What is a Sailboat?
A sailboat is a wind-powered vessel whose sole or primary source of power comes from the use of sails to move atop and through water. As a sailboat, when solely under the power of sail, the vessel enjoys certain navigational benefits such as right-of-way privileges. However, if supplemental power from a diesel or gas powered engine is used, whether for docking or other precise maneuvers, a sailboat technically becomes another power-driven vessel and is subject to power boating rules. In the same way that highway motorists must abide by certain laws and regulations governing the rules of the road, every boater, whether in a sailboat or powerboat, must be informed concerning navigational rules. To learn more, a good start is to acquire a copy of the “U.S. Coast Guard’s Navigation Rules, International-Inland” which can also be obtained at most marine store outlets. The twin forces of aerodynamics and hydrodynamics work together to propel a sailboat through the water. As the wind strikes t
