Sloop

:For the warships of the 1800s to World War II, see Sloop-of-war.

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In sailing, a sloop is a vessel with a single mast on which is hoisted a fore-and-aft rigged mainsail and a single jib, plus extras such as a spinnaker.

Related Topics:
Sailing - Mast - Fore-and-aft rig - Mainsail - Jib - Extras - Spinnaker

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The name sloop has several other historical meanings, see below.

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A marconi sloop is the optimal rig for upwind sailing, and consequently sloops are very popular with amateur sailors and yachtsmen, and for racing. The rig is simple—at least in its basic form—yet, when tuned properly, maneuverable and fast. Its main disadvantage is the large size of the sails on larger vessels. It is also less successful sailing downwind; The addition of a spinnaker is necessary for reasonable downwind speed in all but the strongest winds, and the spinnaker is an intrinsically unstable sail requiring continual trimming.

Related Topics:
Marconi sloop - Spinnaker

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