Until around the mid-1950s, when modern composite sailcloth became widely used, the sails for Bermuda rigs were constructed using Egyptian cotton and had much shorter lifespans because the camber cut in to the cotton sails would lose its shape quickly. Interestingly, more modern Bermuda rigs use two independent backstays to make room for a "square head" main sail which has four sides, as opposed to a "pin head" sail which has three sides, as such a sail plan performs better. Many modern "square head" Bermuda rig main sails closely resemble the outline of some junk sails.
Prior to the mid-1950s, when modern composite sailcloth became widely used, Bermuda rigs' sails were crafted from Egyptian cotton and had shorter lifespans due to the camber cutting into the cotton sails, causing them to lose their shape quickly. Modern Bermuda rigs now employ two independent backstays to accommodate a "square head" main sail with four sides, as opposed to a "pin head" sail with three sides. This design enhances performance. Many modern "square head" Bermuda rig main sails resemble the outline of junk sails.