cat rig
Definition
- Noun:
- The rig of a catboat: A "cat rig" specifically refers to the sailing rig configuration used on a catboat. This is a simple rig with a single mast set far forward in the boat, carrying a single large sail (typically a gaff or Bermuda rigged mainsail). It has no headsails (jibs or genoas).
Usage
- The term "cat rig" is used exclusively in nautical contexts to describe a specific type of sailboat rigging. It is a technical term.
- It functions as a noun, typically as the object of a preposition (e.g., "with a cat rig") or the subject/object of a sentence describing a boat's features.
Examples
- Noun:
- The small dinghy featured a simple cat rig, making it easy for a single sailor to handle.
- Traditional Cape Cod boats are often identified by their distinctive cat rig.
- He prefers sailing a boat with a cat rig because it has fewer lines and sails to manage.
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used attributively (like an adjective) to modify other nouns, though it remains a noun compound.
- We went out on a cat-rig sloop. (Here, "cat-rig" describes the type of sloop.)
- The cat-rig configuration is beloved by beginners and purists alike.
Variants and Related Words
- Catboat (n): A boat that is characterized by having a cat rig. The rig defines the boat type.
- Una rig (n): A similar, synonymous term used primarily in British English for a single-masted, single-sailed rig.
- Sloop rig (n): A different, more common rig with a single mast but two sails (a mainsail and a headsail), providing a contrast to the simpler cat rig.
Synonyms
- Una rig: (As noted above, a direct synonym in some contexts).
- Single-sail rig: A descriptive synonym emphasizing the key feature.
Notes on Meaning
- The term "cat rig" is highly specific. It does not refer to cats, animals, or any other general concept. Its meaning is fixed within sailing terminology.
- Do not confuse with "catamaran rig," which refers to the rigging on a twin-hulled catamaran, a completely different type of boat.
Noun
-
rig of a catboat
