Masts, or see: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_ship_poles_called
for a more indepth answer.
It is called the mast
The pole on a sailboat that holds the sails is called the "mast." It is a vertical structure that supports the sails and rigging, allowing the boat to harness wind power for propulsion. The height and design of the mast can vary depending on the type of sailboat and its intended use.
It is called mast.
The pole you are referring to is called the mast. If the boat only has one mast it is usually not in the middle of the boat but is normally found in the forward third of the boat.
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
Mast
A pole on a boat that holds spars or sails.
The pole on a sailboat is called the mast.
The vertical pole on a sailboat is called the mast, but at the bottom of the sail is horizontal pole called a boom. On the Tall Ships, the horizontal pole AT THE TOP of the sail is called the yardarm.
Is called a mast
a pole on a sailboat is a mast
I believe it is called a "spar".