Sailing

Sailing, popular pastime or sport involving the navigation of a boat powered primarily by wind. The earliest known sailing vessels evolved in the Mediterranean region, particularly among the Upper Nile dwellers of ancient Egypt. These sailboats had a mast with 1 sail hung from a fixed yardarm. The Chinese developed the movable yardarm, which allowed vessels to sail with the wind across their bows as well as before the wind. In recent history, boats of varying lengths, with multiple sales and masts, gather to compete with other like vessels. The most prestigious of these races is the America's Cup, an international series of races begun in 1851 and dominated by the United States until 1983. Major competitors include the USSR, Australia (winner of the Cup in 1983), and Great Britain. Boats often used for racing include schooners and ketches (2 masts/5 sails) and yawls (2 masts/4 sails). Recreational cruises are often one-design boats, 16–23 ft (4.88–7.01 m) long, such as the Star, Mercury, Comet, Lightning, and Snipe.

See also: America's Cup.