sailed

Sailed is the past tense of the verb sail. In nautical contexts, to sail means to move a vessel across water by catching the wind in its sails. A ship or boat that has sailed has traveled under sail, though many modern vessels also rely on engines or other propulsion.

Sailing has a deep historical record. Sail-powered vessels enabled exploration, trade, and naval warfare from ancient times onward. Early rigs included square sails on broad hulls, while later developments introduced lateen and combination rigs, improving maneuverability and performance. Over the centuries, rig configurations such as schooners, brigantines, and cutters were developed for different climates, cargos, and speeds. In modern eras, sailing ships often serve ceremonial, training, or tourism roles, while competitive and recreational sailing remains widespread.

In practice, sailing requires adjusting sails to the wind and steering the vessel along a chosen course. Common terms describe this process: tack and jibe refer to turning relative to the wind; trimming involves setting sail shapes and angles for efficiency. Points of sail, such as close-hauled, beam reach, broad reach, and running, describe the vessel’s direction relative to the wind. Modern sailing vessels may use electronic navigation aids, safety equipment, and auxiliary power, but the basic principle remains catching wind with sails to propel the craft.

Today, sailing is a recreational activity, sport, and professional skill in commercial, military, and research contexts. The word sailed appears in historical records, travel logs, and literature to denote voyages conducted under sail.