Parts of a Sailboat

Sailing boats come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, but they all share the same basic ability to float and move with the power of wind. Whether you’re preparing to race in an Olympic class sailboat or just cruise with friends, the same fundamental principles of sailing apply. This article will explore the parts of a sailboat, the different types of sails and how they work with the hull to create thrust.

The hull is the waterproof body of the boat and can be made from wood, aluminium or fibreglass. The shape of the hull, the amount of weight on board and how much the boat is loaded will affect its speed and manoeuvrability.

Sails, like any other piece of fabric, need to be properly trimmed to ensure they are always flying parallel to the ground. Thin ribbon threads, called feathers, run along the edges of a correctly trimmed sail. When a sail is trimmed correctly, air passes over the sails and forms lift, which creates forward momentum for the sailboat.

If the boat is moving angled to the wind, the sails will harness the force of the wind and push the boat sideways. But the wind isn’t the only thing pushing the boat: The long, flat keel submerged underneath the hull pivots upward with the motion of the sails to create a sideways force in the water that helps balance the boat.

Some high-performance sailboats can sail faster than the wind by following a series of zig-zag courses with broad and close reaches. These courses require the boat to change tack frequently as the wind passes over the bow or stern of the vessel. The boat will also need to jibe (or gybe) if it’s going on a course scud or on a wing and wing.