Sailing

Sailing is a way to travel on water without using an engine. Boats have large cloth sails that catch the wind. The wind pushes the boat forward across lakes, rivers, and oceans. People have sailed for thousands of years. Today, sailing is used for travel, sport, and fun.

How Sailing Works

A sailboat has tall poles called masts that hold up the sails. When wind blows into the sails, it pushes the boat. Sailors can turn the sails to catch the wind from different directions. A part under the boat called a keel helps keep it steady. A rudder at the back helps the sailor steer.

Tall sailing ships glide across the bay under a big bridge.
Tall sailing ships glide across the bay under a big bridge. (Cruadin / Wikimedia Commons)

Sailing Long Ago

Long ago, people built wooden ships with big sails to cross the seas. Explorers like Christopher Columbus sailed to faraway lands. Traders used ships to carry goods between countries. Sailors learned to read the stars and winds to find their way. Sailing helped people discover new places around the world.

Fun Facts

  • The biggest sailing ships had more than 30 sails.
  • Sailors use ropes called lines to control the sails.
  • The fastest sailboats can go more than 60 miles per hour.

Did You Know?

People were sailing boats more than 5,000 years ago. The ancient Egyptians used sailboats on the Nile River.