Different Sail Types Explained (9 Types of Sails)

In this video, you will learn the placement and function of different sails. What sails to use in a storm, and in light air? You'll also learn what a spinnaker and gennaker are, and why it matters what kind of sails you carry.

The sails I'll discuss are: mainsail, trysail, jib, genoa, spinnaker, gennaker, code zero, storm jib, storm trysail.

Special thanks to the following people for letting me use their quality photos:

Bill Abbott - True Spinnaker with pole - CC BY-SA 2.0
lotsemann - Volvo Ocean Race Alvimedica and the Code Zero versus SCA and the J1 - CC BY-SA 2.0
Lisa Bat - US Naval Academy Trysail and Storm Jib dry fit - CC BY-SA 2.0
Mike Powell - White gaff cat - CC BY-SA 2.0

[BriansGeminiMC]

Thank you for that, Very informative, I sailed a 34 foot Catamaran for 3000 Nmiles across three oceans, Fiji to Australia,
When I bought the boat, I didnt know how to sail, Im a motor boat man, 6 weeks in Fiji learning to sail it, Then I single handed it to OZ,
I had a Main and a Genoa, and a brand new Jib in the locker, I had no idea on what a Jib looked like or how it fitted to my boat,
Now I do, Thank you, I will stick to the Genoa, Its easy to operate in all winds and wave conditions from the cockpit,


I was in Fiji for two weeks before I took the cover off the Main sail, WOW, It had ropes hanging out of every where, I had no idea on what they did or how they worked, Pub on Mololo Island, Fiji, with the professional sailors sorted me out to get it working, Along with a lot of laughs, But I got no false information from them, They did teach me to sail in the Pub, I practised during the day, Then asked at night in the Pub,
Crash course in sailing, Learn on the way home, Hahahaha


Using the GPS in the trade winds, I found I got one knot extra using the main and the Genoa, So I stopped using the Main, It just wasnt worth the effort of putting it up, 3 to 10 Knots average was quite ample for me, At that speed, I dont break things,
Its a very big ocean with nothing in it and no help if some thing breaks, Im on my own and must fix it all by myself,
To me, They are all still ropes, I dont know the fancy terms for them all,
I did have back up plans if I couldnt sail it home myself, ,


!/ Hire a Captain to sail it home and learn from him or her on the way,
2/ Drive it home on the Diesel at 7 knots all the way, , I had 750 Nmiles of diesel on board, Island hopping for diesel,


Now to find a video on what the ropes are called,

[N.California]

I too have recently been getting into sailing, bout 3 years now and I'm 48. So it's reassuring to know other people get into sailing at a not so young age as well. I don't feel as alone now, lol.

[franktappen]

I grew up sailing. Thank you for breaking down all the sail configurations. I learned some things from your video. You also helped me remember things I had forgotten. Great video.

[johnvanderkieftiv]

Great job! Just bought a Catalina 250 and needed help with understanding sails…

[touayaaj]

most underated video on youtube about sails. Answered every one of my questions.

[gavinratcliffe]

You have a very nice peaceful yet informative way of teaching. Well done 👍

[geoffbecker]

You have the “spinnaker” and “gennaker” backwards. Dark blue boar, has a gennaker with tack attached to stem fitting at the bow. The small dinghies have spinnakers with poles...they are hard to see, but they are there. The biggest difference between the two is the shape...A gennaker is Asymmetrical, basically meaning the shape of the front of the sail is different than the back (leading edge or trailing edge of the sail). A spinnaker shape is symmetrical where both sides are shaped the same and either side can be the leading edge or trailing edge.

[lrmorrison]

The first lesson in sailing is to get from point A to point B in the shortest total distance/time using the wind. Sailing down wind is just using your Dacron Sails like a big parachute. You will not be getting the best performance out of your sails. On a broad reach or close hauled, you are now using the sail like a vertical wing on an airplane. The forward “belly” of the sail when properly trimmed, pulls” the boat through the water, it does very little pushing as in downwind sailing. My father, an aeronautical engineer designed and built a custom small fiberglass catamaran with an unusual rig, the mast was extremely tall for the length of the boat and the special main sail was very narrow, but had a shape akin to the wing of an airplane. The boat was very fast on a broad reach or close hauled. Down wind, it sailed like most of the competition.

[KoldingDenmark]

Thank you. All the translated names in one go.

[jasonbigg]

You saved me so much time. Love your delivery. Seriously, thank you

[dixee]

Thank you for sharing this subject in a more simplified and eadier to understand form. Subscribed 🙂

[pilotnelson]

Thank you for "clearing the aire" on sails!

[rayhopkins]

The main sale is the main sail. Brilliant explanation.

[thespeedofchillax]

really informative video man, thanks much and good job for sure.

[Rieksfier]

Thank you for the video. It was very helpful for someone maybe thinking of getting into sailing.

[pjmullin]

Thank you for that video. Was searching around trying to understand all the names and this summed it up nicely.

[gpjapan]

Hello. Thank you. I really liked your video. I've subscribed, .

[IraklyShanidzeX]

you probably should have mentioned that the principal difference between specialty sails discussed here and a regular jib/genoa is that they are attached only at the head, tack, and clew while the jib is attached with its all luff. It allows for better aerodynamics while sailing downwind.

[abhishekparmar]

Subbed and love it keep making content ols

[juliashaw]

Great review of sails. Except one error at 7:28 minutes:
The dinghies are sailing with SYMMETRICAL SPINNAKERS and spinnaker poles (not GENNAKERS)!
You can see the spinnaker pole attached to the tack, in the boat furthest to the left of the photo, and the symmetrical shape of the sails.
With gennakers the tack is usually attached to the bowspit or a retractable bowspit, not a moveable spinnaker pole, with two sheets attached to the clew.
The shape of the gennaker is closer to the shape of a genoa, than a downwind spinnaker.
Symmetrical spinnakers are also seen in Cadet, 420, 470 dinghies, and Dragons.