It is called the mast
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
A sail boat with an outboard motor is still a sailboat UNTIL the motor is turned on then it becomes a powerboat. A sailboat with it's sails up and the engine running is deemed to be a motor-sailer.
They sails are attached to the masts of the ship. The mast is a pole that runs straight up or angled up out of the deck of the ship.
Yes. http://www.boatingworldonline.com/Articles/2009/March/Features/CrashCourse.html (see #4)
The halyard holds the sail up. When a rope has an assigned job on a boat (or a ship) it is referred to as a line.
Usually A single masted sailboat is a sloop, but there are different types of sloops, such as one with two sails up front and it is called a cutter. It is still a sloop though, just a version of a sloop. In modern boats two masts would be either a ketch, yawl or schooner, but that's a whole other discussion.
The mainmast
to hold up the sails, and to help steer the ship. its called rigging, by the way...
Speed up to pass in front of the sailboat