It’s safe to say a sailboat is only as good as its sails when you consider that capturing the wind’s energy is the premise behind what sailors do to propel their boats in a forward direction. A good captain will trim those said sails to be as efficient as possible and the proper heading will help with overall performance, but the sail is the driving force of the boat.
Naturally, we should know the difference between the various sails and how they work.
These are the sails that you would find on a generic keelboat rigged as a sloop. It is, in fact, the common of sail plans and thus serves us well for this explanation of sails and their duties on a sailboat.
The Mainsail: It has its forward edge attached to the mast
The Headsail: This is a generic term that refers to any sail that sits forward of the mast. The most common is the Jib. When a jib is so large that it overlaps the mast it is called a genoa.
Parts of a Sail
- Luff -A sail’s forward edge. The luff of the mainsail is usually hoisted up and attached to the mast. The luff of the jib is attached to the forestay.
- Leech – The sail’s back edge.
- Foot – The bottom edge of the sail
- Tack – Between the luff and the foot is the tack. The tack is attached to the boat or a spar.
- Head – The corner at the top of the sail between the luff and the leech.
- Clew – The third triangle of a sail between the leech and the foot.
- Batten – Solid slats or rods to help maintain the desired airfoil shape.
Learning to Sail
- ASA 101: What You’ll Learn ASA 101 is your introduction to Basic Keelboat Sailboat and is your key to a lifetime of sailing.
- How To Sail Sailing a boat is part art and part skill but few activities offer such a variety of pleasures as sailing. Something special occurs when you cast off the lines and leave your cares at the dock.
- 7 Tips For The Beginning Sailor There are the obvious things you need when you go sailing, sunscreen, a hat, a windbreaker, non-skid shoes, and wind. However, what do you really need to be ready to head out on the water?
- How To Learn To Sail You won’t have to buy a boat or learn a new language or buy a new wardrobe to get a taste for sailing. You can dictate how much you want to experience.
- Learning To Sail Is Just The Beginning Sailing means different things to different people. At ASA we understand that learning to sail is just the beginning of a relationship with a lifestyle that is infectious. Where will sailing take you? We have a few ideas but how you view sailing is the most important.
- What Is Your Role on a Boat? What type of sailor are you and what role do you take on the boat? Your ASA sailing education will prepare you to be a skipper on a sailing vessel and with that comes the responsibility of keeping your crew safe and ensuring the safety of the vessel you are sailing.
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