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{{Short description|Sail boat with a single mast and a fore-and-aft rig}}
{{About|the type of sailing boat|the warship|Sloop-of-war}}
[[File:C55 Kiel2007.jpg|thumb|A Bermuda sloop, the most common version of the sloop in modern sailing vessels{{r|Bennett 2005|p=52}}{{dubious|this is a dinghy with a rig, not a sloop|date=September 2025}}]]
[[File:Niagara (1895 sloop) big (cropped).png|thumb|[[Gaff rigged]] sloop, 1899]]

In modern usage, a '''sloop''' is a [[sailboat]] with a single [[mast (sailing)|mast]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=SLOOP |url=https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/sloop |website=Cambridge English Dictionary |access-date=2019-05-12 |language=en}}</ref> generally having only one headsail in front of the mast and one [[mainsail]] abaft (behind) the mast. It is a type of [[fore-and-aft rig]]. The mainsail may be of any type, most often [[Bermuda rig]], but also others, such as [[Gaff rig|gaff]] or [[Gunter rig|gunter]].

In naval terminology, "[[sloop-of-war]]" refers to the purpose of the craft, rather than to the specific size or [[sail-plan]], and thus a sloop should not be confused with a sloop-of-war. As with many rig definitions, it was some time before the term sloop referred to the type of rig.

Regionally, the definition also takes into account the position of the mast. A forward mast placement and a fixed (as opposed to {{nautical term|running (adjective)|running}}) bowsprit, but with two headsails may give categorisation as a sloop. An example is the [[Friendship Sloop]].{{r|Bennett 2005|p=48-53}}

== Origins ==
The name originates from the [[Dutch language|Dutch]] ''sloep'', which is related to the [[Old English]] ''slūpan'', to glide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sloop |url=https://www.dictionary.com/browse/sloop |website=Dictionary.com |access-date=12 May 2019}}</ref> The original Dutch term applied to an open rowing boat.{{r|Bennett 2005|p=49}} A sloop is usually regarded as a single-masted rig with a single headsail and a fore-and-aft mainsail. In this form, the sloop is the commonest of all sailing rigs{{snd}}with the Bermuda sloop being the default rig for leisure craft, being used on types that range from simple cruising dinghies to large racing yachts with high-tech sail fabrics and large powerful winches.<ref name="Bennett 2005">{{cite book |last1=Bennett |first1=Jenny |title=Sailing Rigs, an Illustrated Guide |date=2005 |publisher=Chatham Publishing |location=London |isbn=1-86176-243-7}}</ref>{{rp|48–53}}If the vessel has two or more [[headsail]]s, the term [[Cutter (boat)|cutter]] is usually applied, though there are regional and historic variations on this. A boat with a forward mast placement and a fixed bowsprit, but more than one headsail, may be called a sloop. The [[Friendship sloop]] is an example of this. Particularly with historic craft, categorisation as a cutter may rely on having a running bowsprit.{{r|Bennett 2005|pp=49-55}}

== Variations ==
[[File:Bermudian sloops racing.jpg|thumb|19th century Bermudian sloops racing]]

Before the Bermuda rig became popular outside of Bermuda in the early 20th century, a (non-Bermudian) sloop might carry one or more square-rigged topsails, hung from a topsail yard and sheeted to a lower yard.<ref>{{cite book|title=Progressive Dictionary of the English Language|first=Samuel |last=Fallows|date=1885|page=148|publisher=Progressive}}</ref>

A sloop's headsail may be masthead-rigged or fractional-rigged. On a masthead-rigged sloop, the [[forestay]] (on which the headsail is carried) attaches at the top of the mast. On a fractional-rigged sloop, the forestay attaches to the mast at a point below the top. A sloop may use a [[bowsprit]], a spar that projects forward from the [[Bow (watercraft)|bow]].

== Gallery ==
<gallery width=100 class="center">
Sloop Example Other.svg|[[Bermuda rig|Bermuda-rigged]] sloop. The jib is a [[headsail]]. See [[cutter rig]] for other examples of headsails.
Sail plan gunter.svg|[[Gunter-rigged]] sloop
Sail plan sloop.svg|[[Gaff-rigged]] sloop with a headsail and a [[Topsail#Gaff rig|gaff topsail]]
Spriet tuig tekening.jpg|[[Spritsail]] sloop
Sail plan sloop4.svg|Sloop sail with multiple foresails and topsail 
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Bermuda Fitted Dinghy]]: a scaled-down sloop used for racing in Bermuda
* [[Bermuda sloop]], originally used for a type of sea-going, sloop-rigged vessel. Today used for any Bermuda-rigged sloop
* [[Chialoup]], an historical type of sloop produced in the [[East Indies]]
* [[Mast aft rig]], a single mast rig with a mast further back than a sloop or cutter

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Sloops}}

{{Sailing vessels and rigs}}
{{Sail Types}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Sloops| ]]
[[Category:Oyster sloops]]
[[Category:Pirate ships]]
[[Category:Sailboat types]]
[[Category:Sailing rigs and rigging]]
[[Category:Tall ships]]