A sloop is a sailboat with a single mast ^[1] typically having only one headsail in front of the mast and one mainsail aft of (behind) the mast. ^{[note 1]} Such an arrangement is called a fore-and-aft rig , and can be rigged as a Bermuda rig with triangular sails fore and aft, or as a gaff-rig with triangular foresail(s) and a gaff rigged mainsail .

In naval terminology, " sloop-of-war " refers to the purpose of the craft, rather than to the specific size or sail-plan , and thus a sloop should not be confused with a sloop-of-war. The term is also used loosely with other sail plans, as with the Friendship Sloop , ^{[2] : 48-53} which is a cutter . ^[3]

Origins [ edit ]

The name originates from the Dutch sloep , which is related to the Old English sl?pan , to glide. ^[4] A sloop is usually regarded as a single-masted rig with a single headsail and a fore-and-aft mainsail. In this form, the sloop is the commonest of all sailing rigs – with the Bermuda sloop being the default rig for leisure craft, being used on types that range from simple cruising dinghies to large racing yachts with high-tech sail fabrics and large powerful winches. ^{[2] : 48?53} If the vessel has two or more headsails , the term cutter may be used, ^[5] especially if the mast is stepped further aft.

Variations [ edit ]

Before the Bermuda rig became popular outside of Bermuda in the early Twentieth Century, a (non-Bermudian) sloop might carry one or more square-rigged topsails which will be hung from a topsail yard and be supported from below by a crossjack. ^[6]

A sloop's headsail may be masthead-rigged or fractional-rigged. On a masthead-rigged sloop, the forestay (on which the headsail is carried) attaches at the top of the mast. On a fractional-rigged sloop, the forestay attaches to the mast at a point below the top. A sloop may use a bowsprit , a spar that projects forward from the bow .

Gallery [ edit ]

• 
  Bermuda-rigged sloop. The jib is a headsail . See cutter rig for other examples of headsails.
• 
  Gunter-rigged sloop
• 
  Gaff-rigged sloop with a headsail and a gaff topsail
• 
  Spritsail sloop
• 
  Sloop sail with multiple foresails and topsail

See also [ edit ]

• Mast aft rig , a single mast rig with a mast further back than a sloop or cutter
• Chialoup , an historical type of sloop produced in the East Indies
• Bermuda sloop , originally used for a type of sea-going, sloop-rigged vessel. Today used for any Bermuda-rigged sloop
• Bermuda Fitted Dinghy : a scaled-down sloop used for racing in Bermuda

Notes [ edit ]

References [ edit ]

External links [ edit ]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sloops .