A spinnaker is a sail designed specifically for sailing off the wind on courses between a reach to downwind. Spinnakers are constructed of lightweight fabric, usually nylon, and are often brightly colored. They may be designed to perform best as either a reaching or a running spinnaker, by the shaping of the panels and seams. They are attached at only three points and said to be flown.
Amante, A 1983 "Choate 48" in Newport Beach, California, in February 2015 flying a symmetric spinnaker
Bear of Britain, a Farr 52 with masthead spinnaker in front of Calshot Spit
420 class dinghies with symmetric spinnakers.
RS K6 keelboat with an asymmetric spinnaker on a retracting bowsprit.
A sail is a tensile structure, which is made from fabric or other membrane materials, that uses wind power to propel sailing craft, including sailing ships, sailboats, windsurfers, ice boats, and even sail-powered land vehicles. Sails may be made from a combination of woven materials—including canvas or polyester cloth, laminated membranes or bonded filaments, usually in a three- or four-sided shape.
Square rigged frigate
Bermuda-rigged yawl.
Sailing hydrofoil catamaran with wingsail.
Egyptian sailing ship, ca. 1422–1411 BCE