Parts of a sail facts for kids

In sailing, a sail is like the engine of a sailboat. It catches the wind to make the boat move! Just like different parts of a car have names, the different parts of a sail also have special names. Knowing these names helps sailors talk about their boats and sails clearly.

There are two main types of sails you'll often see: the three-sided mainsail and the four-sided mainsail. Each type has its own set of important parts.

Understanding Three-Sided Sails

Three-sided sails are very common. They usually look like a big triangle. Here are the main parts:

• The head is the very top corner of the sail. Think of it as the "head" of the sail, pointing upwards.
• The tack is the bottom corner of the sail that is closest to the mast (the tall pole holding the sail up). It's important not to confuse this "tack" (a corner) with the word "tack" that means which side of the boat the wind is coming from.
• The foot is the bottom edge of the sail. It stretches from the tack to the clew. This part of the sail often attaches to a pole called the boom.
• The luff is the front edge of the sail. This is the part that faces forward into the wind.
• The leech is the back edge of the sail. It's the part that trails behind as the boat moves.
• The clew is the bottom back corner of the sail. It's the corner furthest away from the mast.

Parts of a three sided sail: 1) Clew; 2) Head; 3) Tack

Exploring Four-Sided Sails

Four-sided sails are less common than three-sided ones, but you might see them on some older or special boats. They have an extra corner at the top.

• The peak is the very top corner of the sail.
• The throat is the top front corner of the sail. It's where the luff and the head meet.
• The tack is the bottom corner of the sail closest to the mast. Remember, this is a corner, not the direction of the wind!
• The foot is the bottom edge of the sail, running from the tack to the clew. It usually attaches to the boom.
• The head is the top edge of the sail. On a four-sided sail, the "head" refers to the entire top edge, not just a corner like on a three-sided sail.
• The luff is the front edge of the sail. It's the part that leads into the wind.
• The leech is the back edge of the sail. This is the trailing edge.
• The clew is the bottom back corner of the sail. It's the corner furthest from the mast.

Parts of a four sided sail

What is a Headsail?

A headsail is any sail that is placed in front of the main mast on a sailboat. If a boat has more than one mast, the headsail is usually in front of the mast closest to the front of the boat (the bow). The parts of a headsail have similar names to other sails, but their position is always at the front of the boat. For example, the tack of a headsail is the lower corner closest to the front of the boat.

Other Important Sailing Parts

When you're learning about sails, you'll also hear about these parts that work with them:

• The boom is a strong horizontal pole that runs along the bottom edge (the foot) of a sail. It helps to control the shape and position of the sail.
• The jib is another very common sail on a sailboat. It is always located in front of the main mast.
• A sheet is a special rope used by sailors to control the position and angle of a sail.

Images for kids

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  Square sail edges and corners (top), running rigging (bottom)

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  Laminated sail with Kevlar and Carbon fibers.

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  Catamaran with full-length battens in a laminated sail.

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  Sail detail at the tack of a mainsail, showing various types of seam stitches where panels join, bolt ropes in the luff and foot, and two cringles.

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  Leech line with jam cleat to control the tension on the leach of a foresail.

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  Headboard on a mainsail.

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  Sail battens made from a variety of materials.