This is an interesting question. Or, rather, these are interesting questions. Though this is probably now hideously off-topic here.

Do we care? I think we should. Not because it's particularly desirable to pursue purist ideologies but simply because it's useful to be clear about exactly what it is we are promoting.

To know whether "what we are left with" is truly a junk rig we would need a clear definition of a junk rig. It seems easy enough to define a junk sail. It's a fully battened, balanced lug sail. 

But the rig that Blondie Haslar, the greatest pioneer of the Western Junk Rig, was interested in was not simply a matter of sails. Indeed he adopted a junk sail for the trans-Atlantic race almost as an afterthought because he could knock one up quickly in time for the race after his chosen sail, his experimental Lapwing, proved not to be everything that he had hoped it would be. What he was pursuing was an idea that encompassed the whole boat. He wanted to sail safely and comfortably, not merely for safety and comfort's sake - he'd done plenty of sailing the hard way - but because it was, he believed, the most effective way to sail. 

Blondie's whole boat idea encompassed self-steering, and secure watchkeeping with reduced physical demands on the crew, as well as an easy to handle rig. He came second in the TransAt to Francis Chichester. Francis Chichester crossed the finish line on his knees, without many more miles left in him. Blondie finished ready to turn round and do the whole thing again. In fact he arrived, according to his notes, in better condition than when he left.

I've owned two junk rigged boats though I make no claims to have done mighty sailing in either of them. One was wet and rugged and in the other I've put on my foul weather gear twice and my sea boots never. One developed hideous weather helm in the strong puffs and the other remains as poised as a ballerina with the slightest of sail adjustments. I don't seek out heavy weather sailing but I did once sail the rugged boat in a force nine - result of a poor decision - and I've been out in force sevens and lots of rain in the comfy one. Of the two experiences the one I would promote is the second.

The "whole boat" concept encompasses any rig that is safe and easy to handle - definitely including wingsails and the split rig. A purist view that junk rigged sailing is all about a particular sail plan would certainly exclude one and possibly both of these. So do we care whether everyone has a fully battened, balanced lugsail? I hope not. And are we clear about exactly what it is that the JRA is promoting? I hope so.

Chris Gallienne wrote:

Gerry
Thanks for your thoughtful reply - as you probably guess this question arises from my scribblings in the history of the Western junk rig, and I was hoping to elicit thoughts such as yours. My favourite definition is that of Robert Biegler in Catalyst No. 8:

“... the features of the junk rig that are essential to its easy reefing and low structural loads are the full length rigid battens, all of them sheeted and set into the sail so that they stack up tidily when reefing. These are the features that must be kept, everything else can be changed”.

Seems to be pretty inclusive.