The Sailboat
Sailboats date back to ancient times. They were favored because they were faster and more economical for use than rowboats. The earliest depiction of a sailboat is dated around 3200 BC in Egypt. The popularity and demand for these little boats grew until they became Egypt’s main export. Egyptians sailboat parts consisted of a single log, made from indigenous wood or Conifers from Lebanon. They usually had a single clothe sail and they had two oars to steer with. Phoenicians also made sailboats with the same basic design as the Egyptians, on long log and a single square sail and used them to trade with the Greek around 1200 BC. The Arabs and Chinese weren’t far behind and these small, versatile ships evolved into the modern sailboat.
Until the 15th century, sailboats in the middle ages were still made of one mast and one sail. In the 13th and 14th centuries, the Vikings made the jekte, which was mainly used for cargo and fishing. After the 15th century, ships were made large enough to need four masts and several sails. Vikings used sails on their longboats to replace or help rowers, which only increased the speed of these already fast, light weight, graceful crafts. The smallest of these longboats were called the snekke. It could carry 25 or more men with at least 12 oarsmen. It could be used for war or recreational activities like travel. And there are some ancient sail boats that can still outrun modern ships due to design. Today, although sailboats can still used for carrying fish to the market, depending on what part of the world you are in, the US prefers them for recreational purposes, the most well-known of these being the yacht. The yacht was most popular during the late 19th to early 20th century.
The evolution of the sailboat has included a fiberglass body that makes it lighter and faster. Sailboats are wider and shorter so that stability is increased. Sail boat parts, such as the sail itself, is made with synthetic materials. This enables the sail to retain its form in the wind better and can be lighter and stronger than cotton, cutting down on the weight of the sail. Other sail boat parts, such as buoys are made with polyethylene and closed-cell foam, able to perform but lighter in weight. And, of course, the addition of the gas-powered engine also increased speed and performance.
Another technological advancement is hydrofoils, which lift the hull of the ship above the water line to reduce friction between water and boat, increasing speed. When used, hydrofoils are able to completely lift a ship or boat out of the water. Hydrofoils are also used on certain sailboats crafted to skate across the surface of ice, called iceboats.
Modern sail boat parts include, but are not limited to, the head mast, mast, rudder, forestay, shroud, bow, deck, jib, mainsail, boom, gunwale, jib sheet, keel/centreboard, tiller, deck and hull. It is a far cry from what the ancient mariner started with, the first sailors not even having compasses to navigate with, but with the technological advances of today, it is quite possible to go faster than the wind.
