![\"Moonshadow-Las-Palmas-100.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/setsail.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/Moonshadow-Las-Palmas-100.jpg\" "\\"Moonshadow-Las-Palmas-100.jpg\\"")
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Seeing Moonshadow<\/em> ensconced between two broad beamed production yachts got us to thinking. She is a few feet longer than either of her neighbors, significantly less beamy, with a rig one quarter or more shorter. Which configuration do you suppose is quicker, or would you rather sail short-handed across the ocean?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Take a look at the photo of the rigs. Moonshadow<\/em> looks like we forgot to add the upper mast panel.<\/p>\n We don’t want to get ahead of the ARC crossing results, but when you compare her times to the rest of the cruising yachts, and think of her rig, you are going to be puzzled.<\/p>\n The answer is simple. Herewith are the basics of cruising yacht efficiency. To begin with, beam equals drag and has a negative impact on steering. For a given performance level, the fatter the boat the taller the rig. As the rig goes up so does the vertical center of gravity, so you need to add lead and draft to the keel.<\/p>\n The taller rig looks cool, but at best, can only offset the extra drag that come with beam. Can you handle these bigger sails efficiently, short handed? Probably not.<\/p>\n The beamier boat, with its larger and heavier rig, extra rigging, and hull surface, area weighs more for the same factors of safety. So it requires a larger engine, which is… heavier and take more fuel (lots more in fact). The bigger engine and its larger tanks for a constant range eat up interior volume. Of course there is a larger diameter prop shaft, the strut has to be longer and beefier, and the prop is bigger.<\/p>\n All of which leads to yet a bigger rig. You can see the design spiral here.<\/p>\n So why have a fat boat in the first place? Good question. The boats laying alongside Moonshadow<\/em> are probably three feet wider. What do you get in return for the drag? If the interior is kept simple, you will have more visual space. But if you fill this with extra lockers – which always happens – the visual space remains the same as Moonshadow’s<\/em> 14.5′ beam. And she has those four feet of extra length in which to put interior or storage.<\/p>\n As drag goes down with reduced beam less rig is required (which makes for a more easily handled vessel), draft can be reduced, and the boat steers more easily. And in a breeze you are going to be quicker.<\/p>\n What drives designs in this fashion are charter needs and owners who want lots of \u00a0guest accommodations. The beam, carried aft, creates two large aft cabins. We have no argument with this concept, if that \u00a0is what you want. But if you are cruising as a couple, with occasional guests, you are paying a very high price for those cabins which are being used mainly for storage.<\/p>\n Want proof it works this way? Watch the daily runs and the differences between Moonshadow<\/em> and her beamy neighbors.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"Moonshadow-Las-Palmas-113.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/setsail.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/Moonshadow-Las-Palmas-113.jpg\" "\\"Moonshadow-Las-Palmas-113.jpg\\"")
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