Here is a picture of some parts of a sailboat.  Perhaps I can get time towards evening or very late afternoon to send a photo of our boat with labels on the main parts of the boat.

 

Also here is a simplified answer to the question about sailing into the wind.   A Partial answer is herein.  At the bottom is a picture of the names of the "Points of Sailing"  an explanation is with the picture.

 

 

Notice the boat does not really sail directly into the wind - the boat has a "Dead Area" that is within a boundary of approximately 45 degrees to either side (Port or Starboard - pronounced starbird) of directly into the wind.  It is not always 45 degrees because different boat designs will provide closer pointing to the wind than others.  Usually the boat cannot sail closer to the wind than an angle in the low 30 degrees off the wind.  The boat will "Tack" to head for a destination which is into the wind.  That is, one will sail for a while on a starboard tack and one will sail for a while on a port tack.  Notice the directions of the Port and Starboard tacks.  Do not let the names for the Tacks become confusing (come on now, we both know it is!)  --- the name of the tack is based upon the side of the boat (beam or gunwale - pronounced gunnel) the wind is coming from --- not the direction the boat is moving toward.  If the right side of the boat is the starboard, then if the wind is coming FROM the right or starboard side, then it is a STARBOARD TACK.

 

First step - the boat will never sail directly into the wind. 

 

Next---

The sail is cut so that when the wind fills the sail, the sail is not flat but it is curved.  It actually starts to take the shape similar to an airplane wing.  The shape then emulates an airfoil.  Once that sail has the proper shape it will behave like the wing of an airplane (the airplane wing provides the lift to keep an airplane aloft).  Therefore,  the boat is pulled, as much or more than it is pushed.  So the wind pulls the boat - not push the boat on a tack. 

 

Second step is - the sail acts like the wing of an airplane and can provide a pulling force.

 

Next ---

Since the direction of the boat must be set - we add a keel or centerboard.  This is a part of the hull (keel) or a piece of fiberglass or metal (a centerboard) this extends from the bottom of the hull deep into the water.  This keel then can keep the boat from being pulled or pushed to the side and therefore the hull is "squeezed" through the water in a forward motion (it has more resistance and does not move to the side).  Think of taking a watermelon seed and squeezing it between your thumb and forefinger - it will be squeezed out shoot out like a rocket.  Well the sailboat does not move like a rocket - but it is still fun.

Last step - the keel provides a method for the boat to keep from slipping to the side.

Last step - the keel provides a method for the boat to keep from slipping to the side.

 

Side Note:  The large colorful sails seen so many times are called Spinnakers.  The Spinnaker is used only when Running.  Running is sailing away from the wind.  The Point of Sail offering the most speed is not Running, it is a Beam Reach - that is 90 degrees off the wind!  The wind come over the beam or gunwale on a Beam Reach.

Spinnaker -