Multiple sailing dinghy

recreationalgaff rig

General Information about the Portland Pudgy Sailing Dinghy The sail kit makes your Portland Pudgy a fun, safe sailing dinghy. It also makes it a dynamic self-rescue boat. For answers to frequently asked questions about the Portland Pudgy sailing dinghy, click here. The Portland Pudgy was designed as a dynamic lifeboat for blue water sailors, that can be sailed to safety. The resulting stability and buoyancy designed into the Portland Pudgy also make it safe and sea-friendly as a recreational sailing dinghy. It’s a serious self-rescue boat and at the same time a great sailing dinghy for kids and beginning sailors. The Portland Pudgy now offers two sail kit configurations, gaff and square head. The sail area of the square head rig is 54.4 square feet. The sail area of the gaff rig is 51.2 square feet. If you already have the gaff rig with the telescoping boom and mast, all you need for the new square head rig is the sail and a straight mast extension instead of the gaff. All the other rigging is the same. The Portland Pudgy’s new square head rig points very well and is better in light air (see video). This is because the top of the sail gets more wind and there is more roach (i.e. more material extending from the top of the mast to the aft of the boom). The original gaff rig is even more stable than the square head. This is because the gaff will spill out the wind when broached. We’ve sailed it in 20-25 knot winds and even when broached, it didn’t capsize. “I have been impressed with the sailing ability of the boat, especially in heavy winds… I haven’t yet found the winds where capsize seems possible!” Bill K., Sausalito, CA More testimonials.