The mast.
Answer:The vertical spar the sail attaches to is the Mast. The horizontal spar is called a Boom.
Mast
Mast (vertical, leading edge of sail), Boom (horizontal,bottom of sail), and a spinnaker pole if you use a spinnaker which is a sail type
the pole that holds up the sail is called the mast
a pole is used on symmetrical boats, or a boat that has the spinnaker, or kite, out in front of it. An A-Symmetrical boat puts the spinnaker to the side. A-Symmetrical boats use a bowsprit to hold the sail out in front of the boat, but Symmetricals use a pole. it clips onto the mast of the boat, and the other ends holds the sail.
Mast
It is called the mast
a pole on a sailboat is a mast
You are describing the mast.
mast
The wind is what causes a sailboat to sail.
Masts, or see: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_ship_poles_calledfor a more indepth answer.
Sailboat is to sail as kite is to fly, just as airplane is to wing and oil tanker is to engine.