Sailboats may all have sails and be powered by the wind, but they are not all one homogenous group. There are differences between boats in their size, design, culture and use. Some of these differences are obvious, others less so. The distinction between a daysailer and a racer, for example, is fairly clear cut when it comes to performance and comfort levels but the difference between a cruiser and a yawl is not as well defined.
All sailing boats have a keel, the bottom of the hull that is usually heavy and deep. The keel is a vital part of the structure, but it can also be a disadvantage because the turbulence that it creates along the hull adds up to resistance four or five times greater than the pressure increase of the boat’s motion through water when the keel is smooth and laminar.
Some modern boats have a fin keel that is short but carries a lot of weight in two “wings” that run sideways from the main portion of the keel, which can move the boat’s center of gravity forward for better performance. More traditional boats often have a full keel that is half or more of the length of the hull.
Catamarans, which have two hulls instead of one, are often used for cruising because they provide more stability and room to live aboard. They also have smaller hydrodynamic resistance, which means they can travel faster with less wind or engine power. The larger size of a catamaran also means more space for guests and can allow the boat to stay at anchor longer, which makes them great for overnight trips or longer passages.
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