Yacht
A yacht is a boat or ship used for pleasure, racing, or private travel, typically powered by sails or an engine.
Hull (watercraft): The watertight body of a boat or ship, providing buoyancy and supporting its structure. Hull shape affects a yacht’s speed, stability, and suitability for different waters.
Yacht racing: Competitive races between sailing or motor yachts, governed by rules and course formats. Racing yachts prioritize performance, crew coordination, and compliance with class rules.
Sailboat: A boat primarily propelled by sails, ranging from small dinghies to large cruising vessels. A sailboat may be called a yacht when its use or size fits recreational or racing convention.
America's Cup: An international sailing competition for advanced racing yachts, first contested in 1851. The Cup has driven yacht design and made high-performance sailing a global contest.
Sail plan: The arrangement and size of sails on a sailing vessel. A yacht’s sail plan determines how it harnesses wind and balances power with handling.
Cruising (sailing): Recreational sailing that emphasizes travel and time under sail rather than competition. Cruising yachts are equipped for extended journeys and life aboard.
Motorboat: A boat propelled mainly by an engine rather than sails. Motorboats overlap with motor yachts, but the yacht label usually signals leisure use or greater scale.
Yacht design: The process of shaping a yacht’s hull, structure, systems, and accommodation for its intended use. Yachting has encouraged specialized designs balancing speed, seaworthiness, comfort, and cost.
Keel: A structural member or underwater fin along a vessel’s bottom that supports stability and tracking. Many sailing yachts use a keel to resist sideways drift and counter sail force.
Charter yacht: A yacht hired for a voyage or period, with or without a professional crew. Chartering makes yacht travel available without requiring ownership.