| Sail boats have been around since ancient times. | | | | travel. There are the foresails, headsails, Genoa, |
| These boats have proven to be a faster and | | | | headsail and a Jib. Al the sails of a boat are |
| economical way to get around as compared to | | | | arranged in a particular order known as a 'sail plan'. |
| row boats. The ancient Romans developed a way | | | | This plan is arranged according to two opposed |
| to have the two techniques combined to form a | | | | forces that apply to the ship. The opposition of |
| formidable navy of thousands of galleys. These | | | | the water to the movement of the ship and the |
| galleys were rigged with multiple sails that could | | | | force of the wind that forces the ship forward. |
| propel the boat in the wind. The rows were | | | | This simple act of tying a sheet to a mast to |
| manned by slaves or condemned men and were | | | | make a boat move has developed through the |
| used when the wind was against the sails and in | | | | ages in to a science of sorts. |
| the opposite direction the boat needed to sail. | | | | The sail of the boat is set according to the |
| When man fitted his ship with a sail he probably | | | | purpose of the boat. A race boar will have a |
| made the most cost efficient way to travel - Sail | | | | particularly designed sail to serve the small boat |
| and boat. | | | | with good speed and a cruiser will have |
| The wind provides the power that sails the boat. | | | | appropriate sails that will allow the cruiser to sail |
| A sail that is well designed can be a good wind | | | | lazily on the water. The type of sail boat will also |
| trap that propels the boat forward. The sail of | | | | depend on the time you intend to sail and where |
| the boat must be very strong, usually made from | | | | you intend to go. If you want to get out to the |
| canvas that is very thick and fastened to the | | | | deep blue sea you will need sails that will be able |
| mast of the ship with the strongest ropes made | | | | to withstand the forces of the sea gales. The |
| from jute and cotton. | | | | type of sail boat you want to use will also be |
| The fastest sail boats were the clipper ships. | | | | decided by the budget you are willing to put aside |
| These were ships that relied only on wind power | | | | for the purchase of the sail boat. |
| and were designed to use the winds optimum | | | | In modern times sail material has changed radically. |
| efficiency. The ship itself was designed according | | | | Ancient sail boats used hand woven sails that |
| to aerodynamics and to offer the least water | | | | were very durable and could easily stand the |
| resistance while sailing. They were very sleek | | | | onslaught of the salty waves and the wind. |
| boats with uniquely designed sails. | | | | However, modern sails are made of very durable |
| A boat may have many kinds of sails to propel | | | | and lightweight polyester material that is synthetic |
| the boat. The sails are set according to the speed | | | | and can withstand dampness better than the sails |
| of the wind and the speed the boat needs to | | | | made from natural fiber. |