Definition

1. Noun:
   • A sailing rig configuration: A "Bermuda rig" is a specific arrangement of sails on a sailing vessel, most commonly a yacht. It is characterized by its triangular mainsail shape.
   • A modern fore-and-aft rig: It is the standard modern rig for most sailing yachts and small craft, featuring a triangular mainsail set behind the mast.

Usage

• The term is used to describe the sail plan and rigging of a sailing boat.
• It is often contrasted with older rig types, such as the gaff rig.
• Example: "The classic sloop features a Bermuda rig with a single mast and a triangular mainsail."
• Example: "Compared to a gaff rig, a Bermuda rig is more efficient for sailing upwind."

Advanced Usage

• The term is frequently used in nautical and sailing contexts to specify a boat's rig type. It implies a configuration optimized for performance, particularly windward ability.
• "Bermuda-rigged" (adjective): Describes a vessel equipped with this rig.
  • Example: "He sailed his Bermuda-rigged sloop across the bay."

Variants and Related Words

• Marconi rig: A synonym for Bermuda rig, named after the resemblance of the tall mast and rigging to a radio mast.
• Sloop rig: A common type of boat that typically uses a Bermuda rig configuration with one mast.
• Fore-and-aft rig: The broader category of rigs in which sails are set along the line of the keel, as opposed to square rigs. The Bermuda rig is a type of fore-and-aft rig.

Synonyms

• Marconi rig: (Nautical) A direct synonym emphasizing the tall mast profile.

Notes on Meaning

• The "Bermuda" name originates from its development and refinement in Bermuda for use in small, fast sailing craft like the Bermuda sloop.
• It refers specifically to the triangular shape of the mainsail. The rig may also include a headsail (like a jib or genoa) forward of the mast.

Noun

1. a rig of triangular sails for a yacht