The B&R Rig: Unlocking the Secrets of Hunter Sailboats' Unique Mast

In a Nutshell...

The B&R rig, a distinctive sail plan almost synonymous with Hunter sailboats, is an innovative mast and rigging system designed by Swedish engineers Lars Bergström and Sven Ridder. It’s easily identified by its dramatically swept-back spreaders and the absence of a standing backstay. This design allows for a powerful, full-roach mainsail and creates a strong, stable structure that’s simpler to handle, making it a favourite among cruisers.

The B&R Rig on a Hunter 376

Ever spotted a Hunter sailboat out on the water and noticed something a little… different about its mast and sails? You’re not alone. That distinctive configuration is often the B&R rig, a sail plan that’s become virtually synonymous with the Hunter brand, especially their American-built cruising models.

But this isn't just a quirky design choice; it's a carefully engineered system with a fascinating history and a clear purpose. So, what exactly is a B&R rig, and why did Hunter embrace it so wholeheartedly? Let's untangle the lines and find out.

The Brains Behind the Rig

The B&R rig proudly carries the names of its designers: Lars Bergström and Sven Ridder. These two ingenious Swedish aeronautical engineers weren’t content to simply follow traditional sailboat rigging blueprints. They were driven by a desire to optimize both sailing performance and structural integrity, initially making waves in the world of high-performance racing yachts in the 1970s. Their clever solutions, proven in demanding competitive environments, eventually found a perfect, practical home in Hunter's cruising line, where stability, ease of handling and maximizing interior volume were always paramount.

At its heart, the B&R rig operates as a fractional rig. This means the forestay—that critical wire supporting the mast from the bow—doesn't stretch all the way to the very top. Instead, it anchors somewhere below the masthead, typically around 80-90% of its height.

What Makes the B&R Rig Stand Out?

A few key characteristics immediately set the B&R rig apart from more conventional sailboat setups. As a sailor, it's those subtle visual cues that first get your attention on the water.

• Dramatically Swept-Back Spreaders: This is probably the most visually arresting feature. The spreaders, which extend outwards to push the shrouds (the crucial side supports for the mast) wide, are angled significantly aft. This pronounced sweep provides exceptionally robust lateral support for the mast. The genius here? It often eliminates the need for traditional running backstays—those extra wires that can be a real nuisance, especially on a cruising boat where simplicity is king.

• No Backstay (Typically): Yes, you read that right. Because those swept-back spreaders and the powerful main shrouds offer such excellent aft support, most B&R sailboat rigs simply don't have a standing backstay. This absence is a huge win for sailors: it frees up the cockpit, removes an annoying obstruction and makes stepping on and off the transom (especially on boats with walk-through designs) much easier.

• The Role of Diamond Stays: You'll often see diamond stays, or "jumpers," on a B&R rig. These are shorter stays running from the mast at the spreader tips to points above and below on the mast, forming a distinct diamond shape. Their job is to help control mast bend and add stiffness to the mast section between where the forestay attaches and the masthead.

• A Mainsail with Serious "Roach": With no backstay in the way, the mainsail on a B&R rig can boast a much larger "roach"—that graceful curved portion of the sail that extends beyond the straight line from the mast to the clew. This extra sail area, particularly high up where the wind is less disturbed and stronger, contributes significantly to the boat's raw power. It's why many Hunter sailboats can feel surprisingly well-powered, even with a smaller headsail.

• The Masthead Crane: Instead of relying on a backstay, the very top of the mast on a B&R rig often features a sturdy masthead crane that extends aft. This robust fitting provides the necessary support for that uppermost section of the mast.

Why Sailors Love the B&R Rig: Key Advantages

Hunter didn't adopt the B&R rig just to be different; it offers some truly compelling advantages for the everyday recreational sailor. I’ve spent plenty of time on both traditional rigs and B&R rigs, and the benefits for cruising are clear.

• Simplified Handling: No backstay to worry about means tacking and gybing become smoother, less cluttered affairs. Couple this with that powerful mainsail, and you often find less reliance on a large genoa, making sail handling generally more manageable, a big plus for couples or those sailing singlehanded.

• Spacious Interiors: The mast on a B&R rig is typically deck-stepped (it rests on the deck) rather than keel-stepped (passing through the deck down to the keel). This is a game-changer for interior space; no mast running through the cabin means more usable living area below and a simpler, less obstructed cabin sole.

• Inherent Strength and Stability: Don't let its unconventional looks fool you. The B&R rig is an exceptionally strong and stable design. That extensive lateral support from the swept-back spreaders and multiple shrouds creates a genuinely robust mast structure.

• Solid Upwind Performance: That ability to carry a large, efficient mainsail with plenty of roach translates directly into good upwind performance, ensuring the boat makes good progress, even if it's not trying to set speed records.

• Uncluttered Aft Deck and Transom: This is a major win for functionality. The absence of a backstay provides unimpeded access to the swim platform, making dinghy davits easier to install and use, and simply enjoying the stern area a more open experience.

Potential Downsides and Considerations of the B&R Rig

While the B&R rig boasts many benefits, it's also worth acknowledging a few points that often come up in discussions among sailors.

• Mainsail Chafe Downwind: One of the most frequently mentioned aspects is that those highly swept-back spreaders can sometimes rub against the mainsail when you're sailing directly downwind (on a broad reach or dead run). This can lead to wear over time. While a sacrificial patch on the sail can help mitigate this, it often means owners adjust their course slightly off a dead run to prevent excessive chafe. Hunter owners tell me that even with proper sail care, this is a continuous battle you have to monitor.

• Nuanced Tuning: While robust, getting optimal B&R rig tuning can be less intuitive than on a more conventional setup. The interaction of multiple, highly loaded shrouds and diagonals, along with the pre-bend built into the mast, creates a complex system. Getting it perfectly dialled in requires a specific understanding to ensure even stresses and proper performance. Unlike rigs with adjustable backstays, fine-tuning forestay tension for precise pointing ability, for instance, involves adjusting side stays, which isn't as quick or easy.

• Offshore Redundancy Perceptions: For some traditional bluewater sailors, the absence of a conventional standing backstay can be a point of discussion regarding redundancy. While the B&R rig is engineered to be incredibly strong through its unique, tripod-like geometry, a single failure of the forestay without any secondary forward support like a babystay might be seen as a higher risk by those accustomed to more traditional rigging practices. If you're looking for more general information on the components and terminology, you can refer to our comprehensive guide, The A-Z of Sailboat Rigging: A Guide to Standing & Running Rigging.

• Historical Wear Points: While the overall design is solid, some older Hunter sailboats with B&R rigs have occasionally shown issues with welded spreader attachments to the mast. These can sometimes develop cracks or tears over a long period, typically due to fatigue or improper tuning, and may require costly repairs that involve un-stepping the mast. This highlights the importance of thorough pre-purchase surveys and regular rigging inspections.

Sailing and Trimming with the B&R Rig

While the core concepts of sailing remain the same, the B&R rig has some specific characteristics that affect how you trim your sails, particularly upwind and downwind.

Upwind Sailing: Maximising Drive and Pointing On a traditional rig, sailors often use the adjustable backstay to tension the forestay and flatten the mainsail for upwind performance. On a B&R rig, with no backstay to pull on, this is done differently. The powerful mainsail is the primary driver upwind. Trimming involves using the mainsheet, boom vang, and Cunningham to control the sail's shape and twist. You'll rely more on the primary shrouds and diagonals to maintain the necessary mast pre-bend and forestay tension. The swept-back spreaders naturally provide a good amount of forestay tension, but for that final bit of pointing, you'll need to work the mainsheet and vang to get the sail shape just right.

Downwind Sailing: Dealing with the Swept Spreaders As we've mentioned, downwind sailing on a B&R rig presents a challenge: mainsail chafe. When you let the mainsail out on a broad reach or a run, the sail will inevitably contact the swept-back spreaders. While you can use chafe patches on the sail, a more proactive approach is to sail on a course that keeps the sail just clear of the spreaders. For a true dead-downwind run, many B&R rig owners find it more efficient and safer to use a spinnaker or cruising chute rather than risk damaging the mainsail.

Reefing a B&R Mainsail With its large mainsail, the B&R rig can generate significant power. When the wind picks up, reefing is crucial. Because the mast is so well-supported by the shrouds and diamonds, the process is straightforward and feels very secure. Unlike a conventional rig where a loose backstay can make reefing feel less stable, the B&R mast is rock-solid. You can simply head up into the wind slightly, ease the halyard, and pull in the reefing line without any worries about the mast deforming.

B&R Rig vs. Traditional Rig: A Quick Look

To put this all into perspective, here’s a quick comparison of the B&R rig against a more conventional masthead rig, the kind you might find on many other cruising yachts.

Summing Up

The B&R rig is a clever and robust piece of engineering that has rightly earned its place in the sailing world, particularly among Hunter owners. By rethinking the traditional sail plan, Bergström and Ridder created a system that delivers on its promises of strength, performance and, most importantly for the cruising sailor, simplicity. While it has its own set of unique considerations, its advantages—from the powerful mainsail to the spacious cockpit—make it a compelling choice for anyone looking for a comfortable and capable yacht. It's a prime example of how innovative design can redefine what's possible, even in a discipline as old as sailing.

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