Yacht facts for kids
A yacht is a special type of boat used mostly for fun and relaxation. Unlike smaller boats, yachts usually have a cabin inside. This means people can stay overnight without needing to go back to the harbour. Originally, yachts were sailing-boats, but today you can also find motor yachts. The word "yacht" comes from the Dutch word jachtschip, which meant "hunting-boat" or "fast boat." Yachts have a strong, fixed part underneath called a keel that helps them stay stable.
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What is a Yacht?
Yachts are boats designed for pleasure, like cruising, racing, or just relaxing on the water. They are different from working boats, such as fishing boats or cargo ships. Yachts can be small enough for a family weekend trip or huge enough to be like a floating mansion.
How Big Are Yachts?
Yachts come in many sizes. They can be about 20 feet (6 meters) long, which is like a small bus. Some can be much bigger, reaching 200 feet (60 meters) or more. That's longer than two basketball courts!
Most yachts owned by families are between 23 feet (7 meters) and 46 feet (14 meters) long. Building and keeping a yacht gets much more expensive the longer it is.
Sailing Yachts vs. Motor Yachts
There are two main types of yachts:
- Sailing yachts: These use sails and the wind to move across the water. They are often used for racing or quiet trips.
- Motor yachts: These use engines to move. They can be very fast and are popular for long journeys or luxury cruises.
Yachting as a Sport
In some places, especially the United States, smaller yachts are often called sailboats. The sport of sailing these boats is known as yachting. When sailboats compete in a race, any sailing vessel taking part is called a yacht. This means even smaller boats can be called yachts if they are racing.
Images for kids
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Cruising ketch, Windcrest, in 2007.
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Azzam bei Lürssen.JPG
The superyacht Azzam, one of the largest private yachts in the world.
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An 18th-century Dutch jacht.
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The 1893 America's Cup race between Vigilant and Valkyrie II.
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The steam yacht, Gunilda, around 1910.
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The cruising yacht, Zapata II, in 2013.
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Inside a sailing yacht with a fold-down table, kitchen (galley), and navigation area.
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The control room (wheelhouse) of the motor yacht, Taransay, in 2015, showing navigation screens.
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A small sailing yacht with an outboard motor in 2017.
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A cruising catamaran (a yacht with two hulls) in 2012.
See also
In Spanish: Yate para niños
