A sloop is a type of sailing boat with a single mast and two sails: a large mainsail behind the mast and a smaller jib in front. This simple but efficient design makes sloops some of the most popular sailboats in the world.

The single-mast setup means one person can often handle a sloop alone, though it's usually more fun and safer with a small crew. You'll see sloops racing in harbors, cruising along coastlines, and even crossing oceans. Their design balances speed and ease of handling, making them favorites for both weekend sailors and serious ocean voyagers.

Sloops range from small day-sailers just fifteen feet long to ocean-crossing vessels over fifty feet. What makes a boat a sloop isn't its size but its sail arrangement: one mast and two sails. If you add more masts or change the sail configuration, you get different types of boats, like schooners or ketches.