sailboats with black sails

Why Do Yachts Have Black Sails? [The Reason Explained]

One of the joys of owning a yacht is that you get to customize that baby like nobody’s business. That’s why no two yachts ever look the same, even if they’re exactly the same make and model. From the upholstery, to the console, the decking, and of course the body paint, you can do pretty much anything you want with a yacht. Oh, except for the sails.

If you’ve been hanging around yachts enough, you might have noticed that all of them have black sails. What gives? Is this some unspoken yacht owner pact? Or is it all just a grand coincidence? Why do yachts have black sails? Here’s what you need to know.

Why Do Yachts Have Black Sails?

Unbeknownst to most people, yacht sails actually have a long history of design changes and modifications. Way back when, sails were made from cotton and came in a variety of colors, but often just a basic beige.

As time went on and manufacturers discovered better ways to make sails more efficient, they tossed out the cotton in favor of Kevlar. This material had Kevlar lines woven right into them which gave the sails better strength against strong winds. This also gave the sails a yellow tinge.

Fast forward a few years, and carbon fiber became the standard for yacht sails. They provided excellent resilience, UV resistance, and just the right flexibility to accommodate changes in wind strength and speed. And while they can come in different colors, most manufacturers offer them in plain black since they’re easier to manufacture that way.

Well, that covers pretty much the basics. But if you really want to get into it, then here are some of the most common reasons why yachts have black sails:

It’s What’s Available

Manufacturers for yacht sails compete closely with one another. So whatever sails one of them offers will be the same sails that others do. And since carbon fiber sails are pretty much the standard these days, that’s what all of them have in stock.

Keep in mind that they don’t really choose to make them black. It’s just that the material is naturally black because of the carbon. These fibers are weaved into the material which is basically layers of polyester that are naturally transparent.

Can they make them in other colors? Probably. But since black has become the standard, it seems they’re not really keen on mixing up the look. What’s more, making an effort to change the colors might mean having to add other materials into the mix, changing the way the sail performs all together.

It’s the Standard

The black color has become strongly associated with performance sails. It’s kind of like the marker of a quality sail. Yacht owners and even regular boat enthusiasts know that a black sail is the standard of top performance because it’s made from premium materials.

That said, changing the color might distance the product from that image. And since manufacturers don’t want to dissociate from being ‘top quality’ brands, there’s really no reason to try to change things up by offering other sail colors that might not be recognized as top tier.

It’s Sleek and Aesthetically Pleasing

Let’s be honest -- a black sail definitely adds a sporty look to a yacht. These high performance sails are intended to make your yacht operate optimally even in the face of strong winds and waves. And to match this competitive performance, they offer a distinct, athletic look.

No doubt, going for a spin in a yacht with black sails can make your vessel look like a true-blue, competition worthy boat. In fact, most boats that use these black carbon fiber sails actually compete in various water sports and racing events, which has associated the black color with supreme performance.

It’s a Mark of Quality

If you’re familiar with black sails for yachts, then you know from just a glance that these dark sails are the mark of quality. Actually anyone who wants to get a quality sail for their yacht will likely go for the black ones first since they’re developed for optimal performance in various wind conditions.

In essence, a black sail is like a seal of quality and durability. So if you want to showcase your yacht and demonstrate your superiority without having to say a word, all you really need is a black sail.

Are There Other Colors for Yacht Sails?

Absolutely -- sails still come in a variety of colors. In fact, you can get them in virtually any color you want. The trade-off though is that you probably won’t find carbon fiber sails in any other color but a dark gray or black. But that’s okay especially if you’re not really interested in using your boat competitively.

Unless you’re into competitive sailing or racing, you probably won’t need a carbon fiber sail. There are lots of other sails on the market that use various other materials, like Dacron sails which are still in use today. These were popular before Kevlar, but still find their place on the market because of their so-so performance and affordable prices.

Keep in mind though that when you buy a sail just to change up the color, you also sacrifice the durability and performance of the sail. As of writing, there is no other type of material that matches the level of performance, resilience, and quality of carbon fiber sails . So naturally, sails that come in other colors (and thus use different materials) will likely produce substandard performance.

Once You Go Black

So, why do yachts have black sails? It’s really a matter of material. Carbon fiber sails are all the rage these days for boat owners who want to get the best performance out of their yacht. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get a sail in a different color. There are lots of sails available on the market -- many of them offered in a variety of hues. Just remember that if they’re not carbon-fiber, they may not be as reliable as performance grade sails.

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Why Racing Sailing Yachts Opt for Black Sails: An Insider’s Guide

Racing sailing yachts are often seen with black sails, which can be a striking and intimidating sight for onlookers. But why do these boats use black sails, and what advantages do they offer?

One reason for the use of black sails is to reduce glare and improve visibility for the crew. White sails can reflect sunlight and create a glare that makes it difficult to see the course ahead, especially in bright conditions. Black sails absorb light and reduce glare, making it easier for sailors to spot obstacles and make quick decisions.

Another advantage of black sails is their ability to absorb heat and transfer it to the sailcloth, which can help to create more lift and speed. This is particularly useful in light wind conditions, where the extra boost can make a significant difference. Additionally, black sails can be made from materials that are more durable and resistant to UV damage, which can extend their lifespan and reduce maintenance costs.

Advantages of Black Sails

Black sails have become a popular choice for racing sailing yachts due to the following advantages:

Black sails give a sleek and modern look to the yacht, which is visually appealing and can attract sponsors and fans. The sails also look good in photographs and videos, which is important for marketing purposes.

Higher Speeds

Black sails absorb more sunlight than white sails, which makes them warmer and increases their efficiency. This can result in higher speeds, especially in light winds. The difference in speed may not be significant, but it can make a difference in a race where every second counts.

UV Protection

Black sails are less likely to fade or get damaged by UV rays than white sails. This is because black sails absorb more light and heat than white sails, which can cause them to break down faster. Black sails made of carbon fibers are especially resistant to UV damage and can last longer than other materials.

Durability and Strength

Black sails are made of strong and durable materials, such as carbon fibers, which can withstand high winds and rough seas. They are also less likely to get dirty or stained than white sails, which can be a problem in long races.

Black sails are usually lighter than white sails, which can make a difference in racing. The weight savings can be used to add other equipment or to improve the yacht’s performance.

Black sails absorb more heat than white sails, which can be a disadvantage in hot weather. The heat can make the yacht’s cabin uncomfortable and can affect the crew’s performance. However, this can be mitigated by using lighter materials or by adding ventilation.

In conclusion, black sails have several advantages over white sails, including a sleek look, higher speeds, UV protection, durability and strength, and weight savings. However, they may not be suitable for all conditions, especially in hot weather.

Disadvantages of Black Sails

Black sails may look sleek and stylish, but they do come with some disadvantages that sailors should consider before choosing them for their racing yachts.

One of the main disadvantages of black sails is their cost. They are often more expensive than traditional white sails, as they require special materials and manufacturing processes. This can be a significant investment for sailors, and may not be worth it for those on a tight budget.

Maintenance

Black sails also require more maintenance than white sails. They tend to show dirt and stains more easily, which means they need to be cleaned more frequently. Additionally, black sails can be prone to fading over time, which means they may need to be replaced more frequently than white sails.

Delamination

Another potential issue with black sails is delamination. This occurs when the layers of the sail start to separate, which can weaken the sail and make it less effective. Black sails are more prone to delamination than white sails, which means sailors need to be vigilant about checking for signs of damage.

Black sails are also more susceptible to damage from UV rays. The dark color absorbs more sunlight, which can cause the material to break down more quickly. Sailors need to be careful to store their black sails properly and to protect them from the sun when not in use.

Finally, black sails can be less visible than white sails, especially in low light conditions. This can make it more difficult for other boats and ships to see the racing yacht, which could be dangerous. Sailors need to take extra precautions to ensure their boat is visible to other vessels on the water.

Overall, while black sails may look impressive, they do come with some drawbacks that sailors need to consider before choosing them for their racing yachts.

Material Composition of Black Sails

Black sails are a common sight in racing sailing yachts. They are often made of a combination of materials that provide the necessary strength and durability for the high-performance demands of racing. Here are some of the materials that are commonly used in the composition of black sails:

• Carbon fibers : Carbon fibers are known for their strength and lightness. They are often used in the construction of high-performance sails, including black sails.
• Polyester : Polyester is a common material used in sail construction. It is known for its durability and resistance to UV rays.
• Kevlar : Kevlar is a type of aramid fiber that is known for its strength and resistance to abrasion. It is often used in the construction of racing sails, including black sails.
• Dyneema fibers : Dyneema fibers are also known for their strength and lightness. They are often used in the construction of high-performance sails.
• Taffeta : Taffeta is a type of non-woven surface material that is often used in sail construction. It provides a smooth surface that reduces drag and improves performance.

In addition to these materials, black sails often have an adhesive layer that helps to bond the various layers of material together. This adhesive layer is essential for providing the necessary strength and durability for racing sails.

Overall, the material composition of black sails is carefully chosen to provide the necessary strength, durability, and performance for racing sailing yachts.

Types of Black Sails

There are several types of black sails used in racing sailing yachts. Each type is designed to provide specific benefits to the yacht and its crew. In this section, we will discuss some of the most popular types of black sails.

3Di sails are a type of black sail that is known for its durability, lightweight, and high-performance racing capabilities. These sails are made using helix load shearing technology, which allows them to withstand heavy loads and maintain their shape even in strong winds.

There are two main types of 3Di sails: 3Di Ocean and 3Di Endurance. 3Di Ocean sails are designed for offshore racing and cruising, while 3Di Endurance sails are designed for long-distance racing. Both types of sails are made using the same technology and materials, but they are optimized for different sailing conditions.

One of the key benefits of 3Di sails is their ability to maintain their shape over time. Unlike traditional sails, which can stretch and deform over time, 3Di sails are designed to maintain their shape even after extended use. This means that they provide consistent performance throughout their lifespan.

In addition to their performance benefits, 3Di sails are also environmentally friendly. They are made using recyclable materials and are designed to last longer than traditional sails, which reduces the environmental impact of sail production.

Overall, 3Di sails are a popular choice for racing sailing yachts due to their durability, lightweight, and high-performance capabilities. Whether racing offshore or long-distance, these sails are designed to provide consistent performance and withstand the rigors of racing.

Other Sail Colors

While black sails are commonly used in racing sailing yachts, other sail colors can also be used depending on the purpose and preference of the sailor. Here are some of the other sail colors that are used in sailing:

White Sails

White sails are the most common type of sails used in sailing. They are versatile and can be used in different weather conditions. They are also easy to maintain and repair. White sails are often used in cruising and recreational sailing.

Red sails are not commonly used in sailing, but they can be used for racing or for aesthetic purposes. They are not as versatile as white sails and are best used in specific weather conditions.

Tanbark Sails

Tanbark sails are made from a type of dyed canvas that gives them a reddish-brown color. They are often used in traditional and classic sailing yachts for aesthetic purposes. Tanbark sails are not as durable as modern sails and require more maintenance.

Grey sails are not commonly used in sailing, but they can be used for racing or for aesthetic purposes. They are not as versatile as white sails and are best used in specific weather conditions.

Sail colors can also be influenced by fashion and image. Pirate ships, for example, are often depicted with black sails to create a menacing image. In modern sailing, the choice of sail color can also be influenced by fashion and personal preference.

In conclusion, while black sails are commonly used in racing sailing yachts, there are other sail colors that can be used depending on the purpose and preference of the sailor. White sails are the most common type of sails used in sailing, while red sails, tanbark sails, and grey sails are used for specific purposes. The choice of sail color can also be influenced by fashion and image.

Yacht Racing and Black Sails

Yacht racing is a highly competitive sport that requires the best performance from the boats and the sailors. Many factors can affect the performance of a yacht, including the design, materials , and modifications. One of the most visible modifications that yacht racers use is black sails.

Black sails are not a new concept in yacht racing. They have been used for many years by some of the most successful yacht racers in the world. The reason for this is simple: black sails offer better performance than traditional white sails.

Black sails are made from a different material than white sails. They are made from a high-tech material that is lighter, stronger, and more durable than traditional sailcloth. This material is also more resistant to UV rays, which can cause white sails to degrade over time.

In addition to the material, black sails are also designed differently than white sails. They are cut differently, with a flatter shape that allows them to generate more lift. This increased lift translates into better performance, especially in light wind conditions.

Yacht racers also use black sails because they are more visible on the water. This is especially important in crowded racing conditions, where it can be difficult to see other boats. Black sails stand out against the water and make it easier for sailors to avoid collisions.

Finally, black sails are also easier to maintain than white sails. They do not show dirt or stains as easily, and they do not need to be washed as often. This makes them a popular choice for yacht racers who want to spend more time on the water and less time maintaining their sails.

In conclusion, black sails are a popular choice for yacht racers who want to improve their performance on the water. They offer better lift, increased visibility, and easier maintenance than traditional white sails. While they may not be the right choice for every sailor, they are certainly worth considering for those who want to compete at the highest level of yacht racing.

In conclusion, the use of black sails in racing sailing yachts is not just a fashion statement but has a practical purpose. The black color absorbs more heat than any other color, which helps to warm up the air inside the sail, making it more efficient. The use of black sails is most effective in colder climates where the air is denser and less efficient at powering the sail.

Additionally, black sails are more durable and resistant to UV rays, which can cause damage to the sail over time. This makes black sails a practical choice for racing yachts that are exposed to the sun and wind for extended periods.

However, it is important to note that the use of black sails is not always the best choice. In warmer climates, the heat absorbed by the black sail can cause the air inside to expand, reducing the sail’s efficiency. In these conditions, lighter-colored sails may be more effective.

Overall, the use of black sails in racing sailing yachts is a strategic decision based on the specific conditions of the race and the preferences of the sailors. It is just one of many factors that contribute to the overall performance of the boat and should be carefully considered before making a decision.

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About the author

I worked as an officer in the deck department on various types of vessels, including oil and chemical tankers, LPG carriers, and even reefer and TSHD in the early years. Currently employed as Marine Surveyor carrying cargo, draft, bunker, and warranty survey.

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Black Sails

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BLACK SAILS yacht NOT for charter*

39m  /  127'11 | wally | 2009 / 2010.

Owner & Guests

Cabin Configuration

• 1 Convertible
• Previous Yacht

Special Features:

• Multi-award winning
• RINA (Registro Italiano Navale) classification
• Interior design from Wally
• Sleeps 10 overnight

The multi-award winning 39m/127'11" sail yacht 'Black Sails' (ex. Cannonball) was built by Wally in Italy at their Fano shipyard. Her interior is styled by Italian designer design house Wally and she was completed in 2009. This luxury vessel's exterior design is the work of Javier Soto Acebal and she was last refitted in 2010.

Guest Accommodation

Black Sails has been designed to comfortably accommodate up to 10 guests in 4 suites comprising one VIP cabin. She is also capable of carrying up to 5 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience.

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Black Sails is built with a composite hull and composite superstructure, with teak decks. Powered by 1 x diesel MAN (D 0836 LE401 EDS) 450hp engines, she comfortably cruises at 12 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 14 knots. Her water tanks store around 2,000 Litres of fresh water. She was built to RINA (Registro Italiano Navale) classification society rules.

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Black Sails Awards & Nominations

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The Reason Behind Different Sail Colors

The color of a sail is normally the result of the type of fiber used in the manufacturing process. Some types of sailcloth can also be colored or painted to achieve the desired appearance.

Sails have been a normal sight since the early days of sailing ships cruising the seven seas. It was common to see red sails on the old Viking ships and the Chinese Junk rigs, but white or yellow sails were the most dominant color back then.

Nowadays, we mostly see white sails around us, except for those on racing boats. But other colors are becoming more apparent as previously exotic materials have become more available to everyone.

To truly understand the reason behind the different sail colors, we need to go back through history to learn how it has impacted our modern trends.

Historical sailcloth and how it was colored

There was a reason for the colorful sails back in the old days. While the Vikings wove and colored their sails from wool until the 14th century, Linen eventually became the preferred material in the Western world.

Linen was used until the 19th century but was a heavy fabric to use as sails grew. They started implementing cotton, which later became more popular since it made the sails lighter. However, it didn’t replace Linen because of its higher strength, and the two fabrics were continuously used for different purposes.

Wool, Linen, and Cotton were often sealed with a composition of tar for protection, which often resulted in sails appearing yellow or brown. Ochre or silk was sometimes added to the mix to color the sails differently.

In the late 20th century, synthetic fibers were introduced and have since been used up until now. Polyester woven fabric, or Dacron as trademarked by DuPont, was introduced in the 1950s and was far superior to Linen and Cotton. As a result, it was pretty much the only reliable fabric used in sails up until around 1980.

The history of laminate sails and their colors

An inventor, textile engineer, and local sailing legend called Russ was playing around with Mylar panels sometime back in the 1940s and 50s. He made a template of wood with the shape of a mainsail and glued together the Mylar panels to form a sail for his dinghy.

The prototype worked well, showed no signs of stretch under sail, and kept its shape perfectly. It did have a big drawback, though. Since Mylar is transparent, Russ suffers from the glaring sun magnified through the sail, and he can only endure it for short moments at a time.

Little did he know that he might be the founding father of what later became sailing laminates. Later on, others took over his work and eventually managed to glue Dacron and Mylar together, making the first known laminate sail. In the 1977 America’s Cup, the racing team onboard Enterprise sported a Genoa reinforced by Mylar, making them the first racing boat using a laminate sail.

This was just the beginning of what eventually became the industry standard.

Back in the early 1970s, there was high demand for more stretch-resistant sail cloth, especially in the racing industry, and the companies in the business started experimenting with laminates.

Many attempts with various fibers failed in the beginning due to unreliability, but by the 1980s, the manufacturers were on track with their developments.

In 1992, again during America’s Cup, America3 was the first boat to fly North Sails’ 3DL laminate. It had taken them three years and $12 million to develop the technology which would later dominate sailboat racing. The original sails were almost transparent like Russ’s sail, but North’s eventually changed the color to dark grey.

Ten years later, North introduced the 3Di sails in matt black, and most other manufacturers followed the trend.

Some related and frequently asked questions

Why are sails black.

Some laminate sails are black due to being manufactured with carbon fibers or black-pigmented aramid fibers. Others have a black taffeta to make the sail appear black.

Carbon is exceptionally strong and lightweight and gives the sail excellent performance. Since most racing boats these days have followed North Sails’ example with black sails, it has become a popular trend and a symbol of speed .

Carbon sails don’t have to be black, but they sure look awesome and trendy!

Why are sails yellow?

Laminate sails can appear yellow or golden when constructed with yellow aramid fibers such as Kevlar®, Twaron®, or Technora® with a light-colored taffeta on top.

Carbon fibered laminate sails have a high price tag, but there are many cruising laminates at a reasonable price, and they have become more regular in the leisure market in the last few years.

Why are sails white?

Today’s most commonly used sails are white because they are manufactured using a fabric called Dacron, made by spinning naturally white polyester fibers into a yarn and then woven into cloth.

Technology has advanced over the years, and many stronger woven fabrics are available today, like the Hydra Net weaved with Dyneema. However, Dacron sails are still the most popular choice today due to their extreme durability and relatively low price.

The benefits of white sails

• It is easier to see the telltales and shapes on a white sail at night.
• A powerful torch can light up a white sail like a giant lamp, making it easy for anyone nearby to see you in case you want to make yourself visible.
• White sails are cheaper to buy than colored sails. Some sailmakers can deliver sails in various colors, but they usually keep the stock in the fabric’s natural shade. Making a special order can get pricey.
• It looks great and traditional to fly bright white sails, just like the ships in the old days. Others might not agree, but I think a white sail carries some symbolism and can, in a way, honor our ancestors’ sailors.

The d rawbacks of white sails

• Dirt and mold show quickly and don’t look good. You should clean and service your sails, of course, but at some point, those stains will stick.
• Color degradation happens over time, and the sails will look yellowish with age. I can testify to discolored old sails as I recently replaced my Mainsail and Genoa and was almost blinded by how bright the new ones were.
• Bright white can get blinding in the sun. Wearing sunglasses makes a short process of the problem, though, and I think the benefits of a white sail outweigh the downsides.

Why are some sails colorful?

Light-wind sails, such as spinnakers, often get seen in many combinations of colors. These sails are usually made of nylon due to the fabric’s low weight and high tensile strength. Since nylon is easily dyed, you often get to choose from various patterns and colors when you order them.

My gennaker, a.k.a. “Big Red,” is…well, red. And it looks awesome!

Others even take it a step further and have their logo printed on the sail, which I think looks excellent. Seeing the big, colorful ballooners fly in front of the boat on a sweet downwind sail will probably bring out smiles in most of us.

How long do sails last?

Sails can last anything from 2-20 years, depending on the type of sail, sailcloth used, and how well it is cared for. Laminate sails usually have the shortest lifespan, while dacron and hybrid cloth last a good while longer.

How long your sail will last depends on what type of sail you choose. What type of sail you choose depends on what you want to use the sails for, and so on. I actually wrote an article about the expected lifespan of sails and included some ways to make them last longer!

The Expected Lifespan Of Sails And 8 Tips To Make Them Last Longer

Final words

Whether you prefer white, black, or colorful sails, you will find something that suits you. Maybe you are like me, who likes traditional white over trendy black, or perhaps you want to chip in a few extra bucks and get yourself sails in blue.

History has taught us a lot about sails. Not just in the sense of technology development but also in the way the most extreme sailors in the business have influenced the trends.

What type of sail do you prefer, and in what color? Leave your comment below !

Sources: Wikipedia , North Sails , Scuttlebutt , Afloat , Boat Design , itBoat

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Skipper, Electrician and ROV Pilot

Robin is the founder and owner of Sailing Ellidah and has been living on his sailboat since 2019. He is currently on a journey to sail around the world and is passionate about writing his story and helpful content to inspire others who share his interest in sailing.

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WHY ARE RACING SAILS BLACK?

North sails expert per andersson explores fashion and function in the striking look of black sails on the water, and explains why sails may come in different shades of black..

Fashion, Function, and Material Composition

Black has not always been the fast look for sails, but lately more and more black sails are showing up on the water. Why? The simple answer is that many sails are now made with carbon fibers—the strongest load-carrying material in sails—and carbon is black. If some sails seem even blacker to you than they did a few years ago, you may be noticing North’s 3Di sails, a product that has gained significant market share since it first was introduced. Many sailmakers use carbon in their sails, but typically the carbon is laminated between layers of polyester or Mylar film, so it does not look completely black.

North’s 3DL sails fell into this category for many years, with variable densities of the carbon, depending on where it was needed to resist the heaviest loads. 3Di sails are darker because starting in 2013 with the introduction of 3Di RAW , we’ve rid our highest-performing sails of the cover layer and its associated parasitic weight.

We should point out that not all 3Di sails are black, because North has 3Di products that include aramid fibers, which are yellow, and Dyneema fibers, which are white. We also use black, white or gray taffeta or non-woven surface materials for durability on our 3Di ENDURANCE and 3Di OCEAN performance cruising products, for which the owner can choose the color of preference.

Early on, to make a more consistent and solid look on our RAW product, we began to pigment the aramid fibers because they simply looked better black, mixed with carbon and Dyneema fibers. “Dyneema fibers are not available with black pigment but with only a small amount of Dyneema in our 3Di sail structure, a small amount of pigment in the adhesive produces a solid black surface.”

Many sailmakers have followed the trend toward black sails. Most add a “light skin” or taffeta on top of the film to achieve the black look! Others simply add a non-woven layer of colored polyester material to make the sails black.

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BLACK SAILS

BLACK SAILS is a 40.05 m Sail Yacht, built in Italy by Wally and delivered in 2009. She is the only 130 model.

Her top speed is 13.5 kn and her cruising speed is 12.0 kn and her power comes from a MAN diesel engine. She can accommodate up to 8 guests in 4 staterooms, with 5 crew members waiting on their every need. She has a 7.9 m beam.

She was designed by Harrison Eidsgaard , who also designed the interior. Harrison Eidsgaard has designed 11 yachts and designed the interior of 10 yachts for yachts above 24 metres.

The naval architecture was developed by Javier Soto Acebal , who has architected 4 other superyachts in the BOAT Pro database - she is built with a Carbon Fibre and Teak deck, a Carbon Fibre hull, and Carbon Fibre superstructure.

BLACK SAILS is in the top 30% by LOA in the world. She is one of 141 sailing yachts in the 40-45m size range, and, compared to similarly sized sailing yachts, her cruising speed is 1.52 kn above the average, and her top speed 1.12 kn above the average.

BLACK SAILS is currently sailing under the Malta flag, the 3rd most popular flag state for superyachts with a total of 1110 yachts registered. She is known to be an active superyacht and has most recently been spotted cruising near France. For more information regarding BLACK SAILS's movements, find out more about BOATPro AIS .

Specifications

• Name: BLACK SAILS
• Previous Names: DREAM,ANGEL'S SHARE
• Yacht Type: Sail Yacht
• Builder: Wally
• Naval Architect: Javier Soto Acebal
• Exterior Designer: Harrison Eidsgaard
• Interior Designer: Harrison Eidsgaard

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How to choose the right sails for your boat

• June 19, 2023

Thinking of upgrading your sail wardrobe? Winning skipper and coach Ian Walker shares advice on how to choose the right sails Andy Rice

When asked his advice on how to extract maximum value from your sail budget, Ian Walker first offered a health warning: “You do know that I work for North Sails, and we provide sails for the vast majority of the high performance market?” In other words, North Sails are not the cheapest. So it’s unsurprising that Walker is keen to point out that buying purely on price is not the best option, even when budgets are tight.

It’s a broad, difficult subject that we have asked him to address, but Walker’s knowledge is highly sought after and he offers some good, solid advice for sailors who have to make sure they spend as prudently as possible.

Buy on value

It’s easy to be taken in by the lowest price, but buying the cheapest sails can be a false economy. Ask yourself why they’re cheap. How well have they been designed? Are the materials inferior? What technology is used to make the sails? Any of these factors will result in lower performance and potentially less longevity, which means you will not perform well and could end up needing to replace sails more often.

Do your research

The best sources of research you’ve got are looking at race results and word of mouth recommendation. Ask around the fleet, find out which sails are doing well in the fleet. How well have the sails lasted? What kind of service and advice can you get from the sailmaker? They’re all critical factors to consider. A common mistake is to be lured by the latest fads.

Carbon is certainly useful in the right circumstances but it’s not right for every boat and ever sailor

Do you need carbon?

One of the biggest fads of all is carbon for carbon’s sake. People will buy a sail because they’re told it’s got carbon in it. But depending on what you’re planning to use the sail for, it could be completely the wrong yarn. Carbon may offer the lightest, lowest stretch sail but it won’t be as robust, it won’t like being folded as much and won’t like being dragged along a deck. It might also not be the best sail for your mast, rigging or deck fittings.

What is important is to have the right combination of materials in your sails for your boat and your style of racing. You may want to trade off the last 1% of performance for increased longevity and durability. Your boat may also not be suited to sails with very high modulus (low stretch). So if you’re buying sails for a cruising boat, you’d almost certainly want a higher Spectra content, and you may want enough aramid or carbon to make sure the sail has the right stiffness. You might also want an outer protective scrim like taffeta to protect it further.

Inshore to offshore

If you’re used to mostly doing windward-leeward racing, you don’t worry about genoa staysails, flying headsails, Code 0s or blast reachers. But if you’re entering offshore races, you need to turn your focus on to reaching sails and downwind sails. Depending on your boat there could be an array of sails for certain angles and different wind speeds offshore, which you don’t need inshore. Talk to other sailors who race similar boats to find out which form of reaching sail might work best.

Inshore you don’t necessarily need your sails to go through the wind range as much. So most racing boats might carry a light, medium and a heavy jib. On a Maxi 72, for example, you might carry four codes of jib: light, light/medium, medium/heavy and heavy. But offshore you don’t ideally want to do a lot of sail changes – especially if you’re short-handed. Most likely you’ll want your sails to go through a broader range and might take just a light/medium and a medium/heavy. Therefore you might need to consider different structures and different depths.

The Maxi 72 Momo using Doyle’s cableless tech. Note the lens structure built into the luff. Photo: Ingrid Abery

Structured luff sails

Now, this is going to sound like a sales pitch but one of the revolutions in sailmaking is the structured luff, which we [at North Sails] call Helix [other sailmakers have their own versions]. Because of the carefully designed structure in the sail you can manifestly change the shape of it by adjusting the luff tension. Which means that a structured luff jib can go through a much wider wind range. One minute, it can be really full, then by tightening the luff, it can be altered to look like a flat, heavy air jib.

This is why structured luff sails are becoming popular in short-handed racing where you need to be able to change gears through the wind range without too many sail changes. Bear in mind though that your light jib may have to be built slightly heavier than it might have been because you’re going to push it up the wind range.

If you enjoyed this….

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The Ultimate Guide to Sail Types and Rigs (with Pictures)

What's that sail for? Generally, I don't know. So I've come up with a system. I'll explain you everything there is to know about sails and rigs in this article.

What are the different types of sails? Most sailboats have one mainsail and one headsail. Typically, the mainsail is a fore-and-aft bermuda rig (triangular shaped). A jib or genoa is used for the headsail. Most sailors use additional sails for different conditions: the spinnaker (a common downwind sail), gennaker, code zero (for upwind use), and stormsail.

Each sail has its own use. Want to go downwind fast? Use a spinnaker. But you can't just raise any sail and go for it. It's important to understand when (and how) to use each sail. Your rigging also impacts what sails you can use.

On this page:

Different sail types, the sail plan of a bermuda sloop, mainsail designs, headsail options, specialty sails, complete overview of sail uses, mast configurations and rig types.

This article is part 1 of my series on sails and rig types. Part 2 is all about the different types of rigging. If you want to learn to identify every boat you see quickly, make sure to read it. It really explains the different sail plans and types of rigging clearly.

Guide to Understanding Sail Rig Types (with Pictures)

First I'll give you a quick and dirty overview of sails in this list below. Then, I'll walk you through the details of each sail type, and the sail plan, which is the godfather of sail type selection so to speak.

Click here if you just want to scroll through a bunch of pictures .

Here's a list of different models of sails: (Don't worry if you don't yet understand some of the words, I'll explain all of them in a bit)

• Jib - triangular staysail
• Genoa - large jib that overlaps the mainsail
• Spinnaker - large balloon-shaped downwind sail for light airs
• Gennaker - crossover between a Genoa and Spinnaker
• Code Zero or Screecher - upwind spinnaker
• Drifter or reacher - a large, powerful, hanked on genoa, but made from lightweight fabric
• Windseeker - tall, narrow, high-clewed, and lightweight jib
• Trysail - smaller front-and-aft mainsail for heavy weather
• Storm jib - small jib for heavy weather

I have a big table below that explains the sail types and uses in detail .

I know, I know ... this list is kind of messy, so to understand each sail, let's place them in a system.

The first important distinction between sail types is the placement . The mainsail is placed aft of the mast, which simply means behind. The headsail is in front of the mast.

Generally, we have three sorts of sails on our boat:

• Mainsail: The large sail behind the mast which is attached to the mast and boom
• Headsail: The small sail in front of the mast, attached to the mast and forestay (ie. jib or genoa)
• Specialty sails: Any special utility sails, like spinnakers - large, balloon-shaped sails for downwind use

The second important distinction we need to make is the functionality . Specialty sails (just a name I came up with) each have different functionalities and are used for very specific conditions. So they're not always up, but most sailors carry one or more of these sails.

They are mostly attached in front of the headsail, or used as a headsail replacement.

The specialty sails can be divided into three different categories:

• downwind sails - like a spinnaker
• light air or reacher sails - like a code zero
• storm sails

The parts of any sail

Whether large or small, each sail consists roughly of the same elements. For clarity's sake I've took an image of a sail from the world wide webs and added the different part names to it:

• Head: Top of the sail
• Tack: Lower front corner of the sail
• Foot: Bottom of the sail
• Luff: Forward edge of the sail
• Leech: Back edge of the sail
• Clew: Bottom back corner of the sail

So now we speak the same language, let's dive into the real nitty gritty.

Basic sail shapes

Roughly speaking, there are actually just two sail shapes, so that's easy enough. You get to choose from:

• square rigged sails
• fore-and-aft rigged sails

I would definitely recommend fore-and-aft rigged sails. Square shaped sails are pretty outdated. The fore-and-aft rig offers unbeatable maneuverability, so that's what most sailing yachts use nowadays.

Square sails were used on Viking longships and are good at sailing downwind. They run from side to side. However, they're pretty useless upwind.

A fore-and-aft sail runs from the front of the mast to the stern. Fore-and-aft literally means 'in front and behind'. Boats with fore-and-aft rigged sails are better at sailing upwind and maneuvering in general. This type of sail was first used on Arabic boats.

As a beginner sailor I confuse the type of sail with rigging all the time. But I should cut myself some slack, because the rigging and sails on a boat are very closely related. They are all part of the sail plan .

A sail plan is made up of:

• Mast configuration - refers to the number of masts and where they are placed
• Sail type - refers to the sail shape and functionality
• Rig type - refers to the way these sails are set up on your boat

There are dozens of sails and hundreds of possible configurations (or sail plans).

For example, depending on your mast configuration, you can have extra headsails (which then are called staysails).

The shape of the sails depends on the rigging, so they overlap a bit. To keep it simple I'll first go over the different sail types based on the most common rig. I'll go over the other rig types later in the article.

Bermuda Sloop: the most common rig

Most modern small and mid-sized sailboats have a Bermuda sloop configuration . The sloop is one-masted and has two sails, which are front-and-aft rigged. This type of rig is also called a Marconi Rig. The Bermuda rig uses a triangular sail, with just one side of the sail attached to the mast.

The mainsail is in use most of the time. It can be reefed down, making it smaller depending on the wind conditions. It can be reefed down completely, which is more common in heavy weather. (If you didn't know already: reefing is skipper terms for rolling or folding down a sail.)

In very strong winds (above 30 knots), most sailors only use the headsail or switch to a trysail.

The headsail powers your bow, the mainsail powers your stern (rear). By having two sails, you can steer by using only your sails (in theory - it requires experience). In any case, two sails gives you better handling than one, but is still easy to operate.

Let's get to the actual sails. The mainsail is attached behind the mast and to the boom, running to the stern. There are multiple designs, but they actually don't differ that much. So the following list is a bit boring. Feel free to skip it or quickly glance over it.

• Square Top racing mainsail - has a high performance profile thanks to the square top, optional reef points
• Racing mainsail - made for speed, optional reef points
• Cruising mainsail - low-maintenance, easy to use, made to last. Generally have one or multiple reef points.
• Full-Batten Cruising mainsail - cruising mainsail with better shape control. Eliminates flogging. Full-length battens means the sail is reinforced over the entire length. Generally have one or multiple reef points.
• High Roach mainsail - crossover between square top racing and cruising mainsail, used mostly on cats and multihulls. Generally have one or multiple reef points.
• Mast Furling mainsail - sails specially made to roll up inside the mast - very convenient but less control; of sail shape. Have no reef points
• Boom Furling mainsail - sails specially made to roll up inside the boom. Have no reef points.

The headsail is the front sail in a front-and-aft rig. The sail is fixed on a stay (rope, wire or rod) which runs forward to the deck or bowsprit. It's almost always triangular (Dutch fishermen are known to use rectangular headsail). A triangular headsail is also called a jib .

Headsails can be attached in two ways:

• using roller furlings - the sail rolls around the headstay
• hank on - fixed attachment

Types of jibs:

Typically a sloop carries a regular jib as its headsail. It can also use a genoa.

• A jib is a triangular staysail set in front of the mast. It's the same size as the fore-triangle.
• A genoa is a large jib that overlaps the mainsail.

What's the purpose of a jib sail? A jib is used to improve handling and to increase sail area on a sailboat. This helps to increase speed. The jib gives control over the bow (front) of the ship, making it easier to maneuver the ship. The mainsail gives control over the stern of the ship. The jib is the headsail (frontsail) on a front-and-aft rig.

The size of the jib is generally indicated by a number - J1, 2, 3, and so on. The number tells us the attachment point. The order of attachment points may differ per sailmaker, so sometimes J1 is the largest jib (on the longest stay) and sometimes it's the smallest (on the shortest stay). Typically the J1 jib is the largest - and the J3 jib the smallest.

Most jibs are roller furling jibs: this means they are attached to a stay and can be reefed down single-handedly. If you have a roller furling you can reef down the jib to all three positions and don't need to carry different sizes.

Originally called the 'overlapping jib', the leech of the genoa extends aft of the mast. This increases speed in light and moderate winds. A genoa is larger than the total size of the fore-triangle. How large exactly is indicated by a percentage.

• A number 1 genoa is typically 155% (it used to be 180%)
• A number 2 genoa is typically 125-140%

Genoas are typically made from 1.5US/oz polyester spinnaker cloth, or very light laminate.

This is where it gets pretty interesting. You can use all kinds of sails to increase speed, handling, and performance for different weather conditions.

Some rules of thumb:

• Large sails are typically good for downwind use, small sails are good for upwind use.
• Large sails are good for weak winds (light air), small sails are good for strong winds (storms).

Downwind sails

Thanks to the front-and-aft rig sailboats are easier to maneuver, but they catch less wind as well. Downwind sails are used to offset this by using a large sail surface, pulling a sailboat downwind. They can be hanked on when needed and are typically balloon shaped.

Here are the most common downwind sails:

• Big gennaker
• Small gennaker

A free-flying sail that fills up with air, giving it a balloon shape. Spinnakers are generally colorful, which is why they look like kites. This downwind sail has the largest sail area, and it's capable of moving a boat with very light wind. They are amazing to use on trade wind routes, where they can help you make quick progress.

Spinnakers require special rigging. You need a special pole and track on your mast. You attach the sail at three points: in the mast head using a halyard, on a pole, and on a sheet.

The spinnaker is symmetrical, meaning the luff is as long as its leech. It's designed for broad reaching.

Gennaker or cruising spinnaker

The Gennaker is a cross between the genoa and the spinnaker. It has less downwind performance than the spinnaker. It is a bit smaller, making it slower, but also easier to handle - while it remains very capable. The cruising spinnaker is designed for broad reaching.

The gennaker is a smaller, asymmetric spinnaker that's doesn't require a pole or track on the mast. Like the spinnaker, and unlike the genoa, the gennaker is set flying. Asymmetric means its luff is longer than its leech.

You can get big and small gennakers (roughly 75% and 50% the size of a true spinnaker).

Also called ...

• the cruising spinnaker
• cruising chute
• pole-less spinnaker
• SpinDrifter

... it's all the same sail.

Light air sails

There's a bit of overlap between the downwind sails and light air sails. Downwind sails can be used as light air sails, but not all light air sails can be used downwind.

Here are the most common light air sails:

• Spinnaker and gennaker

Drifter reacher

Code zero reacher.

A drifter (also called a reacher) is a lightweight, larger genoa for use in light winds. It's roughly 150-170% the size of a genoa. It's made from very lightweight laminated spinnaker fabric (1.5US/oz).

Thanks to the extra sail area the sail offers better downwind performance than a genoa. It's generally made from lightweight nylon. Thanks to it's genoa characteristics the sail is easier to use than a cruising spinnaker.

The code zero reacher is officially a type of spinnaker, but it looks a lot like a large genoa. And that's exactly what it is: a hybrid cross between the genoa and the asymmetrical spinnaker (gennaker). The code zero however is designed for close reaching, making it much flatter than the spinnaker. It's about twice the size of a non-overlapping jib.

A windseeker is a small, free-flying staysail for super light air. It's tall and thin. It's freestanding, so it's not attached to the headstay. The tack attaches to a deck pad-eye. Use your spinnakers' halyard to raise it and tension the luff.

It's made from nylon or polyester spinnaker cloth (0.75 to 1.5US/oz).

It's designed to guide light air onto the lee side of the main sail, ensuring a more even, smooth flow of air.

Stormsails are stronger than regular sails, and are designed to handle winds of over 45 knots. You carry them to spare the mainsail. Sails

A storm jib is a small triangular staysail for use in heavy weather. If you participate in offshore racing you need a mandatory orange storm jib. It's part of ISAF's requirements.

A trysail is a storm replacement for the mainsail. It's small, triangular, and it uses a permanently attached pennant. This allows it to be set above the gooseneck. It's recommended to have a separate track on your mast for it - you don't want to fiddle around when you actually really need it to be raised ... now.

Why Use Different Sails At All?

You could just get the largest furling genoa and use it on all positions. So why would you actually use different types of sails?

The main answer to that is efficiency . Some situations require other characteristics.

Having a deeply reefed genoa isn't as efficient as having a small J3. The reef creates too much draft in the sail, which increases heeling. A reefed down mainsail in strong winds also increases heeling. So having dedicated (storm) sails is probably a good thing, especially if you're planning more demanding passages or crossings.

But it's not just strong winds, but also light winds that can cause problems. Heavy sails will just flap around like laundry in very light air. So you need more lightweight fabrics to get you moving.

What Are Sails Made Of?

The most used materials for sails nowadays are:

• Dacron - woven polyester
• woven nylon
• laminated fabrics - increasingly popular

Sails used to be made of linen. As you can imagine, this is terrible material on open seas. Sails were rotting due to UV and saltwater. In the 19th century linen was replaced by cotton.

It was only in the 20th century that sails were made from synthetic fibers, which were much stronger and durable. Up until the 1980s most sails were made from Dacron. Nowadays, laminates using yellow aramids, Black Technora, carbon fiber and Spectra yarns are more and more used.

Laminates are as strong as Dacron, but a lot lighter - which matters with sails weighing up to 100 kg (220 pounds).

By the way: we think that Viking sails were made from wool and leather, which is quite impressive if you ask me.

In this section of the article I give you a quick and dirty summary of different sail plans or rig types which will help you to identify boats quickly. But if you want to really understand it clearly, I really recommend you read part 2 of this series, which is all about different rig types.

You can't simply count the number of masts to identify rig type But you can identify any rig type if you know what to look for. We've created an entire system for recognizing rig types. Let us walk you through it. Read all about sail rig types

As I've said earlier, there are two major rig types: square rigged and fore-and-aft. We can divide the fore-and-aft rigs into three groups:

• Bermuda rig (we have talked about this one the whole time) - has a three-sided mainsail
• Gaff rig - has a four-sided mainsail, the head of the mainsail is guided by a gaff
• Lateen rig - has a three-sided mainsail on a long yard

There are roughly four types of boats:

• one masted boats - sloop, cutter
• two masted boats - ketch, schooner, brig
• three masted - barque
• fully rigged or ship rigged - tall ship

Everything with four masts is called a (tall) ship. I think it's outside the scope of this article, but I have written a comprehensive guide to rigging. I'll leave the three and four-masted rigs for now. If you want to know more, I encourage you to read part 2 of this series.

One-masted rigs

Boats with one mast can have either one sail, two sails, or three or more sails.

The 3 most common one-masted rigs are:

• Cat - one mast, one sail
• Sloop - one mast, two sails
• Cutter - one mast, three or more sails

1. Gaff Cat

2. Gaff Sloop

Two-masted rigs

Two-masted boats can have an extra mast in front or behind the main mast. Behind (aft of) the main mast is called a mizzen mast . In front of the main mast is called a foremast .

The 5 most common two-masted rigs are:

• Lugger - two masts (mizzen), with lugsail (cross between gaff rig and lateen rig) on both masts
• Yawl - two masts (mizzen), fore-and-aft rigged on both masts. Main mast much taller than mizzen. Mizzen without mainsail.
• Ketch - two masts (mizzen), fore-and-aft rigged on both masts. Main mast with only slightly smaller mizzen. Mizzen has mainsail.
• Schooner - two masts (foremast), generally gaff rig on both masts. Main mast with only slightly smaller foremast. Sometimes build with three masts, up to seven in the age of sail.
• Brig - two masts (foremast), partially square-rigged. Main mast carries small lateen rigged sail.

4. Schooner

5. Brigantine

This article is part 1 of a series about sails and rig types If you want to read on and learn to identify any sail plans and rig type, we've found a series of questions that will help you do that quickly. Read all about recognizing rig types

Related Questions

What is the difference between a gennaker & spinnaker? Typically, a gennaker is smaller than a spinnaker. Unlike a spinnaker, a gennaker isn't symmetric. It's asymmetric like a genoa. It is however rigged like a spinnaker; it's not attached to the forestay (like a jib or a genoa). It's a downwind sail, and a cross between the genoa and the spinnaker (hence the name).

What is a Yankee sail? A Yankee sail is a jib with a high-cut clew of about 3' above the boom. A higher-clewed jib is good for reaching and is better in high waves, preventing the waves crash into the jibs foot. Yankee jibs are mostly used on traditional sailboats.

How much does a sail weigh? Sails weigh anywhere between 4.5-155 lbs (2-70 kg). The reason is that weight goes up exponentially with size. Small boats carry smaller sails (100 sq. ft.) made from thinner cloth (3.5 oz). Large racing yachts can carry sails of up to 400 sq. ft., made from heavy fabric (14 oz), totaling at 155 lbs (70 kg).

What's the difference between a headsail and a staysail? The headsail is the most forward of the staysails. A boat can only have one headsail, but it can have multiple staysails. Every staysail is attached to a forward running stay. However, not every staysail is located at the bow. A stay can run from the mizzen mast to the main mast as well.

What is a mizzenmast? A mizzenmast is the mast aft of the main mast (behind; at the stern) in a two or three-masted sailing rig. The mizzenmast is shorter than the main mast. It may carry a mainsail, for example with a ketch or lugger. It sometimes doesn't carry a mainsail, for example with a yawl, allowing it to be much shorter.

Special thanks to the following people for letting me use their quality photos: Bill Abbott - True Spinnaker with pole - CC BY-SA 2.0 lotsemann - Volvo Ocean Race Alvimedica and the Code Zero versus SCA and the J1 - CC BY-SA 2.0 Lisa Bat - US Naval Academy Trysail and Storm Jib dry fit - CC BY-SA 2.0 Mike Powell - White gaff cat - CC BY-SA 2.0 Anne Burgess - Lugger The Reaper at Scottish Traditional Boat Festival

Hi, I stumbled upon your page and couldn’t help but notice some mistakes in your description of spinnakers and gennakers. First of all, in the main photo on top of this page the small yacht is sailing a spinnaker, not a gennaker. If you look closely you can see the spinnaker pole standing on the mast, visible between the main and headsail. Further down, the discription of the picture with the two German dinghies is incorrect. They are sailing spinnakers, on a spinnaker pole. In the farthest boat, you can see a small piece of the pole. If needed I can give you the details on the difference between gennakers and spinnakers correctly?

Hi Shawn, I am living in Utrecht I have an old gulf 32 and I am sailing in merkmeer I find your articles very helpful Thanks

Thank you for helping me under stand all the sails there names and what there functions were and how to use them. I am planning to build a trimaran 30’ what would be the best sails to have I plan to be coastal sailing with it. Thank you

Hey Comrade!

Well done with your master piece blogging. Just a small feedback. “The jib gives control over the bow of the ship, making it easier to maneuver the ship. The mainsail gives control over the stern of the ship.” Can you please first tell the different part of a sail boat earlier and then talk about bow and stern later in the paragraph. A reader has no clue on the newly introduced terms. It helps to keep laser focused and not forget main concepts.

Shawn, I am currently reading How to sail around the World” by Hal Roth. Yes, I want to sail around the world. His book is truly grounded in real world experience but like a lot of very knowledgable people discussing their area of expertise, Hal uses a lot of terms that I probably should have known but didn’t, until now. I am now off to read your second article. Thank You for this very enlightening article on Sail types and their uses.

Shawn Buckles

HI CVB, that’s a cool plan. Thanks, I really love to hear that. I’m happy that it was helpful to you and I hope you are of to a great start for your new adventure!

Hi GOWTHAM, thanks for the tip, I sometimes forget I haven’t specified the new term. I’ve added it to the article.

Nice article and video; however, you’re mixing up the spinnaker and the gennaker.

A started out with a question. What distinguishes a brig from a schooner? Which in turn led to follow-up questions: I know there are Bermuda rigs and Latin rig, are there more? Which in turn led to further questions, and further, and further… This site answers them all. Wonderful work. Thank you.

Great post and video! One thing was I was surprised how little you mentioned the Ketch here and not at all in the video or chart, and your sample image is a large ship with many sails. Some may think Ketch’s are uncommon, old fashioned or only for large boats. Actually Ketch’s are quite common for cruisers and live-aboards, especially since they often result in a center cockpit layout which makes for a very nice aft stateroom inside. These are almost exclusively the boats we are looking at, so I was surprised you glossed over them.

Love the article and am finding it quite informative.

While I know it may seem obvious to 99% of your readers, I wish you had defined the terms “upwind” and “downwind.” I’m in the 1% that isn’t sure which one means “with the wind” (or in the direction the wind is blowing) and which one means “against the wind” (or opposite to the way the wind is blowing.)

paul adriaan kleimeer

like in all fields of syntax and terminology the terms are colouual meaning local and then spead as the technology spread so an history lesson gives a floral bouque its colour and in the case of notical terms span culture and history adds an detail that bring reverence to the study simply more memorable.

Hi, I have a small yacht sail which was left in my lock-up over 30 years ago I basically know nothing about sails and wondered if you could spread any light as to the make and use of said sail. Someone said it was probably originally from a Wayfayer wooden yacht but wasn’t sure. Any info would be must appreciated and indeed if would be of any use to your followers? I can provide pics but don’t see how to include them at present

kind regards

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Black Sails

Follows Captain Flint and his pirates twenty years prior to Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novel "Treasure Island." Follows Captain Flint and his pirates twenty years prior to Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novel "Treasure Island." Follows Captain Flint and his pirates twenty years prior to Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novel "Treasure Island."

• Robert Levine
• Jonathan E. Steinberg
• Jessica Parker Kennedy
• Toby Stephens
• 406 User reviews
• 58 Critic reviews
• 8 wins & 34 nominations total

Episodes 38

Photos 2179

Top cast 99+

• Captain Flint

• Eleanor Guthrie

• Captain Charles Vane

• John Silver

• Billy Bones

• Featherstone

• Captain Benjamin Hornigold

• Woodes Rogers

• Miranda Barlow

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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• Trivia Chris Larkin (Berringer) and Toby Stephens (Flint) are brothers. Their parents are Dame Maggie Smith and Sir Robert Stephens. Anna-Louise Plowman (Mrs Hudson) is Toby Stephens's wife.
• Goofs The language spoken is questionable throughout the series. There is no agreement on when the F word came into being as a swear word; the educated classes are constantly saying "you and I" when it should be "you and me"; and there is regular use of "excuse me", which is a more modern Americanism, instead of "I beg your pardon".
• Crazy credits The opening titles are a montage of white statues depicting the lives of pirates, incorporating black skeletons and dark oceans.
• Connections Featured in Dubbing 007 (2014)
• Soundtracks Theme from Black Sails (uncredited) Composed and Conducted by Bear McCreary

User reviews 406

• AlexanderExtazy
• Jul 13, 2014
• How many seasons does Black Sails have? Powered by Alexa
• So what's up with Long John Silver's mysterious past? Are there any hints at the truth of where he comes from and who he was before he's introduced in episode 1, or is it simply a stylistic device?
• Is this show a true story?
• January 25, 2014 (United States)
• South Africa
• United States
• Official site
• Velas negras
• Cape Town, South Africa
• Film Afrika Worldwide
• Platinum Dunes
• Quaker Moving Pictures
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

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Every real pirate in black sails & what happened to them.

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10 Reasons Why You Should Revisit Black Sails

Our flag means death vs. black sails: which is more historically accurate, george r.r. martin’s involvement in game of thrones prequel show detailed by creator in exciting writing update.

• Black Sails is a detailed example of historical fiction, featuring real historical pirates in its main cast.
• The fates of historical pirates such as Anne Bonny, "Calico Jack" Rackham, and Charles Vane are depicted with similarities to history.
• Black Sails hints at the further adventures of real historical pirate Mary Read with Bonny and Rackham.

The TV show Black Sails is a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novel Treasure Island , following the adventures of Captain Flint (Toby Stephens) and his crew of pirates. While the show is led by fictional characters such as Flint, the main Black Sails characters include real historical pirates like the infamous Long John Silver (Luke Arnold) and the mysterious Billy Bones (Tom Hopper). The historical pirates who appear in Black Sails operated in the Caribbean in the early 18th century , better known as the Golden Age of Piracy.

Most of the Black Sails pirates were hunted by real historical figures, including Woodes Rogers (Luke Roberts), who appears as an antagonist on the show. This demonstrates how the series is a detailed example of historical fiction. While the ending of Black Sails fictionalizes the outcome for many real pirates, their true fate is just as compelling as what's shown in the series.

All information on historical figures comes from Smithsonian Magazine and the World History Encyclopedia unless otherwise stated.

9 Anne Bonny (Clara Paget)

The real anne bonny's fate is a mystery..

Anne Bonny is a prominent pirate throughout the entirety of Black Sails . The real Anne Bonny was born in Ireland and moved to Nassau after marrying a pirate named James Bonny. After James became an informant for the governor, Anne Bonny left him for "Calico Jack" Rackham . Bonny joined Rackham's crew on the Revenge, which included another historical pirate, Mary Read. Most historians agree that Bonny and Read developed a romance aboard the ship. Black Sails depicts Bonny and Rackham as fiercely dedicated to each other , despite their tumultuous relationship, omitting this Sapphic romance entirely.

The real Anne Bonny disappeared from history in 1720 after a King's Ship captured Calico Jack and the crew of the Revenge. When Rackham's crew was captured, Bonny and Read delayed their executions by saying they were pregnant. There is no record of Bonny's death or release after that. Black Sails ends with Anne Bonny and Jack Rackham returning to piracy, while Max becomes the unofficial leader of Nassau. A new member of Bonny and Rackham's crew who is implied to be Mary Read makes a brief appearance in the series finale.

8 John "Calico Jack" Rackham (Toby Schmitz)

Calico jack was charles vane's quartermaster..

At the beginning of Black Sails , John Rackham is the quartermaster of Charles Vane's (Zach McGowan) crew. The real Rackham was likewise Vane's quartermaster. Rackham eventually peacefully deposed Vane as captain, allowing him and his supporters to take another ship. In Black Sails , Bonny and Rackham also leave Vane's crew to pursue other profitable opportunities.

The historical Rackham sailed with Anne Bonny and Mary Read for some time after parting ways with Vane. Rackham's ship was siezed in Port Royal in 1720. When his crew was attacked, most of the men were drunk. Bonny and Read were the only ones who put up a fight. Bonny's famous last words to Rackham were, “If you had fought like a man, you wouldn't be hanged like a dog " (via World History Encyclopedia ). After his capture, Rackham was charged with four counts of piracy and hanged on November 18, 1720 . His body was placed in a cage at Deadman's Cay.

It's been a few years since Black Sails ended, but the pirate series is definitely worth re-watching. Here's why.

7 Charles Vane (Zach McGowan)

Charles vane's black sails death is similar to history..

Black Sails 's Charles Vane is depicted as a rival captain who ideologically comes into conflict with the show's protagonist Captain Flint . He and Flint eventually come to respect one another. Vane is captured, tried, and killed in Black Sails season 3. The real Charles Vane was a ruthless and cruel pirate who notoriously attacked the governor's ship instead of accepting a pardon. He's nothing like the moral pirate scene in Black Sails , causing his crew to stage a mutiny in November 1718. The real Vane was tried and hanged in Port Royal in 1721.

6 Edward "Blackbeard" Teach (Ray Stevenson)

Blackbeard's black sails death also alludes to history..

In season 3, Blackbeard returns to Nassau after the Guthries are deposed, where he meets his former protégé Vane. As he does in Black Sails , the real Blackbeard ran across other famous pirates, including Vane and Rackham. Most of what's known about the real Blackbeard's life and his relationships was greatly embellished by authors, so it's difficult to know what of his history is true. Nobody knows his birthdate or location. There's also very little information about his life prior to piracy.

Additionally, his reputation as a cruel captain might be entirely fictional as there is zero evidence that he killed people prior to the final battle at Ocracoke. What is known is that when Blackbeard was killed in battle, his head was hung from the bowsprit of the enemy ship, and his body was tossed overboard. According to legend, his corpse swam around the ship several times before sinking out of sight. Black Sails gives Blackbeard a similar death to history: He is keelhauled and beheaded by Rogers in season 4.

5 Israel Hands (David Wilmot)

Black sails develops israel hands' story after a fallout with blackbeard..

The real Israel Hands was the long-time first mate of Blackbeard, which remains true on the show. However, Black Sails' Hands and Blackbeard fell out when Blackbeard made Vane his apparent successor. Hands also appears as Long John Silver's first mate in the book Treasure Island . According to A General History of the Pyrates by Captain Charles Johnson, Hands was not present when Blackbeard was killed, because he was recovering from Blackbeard accidentally shooting him in the leg . Hands was subsequently captured and received a pardon in exchange for information on Blackbeard's business partners . His fate after this is unknown.

Our Flag Means Death and Black Sails are both fantastic shows about the Golden Age of Piracy - but how do they compare to the real history of pirates?

4 Benjamin Hornigold (Patrick Lyster)

Black sails does not show captain hornigold working with blackbeard..

Black Sails accurately depicts Benjamin Hornigold as a pirate captain collaborating with the other famous pirates of the 18th century. However, the fictional Hornigold betrays the others in exchange for a pardon and works with Rogers. He is subsequently killed by Flint. In reality, Blackbeard was Hornigold's second-in-command before becoming the captain of his own ship, the Queen Anne's Revenge. The real Hornigold did accept a pardon and became a pirate hunter, working closely with the real Rogers. Hornigold died in a shipwreck in 1719.

3 Ned Low (Tadhg Murphy)

Ned low's black sails death is entirely fictional..

Edward "Ned" Low has a small but vital role in Black Sails season 2 when he captures Abigail Ashe (Meganne Young) while she is traveling to Charles Town. Abigail becomes an important hostage as Flint attempts to negotiate with her father Peter Ashe (Nick Boraine). Vane kills Low to secure Abigail. Vane stakes Low's head on Nassau's beach along with a sign that says "I angered Charles Vane." The real "Ned" Low was a pirate captain known for his cruelty and torturing his captives . Low became a pirate after his wife's premature death. While he started out cruel he only became worse with time. There are conflicting reports of Low's ultimate fate: He may have been killed or set adrift by his crew after a mutiny.

2 Mary/Mark Read (Cara Roberts)

Mary read's appearance hints at more adventures for bonny and rackham..

Mary Read appears in the finale episode of Black Sails , presumably becoming a trusted partner of Bonny and Rackham in the future. Read introduces herself as "Mark Read" to Bonny and Rackham. Of all the real pirates depicted Black Sails, Mary Read had the longest career as a pirate . According to Britannica , Read started working as a sailor at a young age, becoming a buccaneer after her ship was seized by pirates.

Her pirate ship sailed from the West Indies islands to Nassau in 1717. She soon joined the ship of Calico Jack. The real Mary Read had a romantic relationship with Bonny. She and Bonny both claimed to be pregnant when the crew was captured, but Read died in prison, most likely of a fever. If Black Sails season 5 had happened, it could have depicted the exploits of Read, Bonny, and Rackham.

1 Mr. Scott (Hakeem Kae-Kazim)

Mr. scott is not a historical pirate but was inspired by history..

In Black Sails , Mr. Scott is a former slave who is Eleanor Guthrie's (Hannah New) advisor at the beginning of the series, but becomes Benjamin Hornigold's (Patrick Lyster) quartermaster. While Scott is an original character, he is representative of the escaped slaves played during the Golden Age of Piracy . According to Britannica , "It is estimated that up to one-third of the 10,000 pirates during the golden age of piracy were former slaves."

In season 3, it is revealed that Scott has a wife known only on the show as the "Maroon Queen" (Moshidi Motshegwa) and a daughter named Madi (Zethu Dlomo). His wife is the leader of a community of former slaves on Maroon Island. She may be inspired by the historical figure known as "Queen Nanny," the leader of a community in the mountains of Jamaica. Scott is shot by English soldiers while helping others escape to Maroon Island and later dies of infection in Black Sails season 3.

Source: Smithsonian Magazine , World History Encyclopedia , Smithsonian Magazine , A General History of the Pyrates by Captain Charles Johnson, Britannica and Britannica

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Den of Geek

Black Sails History: Ship Battles in the Age of Sail

We return to the real history behind Black Sails with an examination of ship-to-ship battles.

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Black Sails  has had more ship battles than a TV show has any right to have. With excellent CGI and a large budget, they’ve put together some amazing shots , from running and pursuing ships to shots of—well—cannon shots.

The on-screen battles have been thrilling, but rarely accurate. Real ship actions were often boring. Boring battles? Yes, but interspaced with moments of pure terror.

First, a little background. Cannons on ships had only been in use for a little over a hundred years. Before that, there had been some effort with catapults and bows-and-arrows. But the main method had been ship-to-ship ramming.

This was only practical with galleys (ships propelled by banks of rowers). Only a galley could control its speed and direction with enough precision to target and attack another ship. But galleys had their own drawbacks. The rowers needed to be fed and housed, and even if they were slaves, this used a lot of resources. Rowers also grew tired. Wind-powered ships could travel faster over an extended period of time.

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Wind-powered ships also had the deck space and manpower to host cannons. A cannon of the time required a team of five to service it during battle: A loader, a sponger, a rammer, and two additional men to help the others heave the gun, which could weigh as much as two tons, into firing position on a moving deck.

None of this came easily. A good gun crew was a practiced gun crew, and practicing could use up tons of powder and dozens of cannonballs.

Then there was the issue of aiming. In Black Sails , cannons tend to hit what they aim at. In real life, it was somewhat different. It might take hours of patient work and dozens of fired shots just to adjust the angle and elevation in order to actually hit a target. A more experienced crew would have better luck. But on a deck that moved up and down at the same time it was moving side to side and forward, aiming was as much an art as a skill.

Gun crews on fixed locations, like forts, could get ahead of this by practicing hitting things in their own harbor. Practice could teach a crew person taught to tweak elevation and lateral adjustments to hit any spot in the adjoining water in time, but this information wasn’t transferrable. Each cannon was hand-cast, each gun carriage handmade, and knowing the fine art of firing one gun was not necessarily transferrable to another.

Partially because of the difficulty of aiming, the established way of fighting ship to ship was very formal.

In a navy-to-navy fighting, the accepted method was to line one’s ships up, bow to stern, in a long line. Ships large enough to take part in this maneuver were called, appropriately, ships of the line. They were big—1000 tons or more—and carried perhaps a hundred guns and as many as a thousand crew memebers.

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When two navies met at sea, they first formed their lines of battle. With uncooperative wind and currents, this might take days, which would not make for an interesting TV show.

Once the lines were formed, the two columns sailed toward each other in opposite directions. As each ship came into firing range with the ship on the opposite side, it began to fire.

Ships were rated by their broadsides, a broadside being the firing of all guns on one side of the ship, or one-half of the ship’s full cannon power. A ship of the line, with 100 guns each firing a shot weighing 32 pounds (a 32 pound cannon ball) was said to have a broadside of 1,600 pounds. Every time the ship fired all the guns on one side, it would throw 1,600 pounds of iron shot at the enemy.  

The ships, made of oak, were designed to withstand a barrage like this and rarely sank. But the men in the ship would be torn to pieces. Not only was iron flying through the air, but also splinters of wood knocked loose by the shot.  Such splinters could no doubt pierce flesh down to the bone. Chunks of rigging fell, breaking the men below. The noise was incredible. It was not uncommon for men deafened by the noise of battle to take days to recover their hearing.

Eyewitnesses wrote of men mashed into liquid by a single shot. Limbs were crushed to pulp. The screams of the injured and dying rivaled the noise of the cannons. Blood covered the deck in such quantities that it sloshed ankle-deep. The smoke from the burning powder obscured everything, sometimes even the sun.

During this chaos, men were expected to stick to their posts and do their jobs. Time and again, the gun crews swabbed, loaded, primed, aimed and fired their guns. They continued even when the deck around them was smashed to splinters, when the gun, recoiling from the force of the shot, ran over feet and legs, maiming men with scars that would last for life.

Sometimes a gun would overturn, crushing its crew beneath it. Sometimes guns would explode due to improper loading or interior flaws or corrosion. In the long, slow-moving parade of ships, this hell might go on for hours. When the lines of ships passed each other, they would begin maneuvering to turn around and come at each other again. Once again, this might take days.

Interestingly enough, battles that went this way really didn’t accomplish much.

Many pirates had been in such battles. A huge proportion of pirates were former navy men who turned out of their service when the last big war, called Queen Anne’s war by the English, and by most others, the War of Spanish Succession, had come to an end. In those days, navies did not even bring their sailors home. Rather, they dumped them at the most convenient port. Often this port was in the Caribbean.

TS Rhodes is the author of The Pirate Empire series. She blogs about pirates at thepirateempire.blogspot.com  .

The Ending Of Black Sails Finally Explained

Through a swash-buckling four-season run, fans of "Black Sails" have said ahoy to plenty of drama and fights on the open waters. First airing on Starz in 2014, the show follows a group of pirates in New Providence in the early 1700s, led by the charismatic and legendary Captain Flint ( Toby Stephens ). Acting as a prequel to the famed Robert Louis Stevenson novel, "Treasure Island," the show puts its own unique spin on something viewers have seen adapted countless times. Just like the previous seasons, its final ending is abundant in small details and loopbacks to where the story began, successfully bringing the characters' journeys full circle.

Both Season 4 and its finale were showered with positive reviews  when it aired in April 2017, praised for their ability to hold focus on storytelling where other shows seemed to have lost touch. The drama between Flint and Long John Silver (Luke Arnold) reached new heights, with Madi (Zethu Dlomo) a rose stuck between two thorns. While side characters including Anne (Clara Paget) and Jack (Toby Schmitz) could arguably have been explored further, fans made it clear that the show's final outing is something that is definitely worth watching . Head out on the ships for one last time as we take you through exactly what went down in the Season 4 finale of "Black Sails." Spoilers ahead.

Choosing love over war is disappointing

War, huh! What is it good for? Well apparently, the answer is adding more fan satisfaction to the final ending of "Black Sails." Since the show said goodbye for the last time, fans have weighed in on whether the finale's direction was actually the right move after all. According to one particular Reddit thread , the lasting love-fest for "Black Sails" was tainted by an ending that didn't live up to expectations. One fan claims it's because Silver and Flint's storyline ultimately chooses love over war — perhaps engineering a happy ending to preserve the connection that Silver once had with Madi.

At face value, it's easy to see why viewers would want drama over a neatly sewn-up ending. Not only would that make it more likely for potential "Black Sails" spin-offs to return, but it also makes for more exciting viewing — particularly given the history between Flint and Silver. Just as user  blue_mutagen points out, there was never going to be a right answer that the creative team could offer fans. Sure, "retiring" Flint provides the most concise way of bringing the 4 seasons to a close, but do we really want to deal with that?

Flint's end can be viewed in two ways

Like many notable TV adaptations, the story we see onscreen is likely to differ from the original text. In the case of "Black Sails," it's Flint that takes the brunt of the change. Speaking to Collider , show co-creator John Steinberg referred back to Flint's initial path. "When you read the book, you're told that Flint died in a very specific way, and it's a way that doesn't immediately suggest story. He died alone, some indeterminate period of time after the exciting stuff happened, and he died in a very lonely, sad place." In contrast, redesigning Flint's story leads to some immediate confusion.

It could be said that the decision to remove Flint from the audience's radar rather than killing him off outright is purposefully ambiguous. If resurrecting "Treasure Island" really is on the cards, Flint has to stay alive. Silver's version of events leading to Flint's "retirement" suggests there is more tension there than we are led to believe, which is a stark contrast to images of Flint in farmlands of green. The image of the green pear considered the "gift of the Gods" feeds back into Flint's self-comparison to Odysseus in the very first "Black Sails" episode. Whether Flint has been put out to pasture or has reaped the ultimate rewards in the finale feels like it's up to us to decide.

Silver wrestles with his alter ego

The legend of Long John Silver is something we know all too well, and Silver's journey throughout "Black Sails" is leading to bigger things unsaid. From the beginning of the show, Silver is defined as a person who has arrived from nowhere, being pulled toward those who come from an opposite kind of life. Not only does this mean that Flint and Silver naturally see the world in completely different ways, but it also leads to Silver battling the legendary persona that he has built for himself. The ability to make a personal choice that Flint can't is one of the key things that defines Silver bowing out of "Black Sails."

All at once, the Season 4 finale shows Silver taken by his own status and repulsed by it. Flint can tell that Silver's current circumstances won't be enough to fulfill him, meaning the episode results in Silver looking for something he once left behind. It's a decision that would make a season of a "Treasure Island" spinoff feel more meaningful, given the constraints of his reunion with Madi in the Season 4 finale. Thematically, Silver's storyline is a huge champion of what the "Black Sails" series stands for — you can try to run away from who you are, but you'll always return.

Madi and Silver's reunion only goes so far

The Season 4 finale of "Black Sails" leads to something fans have been waiting for — a reunion between Silver and Madi. Initially working alongside each other to form an alliance, fans see the pair progress from allies to lovers over the course of Seasons 3 and 4. In the case of the Season 4 finale, it's a painful realization to Silver that whatever he has with Madi will never be enough to sustain him. It's something Flint tells him straight to his face, resulting in a painful distance between the two that's replicated in the episode's parting shots with a gorgeous horizon behind them.

Speaking to Inverse , co-creator Robert Levine signals that this styling reflects the nature of the pair's relationship. "The way you see them at the end, they're in the same frame but they're yards away from each other. Emotionally, that's as close as they'll ever get again." It's unlikely to be an ending that fans are pleased with, as some viewers recognize Silver's selfish intentions as the show draws to a close. They say a leopard can't change its spots, and it's true in the case of Silver. Their frosty end doesn't necessarily mean that their romantic connection won't be picked up in potential spinoffs, but it is likely to send Silver off on a completely different path instead.

Flint and Silver's endgames were planned from the beginning

Between our two leading men, there's been a lot to explore when it comes to Flint and Silver. The lynchpins of "Black Sails," the show's finale depicts an ending that feels both final and open-ended. The question of whether Silver did in fact shoot the gun hangs in the balance, while Flint's mysterious "retirement" leaves the crew believing he has died on his own in the Savannah. With such a famous text to base the program on, their fates, to an extent, are unsurprising. Yet according to creators Levine and Steinberg, the ending for Flint and Silver has been planned all along.

Speaking to Inverse , Steinberg says: "The Flint and Silver story has been with us a long time. At the beginning there was a more obvious path: They would become enemies and be antagonists in each other's story. We made the choice early on that it would be more impactful and tragic if what you're watching is these two guys who are as close to each other as anyone in the world, and there's just this one point at which they can't connect." The events of the Season 4 finale mean that Goliath has been beaten by David, although neither of them is leaving "Black Sails" in the best shape.

Reunions and defeat make for happy fans

When it comes to ending a show on a high, "Black Sails" seems to have got certain things largely right. Though there has been much debate over Flint's personal fate, many fans have voiced their opinions on why they thought the Season 4 finale was the perfect ending. Reddit user stgeorge78 cites how the finale has maintained its high level of quality and drama, propelling the pirate genre into an entirely new space on TV. The finale's success is largely thanks to its emphasis on relationships, with deep-diving into character journeys remaining at the core of the show itself. Whether it's watching Silver and Madi spare each others' feelings or finding out what happens to Jack and Anne, defeating the bad times is a winning format for everyone.

At the same time, it's unsurprising that some viewers still have questions about what the Season 4 finale has revealed. Any good climax is one that leaves us guessing or drawing our own conclusions — and that's a strategy "Black Sails" relies upon heavily. We always knew that the rebellion was going to end, but whether "Treasure Island" lives to see another day remains a mystery. Who's to say Flint won't show up again after finding his happiness?

Did we see enough of Anne Bonny?

Out of all of the character journeys we see in the Season 4 finale of "Black Sails," Anne Bonny's is arguably the most simplistic. Surviving the episode's final battle, we see her reunited with Jack — becoming the only two pirate captains to sail under the black completely in secret. It's a straightforward path from point A to point B, leaving the action between Flint, Silver, and Madi to take a starring role. Though the decision is understandable, it's left some fans questioning if we saw enough of Anne through the season finale drama.

Given that the show prides itself on prioritizing character storylines and emotions, it's somewhat a surprise that Anne takes a backseat.  Some fans think that this is because the female characters are overall much weaker in "Black Sails," though Anne may get credit for being one of the more well-developed ones. Others claim that "the depth and danger" of her story aren't fully appreciated, arguing that in a world of pirates, even Jack and Anne can't fully trust each other. Leaving the pair to literally sail off into the sunset is possibly the easy way out, neatly sewing up their story to leave time for bigger storylines.

The final episodes stay character-rich

At the same time, it can't be said that "Black Sails" doesn't stay fully focused on its characters. Regardless of where our favorite pirates are in their individual journeys, the narrative never strays from figuring out their end game. While talking to The Hollywood Reporter , Steinberg explains how this naturally manifests with the example of Flint and Silver. "We had to embrace the fact that there would have to be things that were left unsaid and were going to have to exist in subtext and performance and context in order for it to be honest. That felt right. There is, at least to me when I watch it, a significant amount happening between the two of them that is all under the surface. But at the same time, you want it to play at face value."

While the season finale continues to deliver on fleshing out the legacy of Silver, Flint, and more, fans have lavished praise on the show's continued ability to live up to expectations. Reddit user IronMaximus claims "Black Sails" is one of the greatest programs of all time in terms of character development, while Nic727 praises the season finale in particular for doing an awesome job of rounding out the narrative progression. Where so many shows fall at the final hurdle, it's safe to say "Black Sails" proved itself until the very end.

The blueprint for Treasure Island is laid out

For some fans, it might have felt as though four seasons of "Black Sails" wasn't quite enough. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter , Steinberg explains how the team arrived at the decision to call it quits. "It was during season four when we felt like all the endings we hoped we would get to were starting to approach very quickly. We spent a little time at the end of season four thinking about if we were done and it felt like we were." However, it's also been clear from the beginning that the end of "Black Sails" merges with the beginning of "Treasure Island." It's a case of never say never, but wants could well see our favorite pirates return once more in an entirely new spinoff.

According to Den of Geek , a "Treasure Island" series is something that has definitely been discussed. "I don't necessarily know if it would fit the children's story that is "Treasure Island," but maybe we could do our own version of a children's story. The 'Black Sails' version," said executive producer Dan Shotz. Picking up where "Black Sails" left off would be a natural workaround to commissioning a fifth season of the show, with the fact so much time has passed in between only playing to a future spinoff's advantage.

Partnership-turned-friendship-turned-enemies?

When it comes down to it, "Black Sails" is really only about the relationship between two men — Flint and Silver. Across the show's four seasons, fans see them progress from a hesitant partnership into a blossoming friendship, even though there are plenty of obstacles along the way. By the time fans watch the Season 4 finale, their relationship seems to tip into the realm of enemies. Without taking anything else into account, there's an obvious elephant in the room, leaving viewers to wonder whether Silver has fired a gun directly at Flint. While Silver seems to arrive full circle at where he started in Season 1, Flint is within touching distance of happiness with Thomas (Rupert Penry-Jones) – though whether he truly managed to find it is up to interpretation.

Given that "Black Sails" is a show about the highs and lows of pirates on the open seas, it makes sense that Silver and Flint's relationship would gradually turn sour at some point. Not only does this heighten the drama — and certainly makes the show's ending more exciting — but their ever-changing relationship stays true to the nature of their fraught friendship. What comes between two men more than a woman and the chance of promised happiness? 

The thought of Max and Anne stays in our minds

There's only one way a gripping drama about pirates could get any better, and that's to include some meaningful queer representation. When we are introduced to Anne in Season 1 of "Black Sails," she's enamored with Max (Jessica Parker Kennedy) while exploring the connection she has with Jack. With plenty of memorable scenes in their wake, the relationship between Max and Anne has completely changed by the time viewers get to the Season 4 finale. The two have drifted apart and are on their way to turning against each other — but there's still an element of Anne getting both the man and woman that she wants. While she chooses the guy in the episode's final moments, fans can't be blamed for wanting a slightly different romantic ending.

The fact that Max gets her moment to pursue the woman she loves is something that fans have praised for being included in the Season 4 finale. It makes it all the more bittersweet when Max and Anne don't end up together forever, instead favoring the relationship that we knew would come out on top all along. Steinberg spoke about his surprise with its success to The Hollywood Reporter : "I think the Max and Anne relationship was something that became emotionally impactful in a way that we didn't see coming. That was a lesson in if you're not letting stories evolve naturally, then you're missing all the good stuff."

Could we ever see a Black Sails reboot or spinoff?

With the original run of "Black Sails" ending in 2017, one question has remained unanswered: will we ever see a reboot or spinoff? Currently, there are no concrete plans to revive the show, but we know discussions surrounding a potential resurrection have taken place . The most likely variation of this is a narrative segue into "Treasure Island," with the Season 4 finale neatly landing the story exactly where the famous book picks up. Speaking to Inverse , Steinberg explains why it was so important to Flint and Silver's story to align the two. "The end of his story in this show is the hope that he can get away from it. That made "Treasure Island" feel like a meaningful sequel about a massive transformation in that character. It was foretold by Flint, but it wasn't preordained."

That being said, some fans disagree with the direction of a possible spinoff. Reddit member Blackthroat39 says that viewers don't need another iteration of "Treasure Island," but instead would benefit from a prequel of "Nassau." Exploring the golden days that came before "Black Sails" equally adds to the show's plentiful character scope, set 10 years before the beginning of the program. Whatever direction a spinoff could go in, the possibility has never seemed unlikely, particularly given the wealth of side characters the show has yet to fully explore.

Black Sails: Details of All Shooting Locations of the Pirate-Adventure Show

‘Black Sails’ is a gritty saga following pirates of New Providence Island, outlawed by the world’s nation-states, in their quest to obtain an invaluable Spanish treasure. Set in the early 18th century Bahamas, the show is created by Jonathan E. Steinberg and Robert Levine, and is a prequel to the events of Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘Treasure Island.’ The series takes us through tropical sunbathed beaches, vast stretches of ocean, and quaint coastal shanty towns.

The adventure includes real historical pirates like Blackbeard, Jack Rackham, and Israel Hands while being led by fictional ones like Captain Flint and Long John Silver. With a blend of historical characters and instances to go along with captivating maritime visuals, ‘Black Sails’ portrays a gripping and convincing tale of piracy and treasure hunting. The exemplary visual storytelling of the series may have you pondering if its filming took place on location in real-life Caribbean and European destinations.

Where Was Black Sails Filmed?

‘Black Sails’ was largely shot in Cape Town in South Africa with the help of a local film studio and its team recorded footage of the sea in The Bahamas to composite into shots of the ocean seen in the series. Most of what is seen in the series has been built in a Cape Town studio, barring a few scenes of wilderness that were shot around Knysna. Everything had to be built from scratch, from the beach and tanks with sufficient water for harboring its ships to the entirety of Nassau Island.

The annual production cycle of each season of the show started with the script being sent to the team around October or November, and the shooting is carried out through November till the middle of May, with a Christmas hiatus pausing it for a few weeks. Let us take you through the elaborate filming process for the Starz show, which garnered an Emmy for its first season.

Cape Town, South Africa

The capital city resting on the southern tip of the African continent became a comprehensive filming destination for ‘Black Sails.’ Cape Town Film Studios, on 7 Film City Boulevard, was used to create its sets of the craggy Maroon Camp, Philadelphia, and Charles Town in London. To build Nassau Island, it took 400 crew members working for four months, completing it with huts, piers, fishing boats, and its own artificial beach. The studio has also been home to productions such as ‘Outlander,’ ‘Mad Max: Fury Road,’ the 2012 ‘Dredd,’ and the 2018 ‘Tomb Raider.’

Creating the ships and their water tanks for the series was a gargantuan undertaking in its own right. The film’s production team was the first to build a dual tank setup in South Africa, one for the deep sea and one for the beach. The beach tank could hold between five and seven million liters of water and had a sea sand surface bed. It was fitted with wave machines while being connected to the deep sea tank to simulate high tide and low tide. For season one, two ships were built, one whole, and the other, half. 300 workers were engaged in building these to-scale vessels for four to five months, committed to a high level of detailing.

For the second season, a complete new ship depicting the larger, Spanish Man O’ War, was created with 50 people working over three months. These dummy vessels each took up about 8,600 square feet of canvas and 16 kilometers of rope. A smaller sloop-like ship was built for the third season and modified accordingly to portray different vessels. After the show had wrapped up production, the ships were repurposed and reused in another Starz project, ‘Outlander,’ and they eventually found their way into the live-action Netflix adaptation of ‘ One Piece .’

Knysna, South Africa

The emblematic Skeleton Island seen in the show was not created at the studio. Its filming was carried out at the Keursboom River near Knysna, roughly 300 miles east of Cape Town. The location’s verdant landscapes, green islands, and emerald lagoons make it a visual spectacle for filmmakers to create their coastal settings. The rocky and densely forested Skeleton Island found a fitting home in the cliffs and bays surrounding the Western Cape province town of Knysna.

The Bahamas

A filming team of ‘Black Sails’ traveled to the island nation of The Bahamas for a week during the production of season one. The archipelagic state situated in the Atlantic Ocean became a location for the team to capture plate shots of a harbor and the open sea. This gave the crew authentic footage of the Caribbean Sea’s look and movement, which they composited and used in conjunction with computer-generated water to create expanses of ocean indistinguishable from reality.

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