Editing Sail components (section)

==Classifications==
{{See also|Fore-and-aft rig|Square rig}}
Sails may be classified as either ''triangular'', which describes sails that either come to one point of suspension at the top or where the sail comes to a point at the forward end, or ''quadrilateral'', which includes sails that are attached to a spar at the top and have three other sides, or as ''square''. They also may be classified as ''symmetrical'' ([[Square rig|square sails]] and symmetric [[spinnaker]]s) or ''asymmetrical'' (most other sails). Typically, asymmetrical sails perform better on [[Point of sail|points of sail]] closer to the wind than symmetrical sails and are designed for ''[[Fore-and-aft rig|fore-and-aft]]'' rigs. Symmetrical sails perform best on points of sail that are further from the wind direction.<ref name=Textor>
{{cite book
 | last = Textor
 | first = Ken
 | title = The New Book of Sail Trim
 | publisher = Sheridan House, Inc.
 | date = 1995
 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=2JIbS0c1XPwC&pg=PA50
 | pages = 228
 | isbn = 0924486813 }}
</ref><ref>
{{cite book
 | last = Mclaughlan
 | first = Ian
 | title = The Sloop of War: 1650-1763
 | publisher = Seaforth Publishing
 | date = 2014
 | pages = 288
 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=mUWuCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA19
 | isbn = 9781848321878 }}</ref>

===Triangular===
{{See also|Bermuda rig|Lateen|Crab claw sail}}
Triangular sails have names for each of three edges and three corners, [[#Shape|explained below]]. Rigs with such sails include [[Bermuda rig|Bermuda]], [[Cutter (boat)|cutter]], [[lateen]] and vessels with mixed sail plans that include [[jib]]s and other [[staysail]]s. Most triangular sails are classified as ''asymmetrical'' and ''fore and aft''; symmetric [[spinnaker]]s are ''symmetrical'' triangular sails that are designed for off-the-wind use.<ref name = Hancock/>

===Quadrilateral===
{{See also|Gaff rig|Gunter rig|Lug sail|Junk rig}}
[[Gaff rig|Gaff]], [[Gunter rig|gunter]], [[lug sail|lug]], [[Junk Rig|junk]] and some [[spritsail|sprit]] sails have four sides and are set ''fore and aft'' so that one edge is leading into the wind, forming an ''asymmetric'' quadrilateral shape. Naming conventions are consistent with triangular sails, except for the top edge and corners, as [[#Shape|explained below]].<ref name = Cunliffe/>

=== Square ===
A ''[[square rig]]'' is a type of [[Sail-plan|sail and rigging arrangement]] in which the primary driving sails are carried on horizontal [[spar (sailing)|spar]]s which are perpendicular, or [[wikt:square#Adjective|square]], to the [[keel]] of the vessel and to the masts—the sails themselves are not square but are ''symmetrically'' quadrilateral. These spars are called ''[[Yard (sailing)|yards]]'' and their tips, beyond the last stay, are called the ''[[yardarms]]<ref>Oxford English Dictionary</ref>''. A ship mainly so rigged is called a ''square-rigger''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Keegan |first=John |author-link=John Keegan |title=The Price of Admiralty |publisher=Viking |date=1989 |location=New York |page=[https://archive.org/details/priceofadmiralty00keeg/page/n311 280] |isbn=0-670-81416-4 |url=https://archive.org/details/priceofadmiralty00keeg |url-access=registration}}</ref>