and more
comfortable sailing as it is less work for the crew.
B&R rigs have been used on thousands of sailboats, and
•
•
•
•
•
•
To Next Page