In modern usage, a sloop is a sailboat with a single mast
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. As with many rig definitions, it was some time before the term sloop referred to the type of rig.
Regionally, the definition also takes into account the position of the mast. A forward mast placement and a fixed (as opposed to ) bowsprit, but with two headsails may give categorisation as a sloop. An example is the Friendship Sloop.
Origins
The name originates from the
Dutch language sloep, which is related to the
Old English slūpan, to glide.
The original Dutch term applied to an open rowing boat. 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 rigswith 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.
If the vessel has two or more
, the term cutter is usually applied, though there are regional and historic variations on this. A boat with a forward mast placement and a fixed bowsprit, but more than one headsail, may be called a sloop. The
Friendship sloop is an example of this. Particularly with historic craft, categorisation as a cutter may rely on having a running bowsprit.
Variations
Before the Bermuda rig became popular outside of Bermuda in the early 20th century, a (non-Bermudian) sloop might carry one or more square-rigged topsails, hung from a topsail yard and sheeted to a lower yard.
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
Sloop Example Other.svg|Bermuda rig sloop. The jib is a headsail. See cutter rig for other examples of headsails.
Sail plan gunter.svg|Gunter-rigged sloop
Sail plan sloop.svg|Gaff-rigged sloop with a headsail and a gaff topsail
Spriet tuig tekening.jpg|Spritsail sloop
Sail plan sloop4.svg|Sloop sail with multiple foresails and topsail
See also
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Bermuda Fitted Dinghy: a scaled-down sloop used for racing in Bermuda
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Bermuda sloop, originally used for a type of sea-going, sloop-rigged vessel. Today used for any Bermuda-rigged sloop
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Chialoup, a historical type of sloop produced in the East Indies
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Mast aft rig, a single mast rig with a mast further back than a sloop or cutter
Notes
External links
