RCYC Units  
  Royal Cape Yacht Club    
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1° latitude = 60 nautical mile

1' latitude = 1 nautical mile

1" latitude = 30.9 metres

1 nautical mile = 1.85 kilometre / 6080 feet / 10 cables

1 statute mile = 5280 feet / 1.6093 kilometres

1 cable = 185 metres

1 knot = 1nm/hour

1 fathom = 6 feet / 1.829m

Alpha
Bravo
Charlie
Delta
Echo
Foxtrot
Golf
Hotel
India
Juliett
Kilo
Lima
Mike
November
Oscar
Papa
Quebec
Romeo
Sierra
Tango
Uniform
Victor
Whiskey
Xray
Yankee
Zulu


Cutter, sloop, ketch, schooner or yawl?

Single masted boat = sloop or cutter     Two-masted boat = schooner, ketch or yawl

Schooner, ketch or yawl?
  • schooner - masts are the same size, or shorter forward mast.
  • ketch or a yawl - shorter aft mast (mizzen mast).
    • a ketch carries its mizzen mast ahead of the rudderpost
    • a yawl carries the mizzen mast behind the rudderpost

  • The mizzen on a ketch provides power
  • on a yawl the mizzen main or spanker provides sail balance.
Placing the sail behind the rudder helps overcome weather helm and makes it easier to reach. It makes steering by sail easier by enhancing maneuverability. Set at anchor, the spanker keeps the yawl pointed into the wind, providing a much more restful anchorage.

Cutters & sloops

  • Traditionally
    • Sloop - single mast forward of 50% of the length of the sailplan, allows for multiple jibs. Fractional main.
    • Cutter- mast at or aft of 50% of the length of the sailplan also allows for multiple headsails. Some have a reefing bowsprit that can be withdrawn in heavy weather
  • Modern versions
    • sloop - one headsail, main = masthead or fractional. Modern sloops sail closer to the wind and are easier to handle; smaller jibs + larger mainsail = easier to power up/down. Good coastal boat.
    • cutter - multiple headsails, large genoa, do not point as close to the wind as similar sized sloops. Good offshore boat

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