Rudders are commonly used, as are flotation bags or decking with bulkheads. The mast and boom are often aluminum and can be purchased through specialized canoe suppliers. These canoes can be very fast and competitive. The sailor steers with a paddle which is held in one hand. The sail area is determined by the length and width of the canoe, but is generally 40-44 square feet and no higher than 16 feet.
Some sails are lateen while others are sloop rigged.
These are sailed at Lake Sebago, Sloatsburg, NY on many summer weekends. The IYRR are available from the U.S. Sailing Association, Box 1260, Portsmouth, RI 02781. Length none none Min. This table is presented to demonstrate the differences among the different classes of open sailing canoes. For the final word on official specifications and rules, obtain the ACA Racing Rules and International Yacht Racing Rules, as described above.