How a three-masted rig helps a sailing ship turn

How much mechanical advantage can a three-masted sailing rig give the rudder?

It can materially assist a turn through sail trim, but the advantage varies with hull shape, rig arrangement, and the maneuver, so no universal figure applies.

The panel rejects a single numerical answer because a compact ship of the line and a long, narrow clipper respond differently even when both carry three masts. Correctly angling and trimming sails can shift the aerodynamic forces acting on the hull and help the rudder turn the vessel. Hull length, beam, underwater form, and the exact rig affect that leverage as much as the mere number of masts. Sailing-ship control therefore depends on the interaction between sail plan and hydrodynamics rather than the rudder alone.