| The sailboat comprises one of man's greatest | | | | a pivot point to allow moving the handle from side to |
| inventions, and it was instrumental in the exploration of | | | | side. The attached rudder responds to the movement |
| the world by sailors of old. That is probably why sailors | | | | to alter direction in the water. |
| still love the sailboat today. There is a special | | | | Mast, the Mainsail, and the Boom |
| connection that is made between the captain and | | | | The mast is the large stationary pole at the |
| crew of a vehicle moving without sound or the stench | | | | approximate center of the boat. The mainsail is the |
| of diesel fuel. It is a more civilized use of the | | | | primary wind catcher to propel the craft through the |
| waterways and a relaxing form of transportation. | | | | water. It attaches to the mast on the vertical side and |
| Sailboats employ the same eight parts that they have | | | | to the boom on the horizontal side. The boom pivots |
| for many centuries. Styles and materials may have | | | | from side to side to catch the wind and aid in the |
| improved, but the way a boat operates and uses the | | | | direction the sailboat takes. |
| wind and tides is today as it was in the times of brave | | | | The Jib |
| Ulysses. | | | | This is a smaller sail that is fixed in position to supply |
| The Hull | | | | additional power by catching the wind. |
| The hull is named so because it is the outer part of all | | | | The Keel |
| the equipment, cargo, and personnel. It is designed to | | | | Last among the sailboat critical parts is the keel. It is a |
| slide through the water with as little friction as possible | | | | flat piece that sticks deep into the water to balance |
| decreasing the drag. Sizes and shapes vary but the | | | | the ship and keep it from turning over in turbulent |
| two ends of the boat are always considered the | | | | waters or a gale. Sailors must be constantly aware of |
| same, the front is the bow, and the back is the stern. | | | | the depth of the water to prevent damage to the keel. |
| The Tiller and the Rudder | | | | Accomplished sailors can produce speeds of 5 to 7 |
| With more working parts and improved designs, | | | | knots with a thirty foot sailboat. Racing yachts can |
| sailboats have steering wheels to change the direction | | | | reach faster speeds, and much of that depends on |
| of the ship, but in the basic design, the tiller is attached | | | | the size and shape of the craft. At any speed, sailing is |
| to the rudder. The tiller is a long straight handle that has | | | | a continuing, fascinating hobby for the adventurer. |