Well, no response from Mudcatters with regard to the sloop scoop but fortunately I got hold of nautical author James Nelson, who happens to live in Maine and had something to do with the committee that designed and built this replica tall ship back in the late 1980's:

"Good catch on the sloop/brig thing. It's been a while since I was knee deep in the history of that ship, but I think I recall enough. LW was originally a sloop, commanded my Robert Grey, while the Columbia was commanded by the less competent Kendrick (I think that was the name) When they got to the Pacific Northwest they traded, and Kendrick essentially stole the LW and took off to do what he wished. One of the things he did was re-rig her as a brig. He also took her to Japan, first United States vessel ever to visit, all without the owners permission. Anyway, the goons in Washington (state) decided to rig her with her brig outfit, rather than the original sloop. Probably a good call - the sloop mainsail would have been enormous and unweildy."

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, who is now better informed!