Today, few sailing vessels use Chinese junk rigs. However, these rigs demonstrate all the advantages of this sail type, particularly their ease of handling during long-distance cruising. Could Chinese rigs replace Bermuda rigs as the mainstream choice in the future?
Amateur-Built Craft
In today’s sailing market, Chinese junk rigs remain a niche, reserved for discerning amateur builders. Yet, in the realm of amateur construction, they offer compelling arguments: affordability, structural simplicity, and low maintenance. Many Chinese sails are sewn by hobbyists on dining tables!
Though primarily used for long voyages, many small boats also employ junk rigs with great success. Choosing a junk-rigged vessel (often inexpensive and refurbished) brings structural simplicity and low costs.
New Developments for Closer Windward Performance
To address windward performance, amateur builders have gradually experimented with solutions. The flat sail concept described in the seminal Practical Junk Rig guide is long outdated. To sail upwind, curvature must be added to the sail.
The simplicity of junk rigs has enabled innovative solutions, some of which show promise:
Articulated battens: When the sail fills, the battens bend, creating curvature. This curvature remains consistent regardless of wind strength, improving windward performance.
Convex sail panels: Pioneered by Norwegian Arne Kverneland, each panel is cut in a"barrel-cut" shape, forming a convex profile when assembled. This is now the most widely adopted solution, delivering convincing results.
Split junk rig: Designed by British sailor Slieve McGalliard, the sail is split into disconnected sections fore and aft of the mast, creating a divided effect. Panels are also barrel-cut to form a hollow shape.
In short, the answer to the eternal question—“Can it sail upwind?”—now depends on hull design and vessel weight. Sail trimming also plays a role, and the ease of adjusting junk rigs will be a key advantage over other rig types.
What’s the Ideal Rig?
The choice depends on your needs and sailing plans. Affordable, easy to handle, and reliable, junk rigs remain underappreciated in the sailing world. The industry’s focus on Bermuda rigs has marginalized them.
Lacking representation in racing, junk rigs miss out on the technological advancements and media exposure that competitions bring. However, exceptions exist: the Marie G X99, a Norwegian junk-rigged boat converted from a Bermuda rig. At over 75 years old, it regularly races against Bermuda-rigged boats in fjords—only those with large spinnakers can outpace it. Locals say,“No one here claims junk rigs can’t sail upwind!”
For most sailors (excluding hardcore racers frustrated by the lack of rating systems), junk rigs are ideal. They require minimal physical effort, can be controlled from the cockpit, and suit both“hardcore” and older sailors.
Current Status: The Disappearance of Industrial Supply
Bermuda rigs dominate racing and benefit from extensive R&D driven by regattas. Media coverage fuels market demand for speed-focused designs, pushing shipyards to prioritize Bermuda standards.
Industrial production of junk-rigged boats has ceased entirely. Despite limited supply, junk rigs remain common in harbors and on voyages. Yet, without commercial backing, their production remains a secretive, workshop-based craft.
No sailing schools teach junk rig techniques, and no shipyards offer them as an option. Only two European sailmakers (in the UK and Germany) specialize in junk sails. Mast production is equally niche, relying on locally built wood, aluminum, or composite materials.
Yet, junk rigs thrive globally. The largest fleet is in the UK, but enthusiasts span continents. Their simplicity, versatility, and repairability make them popular among long-distance cruisers, both monohulls and multihulls.
Converting Boats to Junk Rigs
In amateur builds, some Bermuda-rigged boats are retrofitted with junk rigs. Key modifications involve the mast and its placement.
Self-supporting masts cannot reuse original designs. New masts must be sturdier, thicker, and tapered to reduce top weight. Wooden masts are detailed in Practical Junk Rig, but aluminum flagpoles or streetlight tubes are also used. The mast is moved forward (as on a catamaran), passing through a reinforced deck and impacting cabin layouts.
Sail design and construction rely on hobbyists with sewing machines and support from the Junk Rig Association (JRA). The JRA provides tutorials on sail geometry, mast mechanics, and more.
Today, the JRA is a vibrant hub of knowledge, fostering a passionate community that organizes meetups and shares innovations.
The Best Way to Explore Junk Rigs? Try Sailing One!
Beware—it’s addictive. Trying a junk rig often leads to adopting it... and she truly is beautiful!