Ketch
A Ketch is a two-masted sailing vessel with a tall main mast forward and a substantial mizzen (aft) mast stepped forward of the rudder post. Unlike the yawl's small balancing mizzen, the ketch's mizzen is a larger, working sail that contributes real drive.
Splitting the sail area between two masts makes each sail smaller and easier to handle, which historically made the ketch popular for cruising and short-handed sailing. It is distinguished from the yawl (mizzen abaft the rudder post, smaller) and the schooner (foremast shorter than or equal to the main). The ketch is one of the classic two-masted rigs in the traditional vocabulary of sailing-vessel types.
The ketch splits its sail between two masts so each is easier to handle — the reason it became a favourite cruising rig. Knowing it, and how it differs from the yawl and schooner, completes the picture of two-masted sailing vessels in the language of the sea.
Where is a ketch's mizzen mast?
Forward of the rudder post, and it is a larger, driving sail — unlike the yawl's small balancing mizzen set abaft the rudder post.
Why choose a ketch rig?
Splitting the sail area across two masts makes each sail smaller and easier to handle, suiting cruising and short-handed sailing.