Ketch

A ketch (also: Ketch ) is a sailing boat with two masts, the mainmast forward and aft, always smaller mizzen mast. It has the ketch (unlike the yawl ) her mizzen mast within the ( construction ) - water line. Other definitions say " within the length between perpendiculars ", ie on the rudder axis or " ahead of the helmsman ." For most ketschgetakelten boats come to all three definitions. Since the mizzen is smaller than the mainmast, a ketch is also called a half master. A two-master with a smaller or equal-sized front mast and Schratsegeln called in contrast to Ketch and Yawl saver.

The ketch was about the middle of the 17th century for the fishing and coastal shipping in England developed with lifting capacities of up to 50 tons.

The ketch is a popular long-distance sailors, as the mainsail is closer to the yaw axis and thus has almost no effect on the yawing moment. In contrast, the additional mizzen has a long distance to the yaw axis, thus balancing the pressure of the headsail very effective. Ketschgetakelte boats can thereby often trim-out so that they control without additional equipment itself.

A further advantage is the greater partitioning of the sail plan. The individual sails are smaller ( than about on a sloop ) and can therefore be easily and set and involve less crew members. Often one can thereby reduce the sail area to fit with increasing wind, that an entire sailing harbors rather than to reef it. The ketch can also go well only under mizzen and jib.

Disadvantages of Ketschtaklung are mostly higher weight by the second pole and the extra cost for it. In addition, the ship ends heavier ( a mast in the stern, the mainmast closer to the bow ) are what makes the boat in a seaway carriers and can delve deeper into the waves. With winds from the mizzen covers the mainsail to the wind and the mainsail can disrupt the flow of the mizzen.

Rigging

The Ketch leads to two masts fore- most, rare in classic rig also topsail. Most are the gaff sail or high (especially on yachts ), rarely sprit or lug sail.

Among the historical ketschgetakelten ships include, for example Kuff, logger, Galiot or schooner.

History

Some ketschgetakelte English cargo sailing ships as a type name " Ketch ". In particular, the West Country Trading Ketch (long by 25 m, similar to the hull of the schooner ) was spread on the southwest coast of England and Wales. A close relative is the Cowes ketch ( to 13m length, vertical Steven ), which was used as a cargo ship between the mainland and the Isle of Wight.