Buzzards Bay 25 Marconi Rig

Description

The Buzzards Bay 25 (BB25), designed by Nathanael G. Herreshoff in 1914, was originally rigged as a gaff sloop (gaff-headed mainsail with a short boom and clubbed jib). This traditional setup featured a large, powerful mainsail (around 400–450 sq ft total sail area, often cited as the "550 sq ft class" for rating purposes) with running backstays, a simpler rig, and excellent performance in the choppy, windy conditions of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. However, many BB25s (both originals and replicas) have been converted to or built with a Marconi (Bermudan) rig over the years. This taller, triangular mainsail configuration became popular in the 1930s and beyond for several reasons: Better windward performance in some conditions (tighter sheeting angles, less twist in the sail) Easier sail handling and reefing (no gaff to manage) Modern appeal and sometimes perceived higher pointing ability (though historical accounts note the original gaff rig often performed comparably to windward on these hulls, especially with the boat's shape limiting extreme close windedness)