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A yacht is not just a hull, but a collection of helpful parts which each has its own importance. The viewer of a sailing yacht gets the impression that she is just built below her mast, rigging and sails. In reality it's just the opposite. The mast can only be there, because the hull can carry her ! The same goes for the sails. Important fact is the relation between the weight from the rigging and the ballast. We have to realize that 1 kg top weight in the masts brings 8.5 kg ballast in the keel... (Just static equalizing) Being careful with top weights is just as essential as the boat being watertight ! And not to speak about windage ! The wind load on mast and rigging in storm conditions is enormous. This is one of the reasons why roller furlings are not the best solution for long distance cruisers. This rolls of sail + the weight, which can not be taken away without opening the sail, (no fun in a force 8 or 9!!) makes the yacht heels more, even under bare pools .. All logic things, but look into harbours, it seems that nobody ever heard of it ! So, conclusion : A mast has not to be too high, nor oversized (weight) and the rigging must be well distributed over the mast panels. The sails has to be not too big, and the used surfaces has to be distributed over smaller sails. And there again the cutter comes in view. Only on her stay sail a cutter rigged yacht can handle bad storms... And let's not use roller furling's... And all those long times with light airs ?? We can use fore sails from light materials, ghosters, a-symmetrical spi's and normal spinnakers.

(A ghoster is a huge fore sail mounted on hanks with a foot which is as long as the yacht..) They can be taken away quickly, and in time ! I myself never used this kind of sails at night. Better have a good quiet night than panic by sudden wind changes. We are not racing - but trying to go from "A" to "B" as comfortable and safe as possible and enjoying the trip !!

Engines are for most sailors a dirty, greasy monster in their yacht. And nowadays, installed engines are getting less powerfull. I think that just for a "Passage Maker" having enough power on board is essential for cruising in peace. 3-4 Kw/Ton ships weight is good to escape from a downwind coast, or get the yacht free when grounded under sail. And when at night your anchor is dragging, it's good to have power on your propeller! The engine is driving a solid three bladed 15-17" propeller with a "V" drive. And remember: Engines uses grams of fuel/Kw/hr. So on lower revs a bigger engine is not using more fuel as a small one on his top revs!!