Description

The sloop is a Dutch designed small, fore-and-aft-rigged vessel equipped with one or two square sails before the mast. This vessel becomes very popular in the Caribbean during the 1630s and 1640s. It is extremely fast and exceptionally maneuverable - better than almost any other ship in light winds. (In strong winds, though, a sloop can be considerably slower than a larger ship.) Under oars the sloop can move directly into the wind. A sloop has a shallow draft, allowing it to sail over shoals with no risk.

Despite its modest size and cargo capacity, the sloop's maneuverability is so great that many buccaneers prefer it to larger, more powerful craft. Indeed, the English Royal Navy has built a number of sloops for its own use as pirate hunters.

The Sloop of War and Royal sloop are larger variations of this vessel.