Sloop

A slup is a comparatively small watercraft under sail. Exactly what type of ship or boat the term refers to has changed again and again; depending on the historical era, small freighters, naval vessels or pleasure craft may be meant.

A modern slup is a sailboat with a mast, a mainsail (A) and a headsail (B). Today, the term refers to the type of sails, the slup rigging, whereas in the past it was generally used for smaller watercraft (e.g. sloops).

As the main or mainsail, modern slups usually use a triangular highsail (Marconi or Bermuda rig, see high rig). In traditional sailors, such as the BM dinghy still built today, you can still find the more original steep gaff sail.

The triangular headsail is either a jib or a genoa, which has more sail area. On larger yachts, you will also find both headsails hoisted at the same time as a furling jib or furling genoa, but usually only one sail is set at a time. (A sailing yacht with two headsails set at the same time is cutter-rigged).

In addition, a slup rig can be supplemented by a balloon-shaped spinnaker.

The slup rigged Bermuda rig has become popular on modern sailboats and yachts from the first half of the 20th century onwards because it has fewer elements than the gaff rig and is therefore easier to use. In addition, a Bermuda rig allows you to sail higher up the wind, i.e. at a more acute angle to the wind.

The so-called Bermuda sloop, built in large numbers in the first half of the 18th century, was appreciated by merchants and pirates alike, as it was a seaworthy and fast vessel. A construction drawing of a Bermuda sloop has been preserved from a treatise by the Swedish ship designer Fredrik Henrik af Chapman, published in 1768. It was a ship of 20 metres in length and 6.5 metres in breadth, equipped with ten cannons and twelve revolving bassen.

See also

• Sloop for the designation of unclassified naval craft in the English navy, originating in slup-rigged warships of the 17th century.