The different sails of a sailboat
While we tend to see only two most of the time, there are different sails that can be used on our sailing boats. Sailors change them for better performance, depending on the sea conditions. It is good to know the name of these sails and how each sail is used. The sails need to be adapted to the point of sail, depending on how close they are to the wind.
The flat sails
The Mainsail
This sail is attached to the boom and the back of the mast. The mainsail offers the essential property of being reduced depending on the strength of the wind, which involves taking in a reef or shaking one out, by lowering the sail on the mast. This sails is not always the biggest sail on board, as the spinnaker and big gennaker have a larger surface. The mainsail has different surface areas: full mainsail, 1 reef, 2 reefs or 3 reefs for some of them. Some racers even have a fourth reef !
J1 or Solent
The J1 is attached to the biggest stay, which goes from the bow to the mast head. It’s a flat sail that suited to sailing close to the wind, when the wind is between 10 and 15 knots. As the J1 is a big sail, it can also go up to 120 or even 130 degrees to the wind.
The J3 or Staysail
The J3 is on the shortest stay of the boat. It is the smallest jib onboard to be used in heavy weather. On the bigger boat, it can be used in combination with another headsail, from 90 degrees to 160 degrees to the wind, as well as being used downwind. It stabilises the boat and helps direct the flow of air towards the mainsail.
J2 & J3
J is quite used to refer to the jib sails. The numbers correspond to the attachment points on the stays, which are positioned closer or further away from the stern of the sailing boat. Number 1 is on the bow of the boat. Number 2 is slightly further back on the deck and number 3 quite some way back close to the mast, when smaller sails are required. The J2 is the sail that is attached to the main cable and is fitted to a furler. This is a rather flat sail with a wide range of uses from 45 to 110/120 degrees to the wind.
The Spinnaker
The spinnaker is the big balloon sail for use with the downwind. This huge sail is the biggest on board. The spinnaker is attached to the bowsprit. It can be an asymmetrical or symmetrical sail, with or without pole. It can be used with the wind from astern from 5 to 25 knots. When sailing alone, it must be bring down sooner.
Attached to a furler, this big downwind sail is used in similar conditions to the spinnaker. Sailors use it between 15 and 30 knots, at between 120 and 160 degrees to the wind.
Code Zero
Code zero is more flat sail. It is used when sailing close to the wind in lighter airs.
The Storm Sail
Storm sail is very small and strong sail for use in storms.
Due to the weight, a sail change is not always simple onboard of big family cruiser. Sometimes each of the sails weighs between 30 and 50 kg. A sail is also a halyard, sheets, furler, hook. Sail changes require a lot of energy from the crew. The cruising sails developed by Horizon Sails sailmakers are very popular with skippers. They are light and solid sails and keep their shape for long time.