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Why do we not see more junks in leisure sailing ? (Research Study)

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  • 20 May 2026 20:15
    Reply # 13634076 on 13633807

    I have filled in the online form submitted by Guillaume and applaud him for asking the question.

  • 20 May 2026 12:23
    Reply # 13633837 on 13633807

    This is a very goo question Guillaume!

    Also in Italy (where I was born) and in Austria (where I live), junk rigged boats are inexistent and considered in best case as exotic, wired experiments.

    By the most yacht sailors I spoke with, a rig other than the bermuda one with shrouds and foresails seems almost not imaginable...even when the most diffuse sailboats in their own yacht clubs are cat boats with unstayed masts and single sprit sails (the Optimist) or Marconi sails (the Laser)!

    Like Paul, I've also found most comments from Bermudan sailors about this issue simply irrational.  

    Anyway, there are a lot of designers that show attraction for the JR, two examples:

    Tom McNaughton (http://www.macnaughtongroup.com/designs.htm)

    Eric Hanseval (https://hensevalyachtdesign.jimdofree.com/monocoques-6-50m-11m/divinite-7m-exp%C3%A9/ ).

    Last but not least, interestingly the english page of Wikipedia about the JR is quite up to date and points out very well some of the advantages of the JR in comparison to the bermuda rig: "Maneuverability in a junk rig is vastly beyond that of a fully stayed Bermuda sail rig..." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junk_rig)

    Good luck with your interesting project.

    Mauro 

    Last modified: 20 May 2026 12:24 | Anonymous member
  • 20 May 2026 10:46
    Reply # 13633819 on 13633807
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Bonjour

    I highly recommand to anyone to answer the questionnaire. 

    The more answer, the more, potential impact on the industry.

    It is not long or difficult and avazilable both in French or in English. 

    Eric

    Last modified: 20 May 2026 10:49 | Anonymous member (Administrator)
  • 20 May 2026 09:30
    Reply # 13633810 on 13633807

    Hi Guillaume,

    that is the one most frequently asked question I hear when promoting the junk rig (beside the usual "but does she go to windward?").

    From a rational/technical/sailing perspective, I see no answer. I could only speculate about non-rational reasons...

    Very nice that you are looking deeper into it!


    Cheers

    Paul

  • 20 May 2026 08:51
    Message # 13633807

    Hello everyone,

    I am a new member of this forum, and currently finishing a naval architecture programm at Nantes (DPEA), for which we have to write a (very short) thesis on whatever topic. Thus my question : Why do we not see more junks in leisure sailing ? Despite its numerous qualities, the junk rig has not for now the favours of most of the amateur sailors. This is may be less true in UK, but in France the junk rig is pretty rare, and within the new boats, totally inexistent. At the point than even in my class, fullfilled of sailing cultured people, the junk rig (and the junk boat) are more funny traditionnal objects than serious options. One may advance some quick answers (including the absence of junk designers and new junk boats or cultural aspects) which come naturally when thinking about it, but my goal is to verify if these affirmations are really true and enough to provide a complete answer. For that, I would like to ask everyone interested in this topic their opinion and experience about the junk rig, and their use of it. I made a quick google survey available here where you can answer to help me to answer this questions : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8vQ6E-MGGqwPhoRJZc2q_BkhD2UIoSBfvjMSZ9gVI9NSN3Q/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=118135095081593622474

    I thank you warmly in advance for your time and help. Obviously, we can also talk in this topic, and do not hesitate to tell me all the things I missed (even though in the survey there is a part for that). When finished, I will share you of course my work, and I hope it will be a subject of interest for everyone here.

    Kind regards,

    Guillaume Rossillion



    Last modified: 21 May 2026 10:13 | Anonymous member (Administrator)
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