A lugger is a sailing vessel defined by its rig, using the lug sail on all of its one or more masts. Luggers were widely used as working craft, particularly off the coasts of France, England, Ireland and Scotland. Luggers varied extensively in size and design. Many were undecked, open boats, some of which operated from beach landings. Others were fully decked craft. Some larger examples might carry lug topsails.
Reaper, a Fifie, a type of sailing drifter built in the Northeast of Scotland
Luggers at Looe Bay, showing use of jib and topsails
A French lugger, beached and drying nets. The lugsail is spread on the beach. Painted by Gustave Courbet around 1874.
Corentin, a replica chasse-marée
The lug sail, or lugsail, is a fore-and-aft, four-cornered sail that is suspended from a spar, called a yard. When raised, the sail area overlaps the mast. For "standing lug" rigs, the sail may remain on the same side of the mast on both the port and starboard tacks. For "dipping lug" rigs, the sail is lowered partially or totally to be brought around to the leeward side of the mast in order to optimize the efficiency of the sail on both tacks.
A replica of a longboat from the French frigate La Résolue The original was captured in 1786 in Bantry and is now in the National Museum of Ireland. Such replicas are referred to as a Yole de Bantry.
