A sloop is a sailboat with a fore-and-aft rig and a single mast farther forward than the mast of a cutter. A sloop’s fore-triangle is smaller than a cutter’s, and a sloop usually bends only one headsail, though this distinction is not definitive. Unlike cutters, sloops usually have only one headsail, though some sloops such as the Friendship Sloop have more than one. Ultimately the position of the mast is the most important factor in determining if the ship is indeed a sloop.

Sloop

On a gaff rigged, single masted boat, the clearest distinction between a sloop and a cutter is the run of the forestay. On the sloop, it runs to the outboard end of the bowsprit, which means that spar must always stay in position and cannot be retracted. On the cutter, the forestay runs to the stem head of the hull. This allows the bowsprit to be run back inboard and stowed. This can be helpful in crowded harbours or when stowing the jib in strong wind conditions.