This sailing beginner article is about some of the different types of sails used in modern sailing. On most sailboats there are two basic types of sails that are used, one is the main and the other is the jib. They are standard for boats of larger size. The main is the main power source, while the jib is a secondary source of propulsion and is mainly used in tacking or sailing upwind. They are made from cruising or a light grade polyester known as Dacron and are reinforced at the head, tack, and clew for extra strength. This makes this grade of sail good for light duty use.
For the bigger sailboats, the sail fabric is a performance grade or medium grade of polyester Dacron that is used, which offer good durability and performance. This grade would be used in coastal sailing, cruising, and club racing for boats up to 45 feet long. Then you have sails for blue water cruising that are made of premium grade polyester Dacron. These type is used for offshore sailing and are extremely strong and durable for optimum performance in a wide range of wind conditions.
Another type of sail used in extreme weather conditions is known as the storm sail. These are made of heavy duty Dacron and tripled stitched with reinforced leather at the luff, leech, and foot corners. There are two types, one is the trysail that replaces the mainsail and there is a storm jib that is also used in extreme weather conditions. Both of these types are smaller in size and mostly used for blue water and competition sailing that prevents heeling and keeps the boat under power for navigational control.
A spinnaker is unique type of sail and is designed for going downwind. It works by ballooning or filling with wind at the bow of the boat and is made up of lightweight fabric like nylon and comes in multitude of colors and patterns. When deployed it is called flying and can be optimized for a number of angles to catch the wind by shaping the sail.
A genoa type of sail is similar to a jib, but there is a difference. The jib is no larger than the triangular area that is formed by the three sides to include the mast, deck, and forestay. However, a genoa is larger as the leech will go past the mast overlapping the main. The foot is generally parallel and close to the deck when close hauled.
Another type of sail that was extensively used at the time of the Roman Empire was the lateen [meaning latin] sail. This type is triangular set on a long yard attached at angle on the mast. The lateen is still used on smaller recreational sailboats like the well known Sail and Sun Fish models. Coastal fishermen along the Mediterranean still use this design today. Different types of sails are used for different applications and boat designs. With new computer designs and fabrics, modern sails have a supreme advantage over those of the past.
Sailing Beginner - Launching Your Sailing Boat
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