WORD OF THE DAY

A ketch is a sturdy, strong sailboat that has two masts and usually weighs over 100 tons. A ketch is a good sailboat to cruise around on if you’re experienced enough to handle a big boat (or if you know someone who is).

It's more common to sail a ketch in Europe than in the United States, where sailors tend to prefer the schooner. The two boats are similar in size and have two masts, but a ketch has a smaller sail in back. Fans of the ketch describe it as extremely balanced, while critics say a ketch loses power too easily because of that small rear sail. The word was originally spelled "catch," from the Middle English cacchen, for “to capture, chase.”