B&R Rig Design Info Source Help + Feedback on Such Rigs

[UNCIVILIZED]

Hi Guys,
I may be getting involved with a custom boat design project/build. More specifically, a high performance cruiser/racer. Ergo, there will be a much lesser need to be able to fully ease out the mainsail downwind. As the boat will be fast enough to always be reaching, when sailing off of the wind.
Thus, part of the project could entail creating a Bergstrom & Ridder (B&R) type rig for her. Or something close there to. Such as Hunter did with some of their boats, for example.

The reasoning behind such (a rig) being that;
- There would be less weight aloft vs. a conventional rig. AKA one can use a more svelte tube on a boat with more Righting Moment.
- You can build a light weight rig of this type, which, pound for pound, is more forgiving of "user error", or "interventions of Neptune", than you can with a standard rig.
- There's a "ripe" tube (or 3) available for such a conversion. Well, more or less
- No/less backstay/runners to deal with, vs. a standard rig.
- Built in Standing Rigging "redundancy".
- The ability to carry a huge, highly aerodynamically efficient main. Thanks to the backstayless/less backstay/runner concept (built into the design).

So, I'm hoping that someone, or several someone's, can point me towards some good info sources, & or references, regarding the (rough) design(ing) of such rigs. And the critical factors involved therein.
For example, how one chooses a (mast) tube, to begin with, based upon the boat's Righting Moment. And how one decides on what size standing rigging is required, plus, how it's attached (and to where, as well as how)?

Also, I'm curious to hear feedback (pros & cons) from anyone who's had significant experience/sea time with one (or several) of these rigs. Including anyone who has, or had one on their Hunter for a while.
Especially as compared to a standard rig. Be it in the racing, or cruising, context.

Plus, what are the big sticking points, & expenses involved in putting one together vs. a conventional rig? And any & all tips & info on both tangs, & spreader design (& construction) would be Greatly appreciated. Ditto on the design of mast steps; be they keel type, or deck type.

And... of course, anything else of significance which I may have left out, due to being on the steeper part of the learning curve about these rigs.

Thanks in advance

[jackdale]

A couple of quick thoughts.

They are meant to facilitate the use of a high roach main. Why folks use them with in mast furling is beyond me.

The swept back spreaders mitigate against down wind performance as you ease the mainsail as far as desirable.

The hull mounted chainplates prevent the use of larger genoas and require inboard fairlead cars.

The mast will be mounted further forward affecting the location of interior bulkheads. You will need to work closely with the boat designer on mast placement, interior design, sail plan, keel design, etc..

[UNCIVILIZED]

Most of this, while helpful (Thanks), is old news, but for the following.

Originally Posted by jackdale

A couple of quick thoughts.

They are meant to facilitate the use of a high roach main. Why folks use them with in mast furling is beyond me.

The swept back spreaders mitigate against down wind performance as you ease the mainsail as far as desirable.
As mentioned, it'll be a high performance boat, for which it only makes sense to gybe downwind (more). As the VMG is better. So this isn't a big handicap, if at all.

The hull mounted chainplates prevent the use of larger genoas and require inboard fairlead cars.
The designs being entertained are pretty narrow. Narro enough so that most of her headsails are designed to be sheeted outside of the staying base (for the mast) as it is. For all but the tiny ones anyway.

The mast will be mounted further forward affecting the location of interior bulkheads. You will need to work closely with the boat designer on mast placement, interior design, sail plan, keel design, etc..

I'm VERY curious to know why this is mandatory with B&R rigs?

Many Thanks.