Anonymous wrote:

Hello all junkies and fellow would-be junkies!

I recently bought a Colvin Gazelle, rigged as a gaff cutter ketch. My intention was to re-rig her as a junk in due time, but after my first 4-day coastal passage, I am determined to re-rig much sooner than that.

Beautiful boat. Are you planning to rerig following the standard Gazelle junk rig pattern using the same masts lightly stayed with jib? Or you thinking something newer and more modern with free standing masts, perhaps in a new position?

I am not sure how well the original Gazelle JR lends itself to single handing (I think your wife is stronger in spite of stature than you think  :)  ). It may be wise to search out people near to you with a JR Gazelle or other Colvin JR boats (the Doxy comes to mind) and see how the rig is managed on those... A day sail would be the best test. Even with a roller furler, that is a big jib but could still be operated from the cockpit.

Because of the original jib on the Gazelle, if you want to do away with the jib, the relative sizes of the mainsail and foresail would have to be revisited. Both for balance but also to bring the full sail area back up to stock. The foresail may need to be moved forward, perhaps by using a SJR in that position. I suppose another option would be to install a small foremast close to the bow in place of the jib but I would think it would be just as easy to keep the jib.

So lots to think about. Something I am thinking of that you might also think about is a sailing course for your wife. There are women only sailing courses designed to pull the women out of their tendency to hide behind their man or men in general. They are effectively a 10 day cruise (so not cheap) where they teach the women to sail as if they were single handing. I think my wife would do well and there is one close to here. I suspect they would do a much better job of teaching my wife to sail than I could. My wife tends to listen to instructors better than to me... if we say the same thing or not.