A spar for a sailing vessel comprises an elongated member which projects upwardly at an oblique angle from the centerline of the vessel deck and defines a longitudinal axis of rotation. The elongated member has a longitudinal slot for mounting the jib. The elongated member has a longitudinally extending aerodynamic surface defined by a quasi-elliptical shape with identical starboard tack and port tack leading edges symmetric about a plane through the rotational axis and the slot.