Posted by Gregg Carlson (gregg.carlson@…>)
Mike,
Most of the arguments in favor of split rigs is common to all boats. A split
rig, ketch or yawl, is generally more handy in that you have more options
outside of reefing. The F44 sails well under main alone. And, a
ketch or yawl will
usually heave to automatically under mizzen, as the 44 does. Nice for
weather or anchoring. A split rig is often better balanced - the 44
will tend itself to windward without helm in some conditions. Big
sails are heavy - the 44 main is about 600 sq.ft., so getting that up
without batt cars, etc. is a lot of work in itself.
A sloop is generally more weatherly as it’s taller, and carries half the rigging
and windage. Cheaper to build - check the bridge clearances. But,
the freedoms are not generally super-weatherly sailors anyway.
Maintenance would be higher on a ketch, though maybe not if you ditch
the jib.
The 44 cat-ketch is the ideal single-hander - in that boat size -
because it’s self-tending. Once the sails are set, you just drive -
short-tack right up a channel if you like. We day-sail ours all the
time. One problem in short-hand sailing is docking with the fair bit
of windage with the bow-mounted mast. (But, if you need a
bow-thruster maybe you’re in over your head anyway 
Gregg Carlson
Principia
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Sorry if this is obvious question but I have been researching Freedom
boats and it appears that many models come in both ketch or sloop
rigged. Is there any inherent performance difference between these
setups? Is there any particular reason you would buy one over the other?
Have either setup proved to be the more reliable? Are they both as
easy to singlehand?Thanks in advance for your replies.
Mike