Zeilplan

Zeilplan, or sail plan, is the arrangement and specification of sails on a sailing vessel. It describes which sails are used, their sizes, how they are rigged, and how they are controlled. A sail plan serves as a practical guide for skippers and crew to manage power, balance, and handling under varying wind conditions.

Core elements of a zeilplan include the type of rig (how many masts and where the sails are attached), the main sail and foresail configuration (such as jib, genoa, or staysails), and any ancillary sails (spinnaker or gennaker, gennets). The plan also notes sail areas, halyard and sheets routing, reefing points, and any differences between fractional and masthead mainsails. On multi-masted vessels, the arrangement of additional sails like a jigger, topsails, or mizzen becomes part of the plan.

Common rig configurations used in zeilplans are the sloop (one mast with mainsail and a single headsail), the cutter (one mast with two or more headsails), the ketch and yawl (two masts with distinct sail chemistries), and the schooner (two or more masts with fore-and-aft sails). Sail plans may differ by purpose, such as cruising, racing, or traditional sailing, and they are often optimized for expected conditions, ease of handling, and safety.

In practice, a zeilplan guides sail selection, reefing, and sail changes to maintain performance and balance as wind and sea state shift. Designers may use it to estimate sail area, center of effort, and stability, while sailors rely on it for efficient handling, speed potential, and safe maneuvering.