SAILING GLOSSARY

Sails

Sails are large surfaces made of fabric or synthetic material attached to a sailboat’s rigging and designed to use the force of the wind to propel the boat. Their shape and size vary depending on their purpose and the direction of the wind. The main sails on a sailboat are generally the mainsail and headsails, such as the genoa or jib. Some sails, such as the spinnaker, are specifically designed for downwind points of sail. In short, they’re what allow the boat to move without making the engine do all the work!