What’s that sail for? I don’t usually know. So, I came up with a system. I’ll explain you everything there is to know about sails and rigs in this article.
What are the various types of sails? Most sailboats have one mainsail and one headsail. Typically, the mainsail is a fore-and-aft bermuda rig (triangular shaped). The headsail is made up of a jib and genoa. Most sailors use additional sails for different conditions: the spinnaker (a common downwind sail), gennaker, code zero (for upwind use), and stormsail.
Each sail has its own purpose. Want to go downwind fast? Use a spinning sail. But you can’t just raise any sail and go for it. It’s important to understand when (and how) to use each sail. The sails you can use will also depend on the rigging.
This article is part 1 of my series on sails and rig types. Part 2 will cover the various types of rigging. If you want to learn to identify every boat you see quickly, make sure to read it. It really explains the different sail plans and types of rigging clearly.
Read my in-depth article on sail rig type here
Different Sail Types
First I’ll give you a quick and dirty overview of sails in this list below. Then, I’ll walk you through the details of each sail type, and the sail plan, which is the godfather of sail type selection so to speak.
Click here if you just want to scroll through a bunch of pictures.
Here’s a list of different models of sails: (Don’t worry if you don’t yet understand some of the words, I’ll explain all of them in a bit)
- Mainsail
- Jib – triangular staysail
- Genoa – large jib that overlaps the mainsail
- Spinnaker – large balloon-shaped downwind sail for light airs
- Gennaker – crossover between a Genoa and Spinnaker
- Code Zero or Screecher – upwind spinnaker
- Drifter or reacher – a large, powerful, hanked on genoa, but made from lightweight fabric
- Windseeker – tall, narrow, high-clewed, and lightweight jib
- Trysail – smaller front-and-aft mainsail for heavy weather
- Storm jib – small jib for heavy weather
I have a big table below that explains the sail types and uses in detail.
I know, I know … this list is kind of messy, so to understand each sail, let’s place them in a system.
The first important distinction between sail types is the placement. The The mainsail is located aft the mast. This simply means that it is behind. The The headsail is located in front of the mast.
Generally, we have three sorts of sails on our boat:
- Mainsail: The large sail behind the mast which is attached to the mast and boom
- Headsail: The small sail in front of the mast, attached to the mast and forestay (ie. jib or genoa)
- Specialty sails: Any special utility sails, like spinnakers – large, balloon-shaped sails for downwind use
The second important distinction we need to make is the functionality. Specialty sails (just a name I came up with) each have different functionalities and are used for very specific conditions. These sails aren’t always up but many sailors have one or more.
These sails are usually attached to the head of the headsail or used to replace it.
The specialty sails can be divided into three different categories:
- downwind sails – like a spinnaker
- light air or reacher sails – like a code zero
- storm sails
The parts of any sail
Whether large or small, each sail consists roughly of the same elements. For clarity’s sake I’ve took an image of a sail from the world wide webs and added the different part names to it:
- Head: Top of the sail
- Tack: Lower front corner of the sail
- Foot: Bottom of the sail
- Luff: Forward edge of the sail
- Leech: Back edge of the sail
- Clew: Bottom back corner of the sail
So now we speak the same language, let’s dive into the real nitty gritty.
Basic sail shapes
Roughly speaking, there are actually just two sail shapes, so that’s easy enough. You get to choose from:
- square rigged sails
- fore-and-aft rigged sails
I would definitely recommend fore-and-aft rigged sails. Square-shaped sails have become very obsolete. The fore-and-aft rig offers unbeatable maneuverability, so that’s what most sailing yachts use nowadays.
Square sails were used on Viking longships and are good at sailing downwind. They run from side to side. They are pretty useless upwind.
A fore-and-aft sail runs from the front of the mast to the stern. Fore-and-aft literally means ‘in front and behind’. Boats with fore-and-aft rigged sails are better at sailing upwind and maneuvering in general. This type of sail was used first on Arabic boats.
The Sail Plan of a Bermuda Sloop
As a beginner sailor I confuse the type of sail with rigging all the time. But I should cut myself some slack, because the rigging and sails on a boat are very closely related. They are all part of the sail plan.
A sail plan is made up of:
- Mast configuration – refers to the number of masts and where they are placed
- Sail type – refers to the sail shape and functionality
- Rig type – refers to the way these sails are set up on your boat
There are dozens of sails and hundreds of possible configurations (or sail plans).
You may have extra headsails, which are known as staysails, depending on how your mast configuration is set up.
The The shape of the sails will depend on how they are rigged, so they may overlap. Let’s keep things simple. I will first cover the types of sails based on the most popular rig. The other types of rigs will be covered later in this article.
Bermuda Sloop: the most common rig
Most modern small and mid-sized sailboats have a Bermuda sloop configuration. The sloop is one-masted and has two sails, which are front-and-aft rigged. This type is also known as a Marconi Rig. The Bermuda rig uses a triangular sail, with just one side of the sail attached to the mast.
The The mainsail is used most of the time. It can be reefed, making it smaller depending upon the wind conditions. In heavy weather, it can be completely reefed. If you don’t already know, reefing is skipper terminology for folding or rolling down a sail.
In very strong winds (above 30 knots), most sailors only use the headsail or switch to a trysail.
The Your bow is powered by the mainsail, while your stern is powered by the mainsail. You can steer with only your sails if you have two sails. However, this is theoretically possible – it takes practice. In any case, two sails gives you better handling than one, but is still easy .
Mainsail Designs
Let’s get to the actual sails. The mainsail is attached behind the mast and to the boom, running to the stern. There are many options, but they really don’t differ too much. This list is somewhat boring. Feel free to skip it or quickly glance over it.
- Square Top racing mainsail – has a high performance profile thanks to the square top, optional reef points
- Racing mainsail – made for speed, optional reef points
- Cruising mainsail – low-maintenance, easy to use, made to last. You will usually have one or more reef points.
- Full-Batten Cruising mainsail: A cruising mainsail which has greater shape control. Eliminates flogging. Full-length battens mean that the sail has been reinforced all the way. You will usually have one or more reef points.
- High Roach mainsail – crossover between square top racing and cruising mainsail, used mostly on cats and multihulls. They usually have one or more reef points.
- Mast Furling mainsail – sails specially made to roll up inside the mast – very convenient but less control; of sail shape. Have no reef points
- Boom Furling mainsail – sails specially made to roll up inside the boom. Have no reef points.
Headsail Options
The headsail is the front sail in a front-and-aft rig. The sail is fixed on a stay (rope, wire or rod) which runs forward to the deck or bowsprit. It’s almost always triangular (Dutch fishermen are known to use rectangular headsail). A triangular headsail is also called a jib.
Headsails can be attached in two ways:
- using roller furlings – the sail rolls around the headstay
- hank on – fixed attachment
Types of jibs:
Typically a sloop carries a regular jib as its headsail. You can also attach a genoa.
- A jib is a triangular staysail set in front of the mast. It is the same size and shape as the fore triangle.
- A genoa is a large jib that overlaps the mainsail.
Jib
What’s the purpose of a jib sail? A jib is used to improve handling and to increase sail area on a sailboat. This helps to increase speed. The jib gives control over the bow (front) of the ship, making it easier to maneuver the ship. The The ship’s stern is controlled by the mainsail. The jib is the headsail (frontsail) on a front-and-aft rig.
The size of the jib is generally indicated by a number – J1, 2, 3, and so on. The Numbers indicate the attachment point. The order of attachment points may differ per sailmaker, so sometimes J1 is the largest jib (on the longest stay) and sometimes it’s the smallest (on the shortest stay). Typically the J1 jib is the largest – and the J3 jib the smallest.
Most jibs are roller furling jibs: this means they are attached to a stay and can be reefed down single-handedly. If you have a roller furling you can reef down the jib to all three positions and don’t need to carry different sizes.
Genoa
Originally called the ‘overlapping jib’, the leech of the genoa extends aft of the mast. This increases speed in light and moderate winds. The genoa is greater than the size of the fore triangle. A percentage indicates how large the genoa is.
- A number 1 genoa is typically 155% (it used to be 180%)
- A number 2 genoa is typically 125-140%
Genoas are typically made from 1.5US/oz polyester spinnaker cloth, or very light laminate.
Specialty Sails
This is where it gets pretty interesting. You can use all kinds of sails to increase speed, handling, and performance for different weather conditions.
Some rules of thumb:
- Large sails are typically good for downwind use, small sails are good for upwind use.
- Large sails can be used in weak winds (light wind), while smaller sails can be used for stronger winds (storms).
Downwind sails
Thanks to the front-and-aft rig sailboats are easier to maneuver, but they catch less wind as well. Downwind sails are used to offset this by using a large sail surface, pulling a sailboat downwind. They can be hanked on when needed and are typically balloon shaped.
Here are the most common downwind sails:
- Spinnaker
- Big gennaker
- Small gennaker
Spinnaker
A free-flying sail that fills up with air, giving it a balloon shape. The spinnaker is often brightly colored, making them look like kites. This downwind sail has the largest sail area, and it’s capable of moving a boat with very light wind. They are amazing to use on trade wind routes, where they can help you make quick progress.
Spinnakers require special rigging. You need a special pole and track on your mast. You attach the sail at three points: in the mast head using a halyard, on a pole, and on a sheet.
The The spinnaker’s symmetry means that the luff is twice as long as its leech. It is designed to reach large distances.
Gennaker or cruising spinnaker
The Gennaker is a cross between the genoa and the spinnaker. It performs less in the downwind than the spinnaker. It is a bit smaller, making it slower, but also easier to handle – while it remains very capable. The The cruising spinnaker was designed to allow for wide reaching.
The The gennaker is an asymmetric, smaller spinnaker that doesn’t require a track or pole on the mast. Like the spinnaker, and unlike the genoa, the gennaker is set flying. An asymmetric gennaker has a longer luff than its leech.
You can get big and small gennakers (roughly 75% and 50% the size of a true spinnaker).
Also called …
- the cruising spinnaker
- cruising chute
- pole-less spinnaker
- SpinDrifter
… it’s all the same sail.
Light air sails
There’s a bit of overlap between the downwind sails and light air sails. Although downwind sails are able to be used as light sails, not all light sails can go downwind.
Here are the most common light air sails:
- Spinnaker and gennaker
- Drifter reacher
- Code zero reacher
- Windseeker
Drifter reacher
A drifter (also called a reacher) is a lightweight, larger genoa for use in light winds. It is approximately 150-170% larger than a genoa. It’s made of very lightweight laminated spunnaker fabric (1.5 oz).
Thanks to the extra sail area the sail offers better downwind performance than a genoa. The sail is generally made of lightweight nylon. Thanks to it’s genoa characteristics the sail is easier to use than a cruising spinnaker.
Code zero reacher
The code zero reacher is officially a type of spinnaker, but it looks a lot like a large genoa. And that’s exactly what it is: a hybrid cross between the genoa and the asymmetrical spinnaker (gennaker). The Code zero, however, is made for close reaching. It’s much flatter than a spinnaker. It’s twice as large as a nonoverlapping jib.
Windseeker
A windseeker is a small, free-flying staysail for super light air. It’s tall and thin. It’s freestanding, so it’s not attached to the headstay. The tack attaches to a deck pad-eye. Use your spinnakers’ halyard to raise it and tension the luff.
It’s made from nylon or polyester spinnaker cloth (0.75 to 1.5US/oz).
It’s designed to guide light air onto the lee side of the main sail, ensuring a more even, smooth flow of air.
Stormsails
Stormsails are stronger than regular sails, and are designed to handle winds of over 45 knots. You carry them to spare the mainsail. Sails
A storm jib is a small triangular staysail for use in heavy weather. An orange storm jib is required for offshore racing. It’s required by ISAF.
A trysail is a storm replacement for the mainsail. It’s small, triangular, and it uses a permanently attached pennant. This allows it to be set above the gooseneck. It’s recommended to have a separate track on your mast for it – you don’t want to fiddle around when you actually really need it to be raised … now.
Complete Overview of Sail Uses
Why Use Different Sails At All?
You could just get the largest furling genoa and use it on all positions. Why would you use different types?
The main answer to that is efficiency. Certain situations may require additional characteristics.
Deeply reefed genoas are less efficient than small J3’s. The Too much draft can cause excessive heeling. Heeling can be increased by a reefed mainsail. It is recommended to have dedicated (or storm) sails, especially if you are planning difficult passages or crossings.
It’s not only strong winds that can cause problems, but also light winds. In very light winds, heavy sails won’t flap like laundry and will cause a lot of damage. So you need more lightweight fabrics to get you moving.
What are Sails Made From?
The most used materials for sails nowadays are:
- Dacron – woven polyester
- woven nylon
- laminated fabrics – increasingly popular
Sails used to be made of linen. As you can see, this material is terrible for open seas. Sails were rotting due to UV and saltwater. Cotton was introduced to replace linen in the 19th century.
It was only in the 20th century that sails were made from synthetic fibers, which were much stronger and durable. Most sails made up of Dacron were made prior to the 1980s. Nowadays, laminates using yellow aramids, Black Technora, carbon fiber and Spectra yarns are more and more used.
Laminates are as strong as Dacron, but a lot lighter – which matters with sails weighing up to 100 kg (220 pounds).
By the way: we think that Viking sails were made from wool and leather, which is quite impressive if you ask me.
Mast Configurations and Rig Types
In this section of the article I give you a quick and dirty summary of different sail plans or rig types which will help you to identify boats quickly. But if you want to really understand it clearly, I really recommend you read part 2 of this series, which is all about different rig types.
You can’t simply count the number of masts to identify rig type
But you can identify any rig type if you know what to look for. We have developed a system to recognize different types of rigs. Let’s take you through it. Read all about sail rig types
As I’ve said earlier, there are two major rig types: square rigged and fore-and-aft. We can divide the fore-and-aft rigs into three groups:
- Bermuda rig (we have talked about this one the whole time) – has a three-sided mainsail
- Gaff rig – has a four-sided mainsail, the head of the mainsail is guided by a gaff
- Lateen rig – has a three-sided mainsail on a long yard
There are roughly four types of boats:
- one masted boats – sloop, cutter
- two masted boats – ketch, schooner, brig
- three masted – barque
- fully rigged or ship rigged – tall ship
Everything with four masts is called a (tall) ship. I think it’s outside the scope of this article, but I have written a comprehensive guide to rigging. I’ll leave the three and four-masted rigs for now. If you want to know more, I encourage you to read part 2 of this series.
One-masted rigs
Boats with one mast can have either one sail, two sails, or three or more sails.
The 3 most common one-masted rigs are:
- Cat – one mast, one sail
- Sloop – one mast, two sails
- Cutter – one mast, three or more sails
1. Gaff Cat
2. Gaff Sloop
3. Cutter
Two-masted rigs
Two-masted boats can have an extra mast in front or behind the main mast. A mizzen mast is located behind (or aft) the main mast. A foremast is located in front of the main mast.
The 5 most common two-masted rigs are:
- Lugger – two masts (mizzen), with lugsail (cross between gaff rig and lateen rig) on both masts
- Yawl – two masts (mizzen), fore-and-aft rigged on both masts. Main mast taller than mizzen. Mizzen without mainsail.
- Ketch – two masts (mizzen), fore-and-aft rigged on both masts. Only slightly smaller mizzen on the main mast. Mainsail is for the mizzen.
- Schooner – Two masts (foremast), usually gaff rigged on both masts. Only slightly smaller foremast. Sometimes build with three masts, up to seven in the age of sail.
- Brig – two masts (foremast), partially square rigged. The main mast is rigged with small sails made of lateen.
1. Lugger
2. Yawl
3. Ketch
4. Schooner
5. Brigantine
This article is part 1 of a series about sails and rig types
If you want to read on and learn to identify any sail plans and rig type, we’ve found a series of questions that will help you do that quickly. Read all about recognizing rig types
Related Questions
What is the difference between a gennaker & spinnaker? A gennaker usually weighs less than a spinnaker. A gennaker doesn’t have a symmetrical design, unlike a spinnaker. It is asymmetrical like a genoa. It is however rigged like a spinnaker; it’s not attached to the forestay (like a jib or a genoa). It’s a downwind sail, and a cross between the genoa and the spinnaker (hence the name).
What is a Yankee sail? A Yankee sail refers to a jib having a high-cut cut clew that is about 3′ above its boom. A higher-clewed jib is good for reaching and is better in high waves, preventing the waves crash into the jibs foot. Yankee jibs tend to be used on traditional sailboats.
How heavy does a sail weight? Sails can weigh between 4.5 and 155 lbs (2 to 70 kg). The Because of this, the size of your sails will determine how heavy they are. Smaller boats have smaller sails (100 sq. Fabrics are thinner (3.5 oz) and can be used for a shorter length. Large racing yachts can carry sails of up to 400 sq. Heavy fabric, 14 oz., measures 155 lbs (70 kilograms) for each ft.
What’s the difference between a headsail and a staysail? The The headsail is the most forward-looking of all the staysails. Boats can only have one staysail. However, multiple staysails are possible. Every staysail is attached to a forward running stay. Not all staysails are located at the bow. A stay can run from the mizzen mast to the main mast as well.
What is a mizzenmast, exactly? Mizzenmast refers to the mast that is aft the main mast in a sailing rig with two or three masts. The The mizzenmast is shorter that the main mast. It can carry a mainsail with a ketch, lugger or other equipment. It sometimes doesn’t carry a mainsail, for example with a yawl, allowing it to be much shorter.
Special thanks to the following people for letting me use their quality photos:
- Bill Abbott – True Spinnaker with pole – CC BY-SA 2.0
- lotsemann – Volvo Ocean Race Alvimedica and the Code Zero versus SCA and the J1 – CC BY-SA 2.0
- Lisa Bat – US Naval Academy Trysail and Storm Jib dry fit – CC BY-SA 2.0
- Mike Powell – White gaff cat – CC BY-SA 2.0
- Anne Burgess – Lugger The Reaper at Scottish Traditional Boat Festival
