Freedom Yachts is the maker of the Freedom (sail) and Legacy (power) yacht brands. The Freedom Sailboats are known for their unstayed rigs. This means the mast is freestanding and not supported by the normal set of wires called standing rigging. The masts are made of carbon fiber and are set well forward on the boat. This means most of the sail area is contained in the mainsail. Jib sails can either be overlapping or self-tending. A mast is a pole which holds a sail of a boat, see mast (sailing). ... On a sailing boat, the standing rigging is that collection of lines which are fixed. ... Carbon fiber composite is a strong, light and very expensive material. ... A mainsail is the most important sail raised from the main (or only) mast of a sailing vessel. ... A jib is a triangular staysail set ahead of the foremost mast of a sailing boat. ...
Freedom yachts are designed to be easy to sail. Since with a large main and self-tending jib, tacking is as easy as turning the wheel - there are no winches to grind. Although unstayed rigs are controversial, incidences of mast failure are relatively rare. Because the mast is forward and there are no shrouds or stays in the way, the deck and cabin are relatively open and uncluttered. A shroud is typically something, usually a cloth, that covers or protects some other object. ...