The junk rig can make an excellent cruising rig. It is easy to handle, easy to reef, easy to maintain and the sails can be built by anyone with the right sewing machine, as they do not rely on complicated camber in order to function. Furthermore, they are fantastic off the wind (which is where you are most likely to be going) and do not require any specialist poles or sails to go dead downwind either. The price you pay for all these advantages is a reduction in windward performance and even this is being addressed by sail designers and by the addition of small jibs. I am not an expert on the
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