schooner yacht sailing

Welcome aboard the yacht Atlantic

All about one of the most awesome classic yachts of all time, the three mast schooner Atlantic. Long time holder of the world record for the crossing of the Atlantic Ocean under sail, this one hundred and eighty-five foot schooner originally designed by William Gardner in 1903 has been relaunched and is sailing once more.

The Atlantic is currently in the western Mediterranean, and available for luxury sailing yacht charters.

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What’s in a Rig – The Schooner

By: Pat Reynolds Sailboat Rigs , Sailboats

What’s in a Rig # 7– The Schooner

The schooner is another split rig plan, like the ketch and yawl, but really fell out of favor after having a very dominant place in sailing history for quite a long time. Early in the 18 th century on into the 19 th they became widely popular for their speed, versatility, and upwind prowess, which by today’s standards is not good, but at the time was surely better than the larger unwieldy ships of the day.

By definition, a schooner is a sailboat with at least two masts, with the forward mast (foremast) being a bit shorter than the main mast. Although a schooner can have more than two masts, most were just two. During the time of their popularity this smaller and better upwind set up allowed for a more efficient and manageable sailboat. It was the preferred choice of pirates, privateers, slaveship captains and others.

Although schooners filled a need at the time, they were eventually all but replaced with sloops and yawls that were even better upwind and easier to manage. The schooner’s two large sails weren’t all that efficient and there was a lot of sail to deal with. Perhaps yawls and ketches are still around mainly for that reason – the second sail is pretty manageable – a schooner, on the other hand, was (is) a lot of work and a lot to maintain.

In the other What’s in a Rig articles we made a case (or a partial case) for the practicalities of each particular rig, but the schooner doesn’t have any shining advantages over what came after it. Perhaps their contribution to modern sailing is to illustrate how it was once done. They are an extremely important element in the evolution of sailing and,for that matter, world history.

From the times of swarthy pirates to the racing legend America that ushered in a modern age, schooners ruled the oceans, so give them their just due. Maybe next time you see one, give a nod and say, “ thanks schooner, if not for you I probably wouldn’t be sailing this bitching J-boat right now. ”

What's in a Rig Series:

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Columbia: How the classic Fisherman’s Cup schooner was reborn

To celebrate her recent appearance at the America's Cup Superyacht Regatta , we revisit the story of how Columbia was reborn as one of the most beautiful fishing schooners afloat

It was hot and humid, a haze hovering above the water just hours after the sun had appeared, a typical late-August day in Panama City, Florida. It was ideal weather for ice-cold drinks and swimming — pleasures that the crowd that had gathered at the Eastern Shipbuilding Group ’s Nelson Street shipyard had eschewed, choosing instead to stand on a sunny hillside to watch a graceful blue-hulled schooner inch her way into the water.

An oddity for a commercial yard that has produced many high-tonnage steel vessels without frills, the two-masted yacht is a replica of the 1923 Gloucester fishing schooner Columbia , a ship that inspired thousands of Americans in her quest for the elusive International Fishermen’s Cup in the early 1920s.

The popular answer to the America’s Cup , the Fishermen’s Cup dominated newspaper headlines for 19 years and fuelled competition between the United States and Canada, more specifically between fishing rivals Gloucester, Massachusetts, and Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

A “working man’s event, a tough, no-holds-barred affair,” the race celebrated a “rugged, rigorous way of life that was on its way out,” writes Keith McLaren in his book A Race for Real Sailors . The prizes were $4,000, the silver Cup and national pride.

The original Columbia’s owners turned to Massachusetts expertise and hired architect W. Starling Burgess , who went on to design America’s Cup defender Rainbow , and builder Arthur Dana Story of Essex to create a winner.

Some say Columbia was modelled on the Burgess-designed Puritan , a promising contender that met a premature end on the foggy shores of Sable Island in Nova Scotia. Built for $35,000, Columbia was to go after cup defender Bluenose , a 43.59 metre Canadian-built schooner with a daredevil of a captain, Angus Walters.

At the hands of her equally determined skipper, Ben Pine, Columbia came very close to reclaiming the cup for the US in 1923, but a winner was never determined. She won her trials in 1926, but never again had a chance to prove herself in the finals.

The contentious 1923 race started a brawl and the cup went undisputed for a few years. On August 26, 1927, while chasing fish off Nova Scotia, Columbia and her mostly Canadian crew of 22 disappeared into the raging waters off Sable Island. Bluenose won the last fishermen’s race in 1938.

Nearly 87 years after her demise, Columbia has risen again. “Her story is coming full circle, almost [87 years] to the day,” said Kevin Kerwin, the project’s engineer, as the new Columbia was set afloat in Panama City on August 23, 2014.

The 42.98 metre schooner, built in steel, unlike the wooden original, but with the same graceful lines, sheer, bowsprit and the heart-shaped transom of her namesake, is the long-time dream of Eastern Shipbuilding Group’s founder and president, Brian D’Isernia.

Decades ago, D’Isernia went fishing and really took to it. He cast aside a career in law to become a commercial fisherman and then began building his own fishing boats. His business bloomed into a huge commercial shipyard that now employs more than 1,500 people. Among hundreds of vessels his Panama City yard built was a 22 metre longliner that became the Andrea Gail , immortalised in the novel and movie The Perfect Storm .

The fishing boat was lost with all hands somewhere near Sable Island, just like Columbia . “There was kind of an affinity there,” says D’Isernia, who loves history and found Columbia ’s original blueprints, signed by the architect, while searching cardboard boxes in the Essex Shipbuilding Museum’s archives room.

He shared those lines with Boston-based naval architects John W. Gilbert & Associates, who used Autocad to reproduce them faithfully to 1/64 of an inch.

The 930 square metre rig and sail plan is also a close copy of the original Columbia , except for the addition of hydraulic winches to ease handling. The nine sails, including a 315 square metre mainsail, are made of a synthetic material called Oceanus treated to look and behave like Egyptian cotton, and the lines are made of Dacron instead of manila.

The original Columbia was the last Gloucester schooner to be built without an engine, but her modern counterpart has a single modestly powered Caterpillar diesel engine, one of many manoeuvring conveniences added to her classic hull.

She also serves a very different purpose. Her captain, Karl Joyner, points out that the new Columbia is a blend of two worlds, a fishing and racing schooner that requires specialised crew to handle her powerful sail plan and a luxurious family yacht. It makes for interesting crew choices; it also means that the new Columbia is fundamentally different from the original.

Instead of a large cargo hold for fish, which fishermen hauled over her low-lying sides, Columbia now has a sumptuous owner's cabin and guest staterooms finished in teak, maple and mahogany.

The deckhouse, a little longer than the original, conceals the entrance to this beautifully finished interior, with brass lamps, a fireplace, leather banquettes, dining tables, an open galley and four private cabins. A crew room forward has multiple bunks for a full regatta crew or the owners’ large family.

D’Isernia, who is still a fisherman at heart, made sure there was room for two fish holds, which are equipped with two first-rate Eskimo ice machines. On the way to Columbia ’s first public appearance at the 2014 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show , Joyner says the guests caught wahoo and blue fin tuna.

There is a bit of an added twist to the story of how the new Columbia was made. Back in the day, it was Lunenburg versus Gloucester, Canada versus the US, a battle for cod and herring and a contest between the fastest schooners. The new Columbia , in her owner’s quest for authenticity, blends both heritages. The American-flagged vessel relied on experts from both sides of the border.

Eastern Shipbuilding is skilled at steel building, but a classic and luxurious schooner is a bit of a different animal. So D’Isernia hired Jacob Stevens, whose family has long been associated with boatbuilding in Boothbay, Maine, to manage the construction of Columbia . His colleagues at the shipyard credit him, especially, for the impeccable steel work and fairing.

On launch day, Columbia also had the flag of Nova Scotia flying off one of her two masts and a contingent of Canadian craftsmen in attendance. They had accompanied her Douglas fir and Sitka spruce masts, made by Covey Island Boatworks , all the way to Panama City from Lunenburg, the home of Bluenose (which eventually sank in 1946 with a cargo full of bananas) and the 1963-built replica Bluenose II . The sails, the blocks, the rigging and two authentic dories housed on the ship’s teak deck also came from Lunenburg.

D’Isernia’s team looked for suppliers both in the US and Canada before deciding on the Lunenburg companies. “What we found was that more of the skills and tradition left from building these schooners survived in Lunenburg than did in the United States,” says D’Isernia.

For example, contributing to the authentic looks of the new Columbia were third-generation block builder Arthur Dauphinee, in his late 70s, whose grandfather did the blocks for Bluenose , and his second cousin, Michele Stevens, a fourth-generation sailmaker.

“I like what I do, to take a roll of cloth and make something for a boat that is functional,” Stevens says. Columbia was a special commission for the small family-owned business. “We are a small part of [ Columbia ] but such a visual part of it,” she says.

She and her staff had to use the Lunenburg community centre to lay the sails after cutting and sawing them in her company’s small loft. “We had a great relationship with the [Canadian craftsmen]. And we are very proud of that,” D’Irsenia says.

Still, there seems to be just a whiff of competition left. While he would like to see a race between Columbia and Bluenose II , D’Isernia says he does not think it will happen. “They have too much to lose and nothing to gain,” he says, but adds that he would love to see them side by side.

The battle of the schooners is well-documented. Dana Story, son of Arthur Dana Story and a boatbuilder and author, contributed Hail Columbia: The Rise and Fall of a Schooner to the extensive library relaying the colourful history. But even with so much written about the schooners, the question remains: Had she been able to compete again, would Columbia have won?

“Before I started construction, ten or twenty years ago, I interviewed Dana for his recollection of his dad and to discuss which American schooner would have been faster,” says D’Isernia. “We came to the conclusion that no one will ever know.”

The modern-day Columbia is designed to reach 17 knots under sail. Sea trials done for her Lloyd’s classification gave her captain a good idea of her potential. “We reached eleven-and-a-half knots with just the four lowers in twenty knots of breeze,” he says. He’ll have more opportunity to put her to the test this summer with a trip to Washington, DC, and, in early September, a homecoming trip to Gloucester for the town’s annual tall ship festival.

Yet for all of that sailing ability, D’Isernia admits he may have had more fun building the new Columbia than sailing her, and Eastern Shipbuilding has already started construction on a second hull with identical lines. Joyner says the project team has worked closely with the companies from Lunenburg to design authentic masts and rigging that are a bit lighter than the set on Columbia .

They’ve managed to shave more than 180kg off the new rig. Michele Stevens Sailloft is again making the sails. The builder will take it slow, so a potential owner of the second schooner can choose the interior layout and finishes.

Eastern has added a new chapter to the story of a famous schooner that had a short four-year history before she sank but is remembered as one of the greats. It took three years to build the new incarnation of Columbia , and with a willing owner her sister ship could set sail before the end of the year.

Competitors and fans of the Fishermen’s Cup probably had no idea that the beauty of the ships they rooted for would keep them sailing well into the 21st century.

First published in the June 2015 edition of ShowBoats International

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Schooner 101: What do YOU know about the Schooner?

January 18, 2019

What better way to learn about schooners and sailing than to set sail aboard The Liberté in 2019?

While you may know that The Liberté is a schooner , do you know which qualities distinguish a schooner from other vessels sailing on the water? What better way to learn about schooners and sailing than to set sail aboard The Liberté in 2019? Before you set sail on this exciting adventure in the new year, consider these fun facts about the rich history and recognizable characteristics of a schooner!

Size and Qualities of the Schooner

A schooner is a sailboat built with a minimum of two masts. With this, the foremast is typically slightly shorter than the first or main mast. While a schooner may sometimes have more than two masts, most schooners contain only two. The size of the schooner enables it to sail upwind with ease, making for an enjoyable and efficient sail.

History of the Schooner

With striking similarities to many 17th-century Dutch ship designs, origins of the schooner are believed to be around New England during the early colonial period of the United States. Built for speed and efficiency in coastal sailing, the design of the schooner then led to the development of the famous Clipper ship design. With its origins in the Chesapeake Bay , the Clipper ship design grew in popularity as the descendant of the schooner.

Schooners and Pirates

Throughout its early history, the schooner was even known to be the preferred vessel of pirates! Because of their speed and efficiency, schooners were recognized as pirate ships sailing around the Caribbean, often holding more than 60 men at a time. In true pirate ship fashion, many schooners also contained nearly ten guns, with swivel guns included as well.

Schooners and the Adventure of Sailing

In addition to being an exciting piece of history, a schooner also offers a fun, first-time sailing experience! Not only is sailing a great way to get outside and enjoy the day, but it is also a special experience that can be shared with your friends and family aboard The Liberté . Plan your adventure in either Cape Cod or Annapolis for 2019, and experience the magic of a schooner this year!

Enjoy a Sail with Your Family Aboard The Liberté !

The Liberté provides private charters in Cape Cod and Annapolis as well as public sailings in Cape Cod. Celebrating aboard the magnificent Liberté is a great way to create cherished memories that are sure to last a lifetime. If you want to charter The Liberté for your next corporate event or wedding reception, contact The Liberté today! Call us today and we will be sure to respond within 24 hours. Be sure to also check us out on Facebook , Google + , and Twitter .

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: sail , schooner , and The Liberte This entry was posted on Friday, January 18th, 2019 at 10:59 am. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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A Schooner Sail Plan

Three masted schooner trinovante.

The following sail plans show how the schooner Trinovante might reduce sail as the wind increases . A schooner sail plan has many options so we may not do things in this order.

Depending on wind direction and sea conditions various sail combinations will be used . Factors to be taken into consideration include

• The general trend of the wind – is it increasing or decreasing?
• The assessment of the weather forecast – is there a risk of squally for instance?
• The abilities of the crew.
• If it’s day or night.
• The sea state.
• Whether we’ve just made a cup of tea.
• How quickly we want to get to our destination.
• and so on…

There are no hard and fast rules but a good general rule of thumb would be to get sail off when you first think of it. Also remember that most people can put a sail up but it’s getting it off that counts.

In practice, unless Trinovante is racing in the Tall Ships Race , we don’t tend to do a lot of reefing, we just drop whole sails.

You can see more of how this three masted rig works in the Learn To Sail A Schooner Articles by John, the skipper of Trinovante.

Schooner Sail Plan No.1

This shows full sail set. We would carry this amount of sail off the wind up to around force 5/6. Hard on the wind we might remove the aft fishermans a little earlier when it tends to increase heel without giving any extra speed.

Schooner Sail Plan No. 2

The aft fishermans is off and the mizzen has been reefed to improve balance. Often we just take the mizzen off at this stage and generally only bother to reef it if we are on the wind and want to keep as much sail on as possible. The boat is generally easier to tack with this sail combination if the mizzen is still set.

Schooner Sail Plan No.3

Here the no.1 Jib has been removed and the working jib set . The mizzen is fully off. Reducing the sail area forward balances up taking the mizzen fully off aft. However we often sail with the mizzen off and the no.1 jib set and this works fine too if you are not expecting the wind to keep increasing or if you are off the wind. It all depends how hard you want to push the boat.

Schooner Sail Plan No.4

Now we are starting to be significantly reduced on the sail area.

Schooner Sail Plan No.5

Here the working jib is off too. All the sail area is low down and well within the boat. It means we don’t have to go out on the bowsprit or work on the aft deck as the sea gets rougher. It is now fairly straight forward to gradually reduce sail further by reefing the foresail and mainsail and stay sail or just dropping individual sails right until we get down to bare poles. It’s is going to be pretty windy now. If we are on the wind maybe force 7 and over.

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An offshore sailing holiday orkney, orkney sailing holiday, fair isle sailing holiday, shetland sailing holiday, kirkwall, orkney to whitby, whitby to harwich, ipswich to london, sailing london to harwich.

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Explore the world with When and If

Welcome to the Schooner When And If. Built in 1939 for General George S. Patton, When And If was commissioned by Patton himself from naval architect John Alden, and built by FF Pendleton in Wiscasset, ME to sail around the world “When the war is over, and If I live through it.”

Experience the beauty of the water with our sailing excursions

Explore the water with our sister companies. Whether you're a seasoned sailor or a first-timer, our excursions have something for everyone.

Sunset Sail Key West

Sunset Sail Key West is more than just a private sailing charter, it is the culmination of decades of experience and a lifetime of passion for sailing, and for Key West.

Sunset Sail Salem

Salem and the North Shore are home to some of loveliest sailing in New England. We offer daily sailing and private charters on the beautiful Salem Sound.

Sailing on When and If

When And If sails all year round: out of Key West, FL in the Winter and Salem, MA in the Summer. With our wide range of custom private charter options as well as our a la carte shared sailing availabilities, you’re sure to find your dream sail on this beautiful classic schooner yacht.

Whether it’s a morning excursion, an afternoon on the water or a sunset sail, When And If offers an unparalleled sailing experience on a gorgeous historic schooner; see and be seen as you sail in style.

Experience the magic of sailing

Welcome to our photo gallery! We hope the photos inspire you to join us on one of our voyages and create your own unforgettable memories out on the sea.

The history of When and If

With her storied past, productive present, and bright future, When And If has a narrative all her own. She was commissioned by General George S Patton from the illustrious naval architect John Alden, and built by FF Pendleton of Wiscasset, ME to sail around the world “When the war is over, and if I live through it.”

Her sturdy construction of double planked mahogany over black locust frames and an oak keel made her heavier than Alden’s signature racing schooners, more suited to her transoceanic cruising agenda. She was launched in November of 1938 and in 1939 Patton took delivery of her to Massachusetts where the Patton and Ayer families lived. Shortly thereafter, Patton was deployed in Europe. He returned on leave at least once to sail the boat in his home waters of the North Shore of Massachusetts with his family. Many boats during World War Two, particularly wooden vessels, were requisitioned as sub hunters for the United States Navy though When And If seems to have escaped this fate and saw out the war in safety. Patton was killed in a car accident in Germany in 1945, shortly after the armistice, and his vision to sail around the world on the boat remains unfulfilled to this day.

When And If remained in the Patton family until 1972, when she was donated to the Landmark school for children with Dyslexia in Pride’s Crossing, MA. Patton himself was dyslexic and When And If’s time there marked some of the happiest years for children at the school. Today they come sailing and visit the boat both in Massachusetts and Florida, bringing their own families to regale them with their sea stories never forgotten from all those Summers ago.

In 1990 a vicious nor’easter tore When And If from her mooring and put her up on the rocks at Pride’s Crossing. She appeared mortally wounded, with a hole in her port side “you could drive a VW bug through” and all hope seemed lost until a pair of shipwrights from Martha’s Vineyard purchased the wreck and barged her over to Vineyard Haven to give her a new lease of life.

In 1994 to she was launched, sparkling, from the railway at Gannon and Benjamin, earning them industry-wide recognition for their fine craftsmanship and traditional values in shipbuilding.

Following a stint as the belle of Vineyard Haven harbour, When And If passed into private ownership for a time and in 2011 was purchased by Doug Hazlitt who, after his restoration of the Alden racing schooner Malabar X, purchased When And If prepared to undertake the second big rebuild of her life.

After X years, with a gleaming new sprung teak deck among the most prominent of her new adornments and her length restored to the original 63.5 ft from the 63 it had become during her previous rebuild, When And If once again splashed and lay in wait for her next adventure.

Captain Seth Salzmann had a special place in his heart for When And If. He remembers the first time he saw her in Penobscot Bay, ME in 2006 and though he knew almost every boat in those waters he didn’t recognize the new visitor. “It was like when you see a girl for the first time” he says.

In 2015, after he had managed a large portion of When And If’s 2012 refit, Seth couldn’t resist the opportunity to lease her and begin her new life as a sailing charter boat.

After a summer in Hyannis, MA and a winter in Key West, FL When And If spent the Summer of 2016 touring the Great Lakes for the Tall Ships Festival there before found her new Summer home the following year in Salem, MA.

During this time the opportunity arose for Seth to buy the boat and in 2017 he became owner/operator of his treasured vessel.

Seth’s ambition has always been to fulfil When And If’s destiny and sail around the world. Now with a young family in tow the focus is on keeping the boat busy and raising her condition, ready for that time in the not-too-distant future when her great journey will begin.

2024 Sailing Season is coming! See you April 13, 2024!

Welcome Aboard!

Join us on our two beautiful, wooden, 74-foot schooners, Woodwind and Woodwind II , for a true sailing experience in Annapolis, Maryland.

Located in the heart of the Chesapeake Bay, Annapolis is “America’s Sailing Capital.” Help raise the sails, steer the boat, or simply sit back and relax as Woodwind sails from the historic Annapolis waterfront, past the Naval Academy and cruises into the Chesapeake Bay. As a family business, we take great pride in making your sailing experience a memorable one. Our captains and crew are engaging and enthusiastic. Sail away with us!

Make your sailing experience a memorable one! Sail away with us!

Traditional Sailing in Southern California

Welcome Aboard!

A Newport Beach, California Original

Now also Sailing out of Avalon, Catalina Island!

Come Sail Aboard

If you’re yearning for adventure and eager to feel the wind in your hair and the sun on your face, it’s time to experience the wanderlust that sailing the waters of Newport Harbor provides. 

Glide down the channel and take in breathtaking sights, capture glimpses of sea life and marine animals, and learn more about the hidden celebrity homes scattered along the channel shores with the captain as your guide. Sit back, relax, and revel in the serenity of the sail as we take care of everything.

Lively Schooner Classic Sailing Yachts

The schooner sailing yacht.

Lively is a 1976 classic sailing yacht that has spent most of her life in Newport Harbor, spending her days with the wind in her five sails, waves splashing upon her emerald green hull, and joyous laughter filling her cockpit.

The Pirate Ship

The Mayflower is a 1960 Angelman Topsail Ketch sailing vessel made almost entirely of teak. With up to seven sails catching the wind and her smooth sailing abilities when taking on swells, Mayflower makes the perfect choice for overnight charters to Catalina Island.

Lively Schooner Sailing Charters

Newport harbor cruise.

Are you looking for a different kind of adventure outside the routine Orange County and Los Angeles activities? Explore Newport Harbor and gain an inside perspective on the celebrity boats and homes that scour the harbor’s shores.

Sunset Cruise

Whether you’re looking for a romantic evening or a bay cruise with painted skies as your backdrop, the Sunset Cruise on our classic sailing yacht is sure to make you swoon.

Catalina Boat Charter

Break away from the day-to-day stress and sail into sunny skies and sweet serenity when you voyage to Catalina Island for a weekend or more extended sailboat charter.

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“This is one amazing experience,  Andrew is a great sailor and the ride is SO fun, Once you try a sailing boat you'll never wanna get on the ones with engines, Thanks Andrew it was such a good time”

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About the Lively Schooner Crew

Captain andrew mayhugh.

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Sailing through History: Exploring the Legacy of 19th Century Schooners

Welcome to 19th Century , where we dive into the captivating tales and vibrant history of a bygone era. In this article, we set sail on the majestic 19th century schooner , exploring its intricate design, thrilling expeditions, and its prominent role in maritime trade. Join us as we uncover the allure of these magnificent vessels that shaped an era.

Table of Contents

The Rise and Legacy of 19th Century Schooners: Navigating the Seas of the Past

During the 19th century , schooners played a pivotal role in maritime transportation and trade. These sailing vessels with their distinctive two or more masts and fore-and-aft rigging proved to be highly efficient and versatile, making them a popular choice among sailors and merchants alike.

The rise of schooners in the 19th century can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, their design allowed for increased speed and maneuverability, enabling them to navigate even in shallow waters. This made them ideal for coastal trade and transportation of goods along rivers and estuaries.

Moreover, advancements in shipbuilding techniques and the availability of new materials such as iron and steel contributed to the boom of schooners. The construction of sturdier hulls and innovative rigging systems further enhanced their capabilities, allowing for greater cargo capacity and improved sailing performance.

The legacy of 19th-century schooners is still visible today. They played a significant role in the colonization and exploration of new territories, contributing to the expansion of global trade routes. Schooners were also involved in important historical events, such as the California Gold Rush and the Age of Sail.

Their impact extended beyond commerce and exploration. Schooners became a symbol of national pride for many countries, representing their maritime power and prowess. In some cases, they were even adapted for military purposes, serving as warships or privateers during times of conflict.

19th-century schooners were not only vessels of trade and transportation but also symbols of innovation and adventure. Their rise and legacy remain an integral part of our understanding of maritime history and the seafaring traditions of the past.

Inside Worlds BIGGEST WOODEN ´´OCEAN GOING´´ SAILING SHIP! The Götheborg of Sweden! Full Tour Vlog

“naema”; the classic schooner that will make you dream, what defines a boat as a schooner.

In the context of the 19th century, a schooner is defined by its unique rigging and sails configuration. A schooner is a type of sailing vessel that typically has two or more masts, with the foremast being shorter than the mainmast. The key characteristic of a schooner is its use of fore-and-aft sails on both masts, which means the sails are positioned parallel to the keel of the boat.

The use of fore-and-aft sails allows schooners to sail closer to the wind, making them very maneuverable and efficient in a variety of wind conditions. The specific arrangement of the sails can vary, but it often includes a mainsail on the mainmast and a foresail or jib on the foremast. Some schooners may have additional sails such as staysails or topsails.

During the 19th century, schooners were widely used for various purposes, including fishing, coastal trading, privateering, and even naval warfare. They were popular among sailors due to their versatility and ability to navigate shallow waters. The design of schooners allowed them to carry a significant amount of cargo while still maintaining decent speed and maneuverability.

In summary, during the 19th century, a schooner was characterized by its two or more masts, with the foremast being shorter, and its use of fore-and-aft sails on both masts. This sail configuration made schooners highly versatile and efficient sailing vessels.

What purposes were schooners typically employed for?

Schooners were commonly employed for a variety of purposes during the 19th century. They were versatile vessels that could be used for cargo transportation, fishing, trading, and even as private yachts. Their sleek design and multiple masts made them ideal for maneuvering in coastal areas and shallow waters. Schooners were especially popular in regions like New England and the Atlantic seaboard, where they played a crucial role in maritime trade and commerce. Additionally, due to their speed and agility, schooners were also utilized for smuggling activities during times of embargo or conflict. Overall, these vessels were highly valuable for their ability to navigate various waterways and undertake different tasks efficiently.

What was the size of a schooner’s crew?

In the 19th century, the size of a schooner’s crew varied depending on the specific vessel and its intended purpose. However, a typical schooner crew consisted of around ten to twenty men. The crew members included a captain, mate, sailors, cook, and sometimes additional hands for specific tasks like navigating or manning the sails. These schooner crews were responsible for various duties such as operating the vessel, maintaining and repairing equipment, managing cargo, and ensuring the safety of the ship and its passengers. It is important to note that this crew size estimation can vary based on factors such as the size of the schooner, its intended use (trade, fishing, etc.), and the specific time and location in the 19th century.

What distinguishes a boat from a schooner?

In the context of the 19th century, a boat and a schooner can be distinguished by their specific characteristics.

A boat is a general term used to describe any watercraft that is small enough to be carried aboard a ship. It is typically used for transportation, recreational purposes, or fishing. Boats come in various shapes and sizes, such as rowboats, sailboats, or steam-powered vessels. They are usually propelled by oars, sails, or engines.

On the other hand, a schooner is a specific type of sailing vessel that was popular during the 19th century. It has distinct features that set it apart from other boats. A schooner is characterized by having multiple masts, generally two or more, with the aft mast (the one located toward the rear of the ship) being taller than the others. This configuration allows schooners to carry a large amount of sails, making them efficient in different wind conditions.

Schooners were commonly used for both trade and military purposes during the 19th century. Their versatility and speed made them ideal for navigating various waterways, including coastal areas and open seas. They were often employed in the transportation of goods, such as lumber, coal, or spices, as well as in the naval forces for patrolling or engaging in combat.

While a boat is a broad term encompassing various types of watercraft, a schooner specifically refers to a sailing vessel with multiple masts, particularly popular in the 19th century for its efficiency and versatility.

Frequently Asked Questions

What were some common materials used in the construction of 19th-century schooners.

Wood was the most common material used in the construction of 19th-century schooners. Specifically, shipbuilders often used strong and durable hardwoods such as oak, teak, and mahogany for the keel, frame, and planking. These woods were chosen for their resistance to rot, their ability to withstand the forces of the sea, and their overall strength.

Copper was also widely used during this period, primarily for the sheathing of a ship’s hull. The copper plates were applied to the bottom of the hull to protect it from marine organisms that could damage the wood. Copper sheathing helped improve the vessel’s speed and maneuverability by reducing drag caused by algae and other growth.

Iron was employed for various components of 19th-century schooners, such as bolts, nails, and fittings. Iron fastenings were stronger and more durable than traditional wooden pegs, improving the structural integrity of the ship. However, the use of iron was still limited compared to later periods when steel became more prevalent.

It is worth noting that during the latter half of the 19th century, advancements in shipbuilding technology led to the introduction of steel as a material for constructing schooners. Steel offered greater strength and durability than wood or iron, leading to the eventual transition from wooden ship construction to steel ship construction.

How did advancements in shipbuilding technology affect the design and performance of 19th-century schooners?

Advancements in shipbuilding technology had a significant impact on the design and performance of 19th-century schooners. Shipbuilding techniques and materials improved during this period, leading to the construction of faster, more efficient, and more seaworthy vessels.

One important technological advancement was the shift from using wood as the primary material for ship construction to iron and eventually steel. Iron and steel hulls provided increased durability and strength, allowing schooners to withstand harsh weather conditions and navigate longer distances. This transition also led to the development of larger and more stable vessels, as iron and steel frames allowed for greater structural integrity and the ability to accommodate larger cargo loads.

Another advancement that influenced schooner design was the introduction of steam propulsion. While most schooners were initially sail-powered, the incorporation of steam engines allowed for greater control and reliability, especially in areas with unpredictable winds. These hybrid schooners, known as steam-schooners, combined the efficiency of steam power with the versatility of sails, resulting in enhanced maneuverability and decreased dependence on favorable wind conditions.

The advent of steam-powered machinery also revolutionized shipbuilding practices. Improved tools and manufacturing processes enabled more precise shaping and fitting of ship components, leading to more streamlined hull designs and reduced drag. This, in turn, enhanced the overall speed and performance of schooners.

Additionally, advancements in navigation and communication technologies, such as the invention of the telegraph and more accurate nautical charts, impacted schooner design and performance. Improved navigation instruments and better charting techniques allowed schooners to venture into previously uncharted waters with greater confidence and safety.

Advancements in shipbuilding technology during the 19th century greatly influenced the design and performance of schooners. The transition from wood to iron and steel, the incorporation of steam propulsion, and the development of more precise manufacturing processes all contributed to faster, more efficient, and more capable schooners. These advancements not only improved the maritime industry but also played a crucial role in facilitating global trade and exploration during the 19th century.

What role did schooners play in international trade during the 19th century?

Schooners played a significant role in international trade during the 19th century. These efficient and versatile sailing vessels were commonly used for transporting goods and commodities across the world’s oceans.

Due to their design, schooners were particularly well-suited for coastal and short-distance trading routes. They had a sleek hull, multiple masts, and a combination of square and fore-and-aft sails, which allowed for excellent maneuverability and efficiency in various wind conditions.

One of the main advantages of schooners was their ability to navigate shallow waters and enter smaller ports that larger ships couldn’t access. This made them ideal for transporting goods to coastal towns and cities that were not serviced by larger vessels.

In terms of cargo capacity, schooners could carry a substantial amount of goods, although they were not as large as other types of merchant ships. They were commonly used to transport goods such as timber, coal, salt, and various raw materials, as well as finished products like textiles and manufactured goods.

Additionally, schooners played a crucial role in the transportation of people and supplies to remote areas. They were often employed for exploratory and scientific expeditions, whaling voyages, and even as pirate vessels during the early part of the century.

Overall, schooners were an indispensable part of international trade during the 19th century. Their versatility, maneuverability, and capacity made them a popular choice for merchants and explorers alike, contributing significantly to the expansion of global commerce during this period.

The 19th century schooner played a pivotal role in shaping maritime history during this era. These iconic vessels were not only instrumental in trade and transportation, but they also symbolized the spirit of exploration and adventure that characterized the 19th century. With their sleek design and impressive maneuverability, schooners revolutionized the way goods were transported across the seas. Their impact on global commerce cannot be underestimated, as they opened up new trade routes and facilitated the exchange of goods between distant lands. Furthermore, the schooner’s role in scientific expeditions cannot be overlooked. These vessels were often used by explorers and scientists to conduct research and gather valuable information about uncharted territories. The advent of steam-powered ships eventually rendered the traditional schooner less popular, but its legacy lives on. Today, we admire these graceful vessels as reminders of a bygone era, when the power and beauty of sail ruled the seas.

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Alone on the Ocean, With 400,000 Friends

As Cole Brauer speeds to the finish of a solo race around the world, she is using Instagram to blow up sailing’s elitist image.

Before she could begin the Global Solo Challenge, a nonstop solo race around the world, Cole Brauer had to sail First Light, a 40-foot yacht, from Rhode Island to Spain. Credit... Samuel Hodges

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By Chris Museler

• Published Feb. 29, 2024 Updated March 1, 2024

Video dinner parties, spa days, stuffed animals, favorite hoodies and cozy, colorful fleece blankets. Cole Brauer’s Instagram feed hardly feels like the work of someone racing a 40-foot sailboat around the world in the Global Solo Challenge. But Ms. Brauer, 29, is not an average ocean racer.

In 2022, Ms. Brauer had tried out for another competition, the Ocean Race, which is considered the pinnacle of professional ocean racing. Sailors in that race are highly trained, wear matching foul weather gear and have corporate sponsors. And most of them are men. Ms. Brauer, who had sailed thousands of miles on high performance ocean racing boats, felt she was ready to join their ranks.

But after competing in trials in France, Ms. Brauer was told she was “too short for the Southern Ocean” and was sent on her way.

In spite of her small stature — she stands 5 feet 1 inch — Ms. Brauer rounded Cape Horn, Chile, on Jan. 26, the last of the three great capes of her journey to finish the Global Solo Challenge. It is a feat most of the Ocean Race sailors picked instead of her have never even attempted. And despite being the youngest competitor in the race, she is ranked second overall, just days away from reaching the finish line in A Coruña, Spain.

Along the way, her tearful reports of breakages and failures, awe-struck moments during fiery sunrises, dance parties and “shakas” signs at the end of each video have garnered her a following that has eclipsed any sailor’s or sailing event’s online, even the Ocean Race and the America’s Cup, a prestigious race that is more well known by mainstream audiences.

“I’m so happy to have rounded the Horn,” Ms. Brauer said in a video call from her boat, First Light, after a morning spent sponging out endless condensation and mildew from its bilges. “It feels like Day 1. I feel reborn knowing I’ll be in warmer weather. The depression you feel that no one in the world can fix that. Your house is trying to sink and you can’t stop it.”

Shifting gears, she added, “It’s all getting better.”

Ms. Brauer’s rise in popularity — she has more than 400,000 followers on Instagram — has come as a surprise to her, but her achievements, combined with her bright personality, have struck a chord. And she has set a goal of using her platform to change the image of professional ocean sailing.

“Cole wants to prove you can go around the world and watch Netflix every once in a while and wear your pajamas,” said Lydia Mullan, Ms. Brauer’s media manager. “As for her mental health, she’s really creating a space in her routine for herself, to create that joy she hasn’t seen in other sailors.”

Four months after she began the Global Solo Challenge, a solo, nonstop race around the world featuring sailboats of different sizes, Ms. Brauer is holding strong. Sixteen sailors began the journey and only eight remain on the ocean, with the Frenchman Philippe Delamare having finished first on Feb. 24 after 147 days at sea.

Ms. Brauer, who was more than a week ahead of her next closest competitor as of Thursday morning, is on track to set a speed record for her boat class, and to be the first American woman to complete a solo, nonstop sailing race around the world.

Her Authentic Self

Ms. Brauer has been happy to turn the image of a professional sailor on its head. Competitors in the Ocean Race and the America’s Cup tend to pose for static social media posts with their arms crossed high on their chests, throwing stern glares. Ms. Brauer would rather be more comfortable.

She brought objects like fleece blankets on her journey, despite the additional weight, and said solo sailing has helped give her the freedom to be herself.

“Without those things I would be homesick and miserable,” she said of her supply list. “We need comfort to be human. Doing my nails. Flossing. It’s hard for the general public to reach pro sailors. People stop watching. If you treat people below you, people stop watching.”

Other female sailors have noticed the same disconnect. “The year I did the Vendée Globe, Michel Desjoyeaux didn’t mention that anything went wrong,” Dee Caffari, a mentor of Ms. Brauer’s who has sailed around the world six times, said of that race’s winner. “Then we saw his jobs list after the finish and we realized he was human.”

Ms. Brauer, as her social media followers can attest, is decidedly human.

They have gotten used to her “hangout” clothes and rock-out sessions. Her team produces “Tracker Tuesdays,” where a weather forecaster explains the routes Ms. Brauer chooses and why she uses different sails, and “Shore Team Sunday,” where team members are introduced.

“In the beginning I looked at what she was doing, posting about washing her knickers in bucket and I was like, ‘No! What are you doing?’” Ms. Caffari said. “I’ve been so professional and corporate in my career. She’s been so authentic and taken everyone around the world with her. Cole is that next generation of sailor. They tell their story in a different way and it’s working.”

Finding a Purpose

Ms. Brauer was introduced to sailing at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Those days of casual racing on the turquoise waters of Kaneohe Bay informed her vision of an inclusive sailing community. That image was shattered when she came to the mainland to try her hand at professional sailing.

“When I came to the East Coast it was so closed off,” she said of those early experiences. “I couldn’t get a job in the industry. Pro sailors were jaded. They didn’t want anyone to take their job. It’s a gig-based economy. Competition, we’re pinned against each other, especially women in high-performance sailing since there are fewer of us.”

“This whole process of being a pro sailor over the past five years, I feel mentally punched in the face and my legs kicked out from under me,” she added. “I screamed and I cried. Without those experiences I wouldn’t be as mentally tough. It made me callused.”

A big break happened when she landed a gig as boat captain for Michael Hennessy’s successful Class40 Dragon. The boat was a perfect platform to hone her ocean sailing skills as she ripped up and down the East Coast delivering it to races, often alone, pushing Dragon to its limits. Her Instagram posts of those adventures drew attention, and she was invited to tryout for the Ocean Race, a fully crewed race around the world in powerful 65-footers.

“I was crushed,” Ms. Brauer said of being rejected after the trials.

Ms. Brauer, though, found a new purpose. After months of living in her van and working on Dragon, she found a benefactor in F.K. Day, the president of World Bicycle Relief and the executive vice president of SRAM Corporation, who, along with his brother Lincoln, agreed to buy a boat and fund a massive refit for the Global Solo Challenge, which was only three months away.

Conducting the hurricane of activity last summer in Newport, R.I., Ms. Brauer knew this was her moment to shine. But representatives for her new sponsors had reservations about her bold social media experiment.

“I got a massive pushback: ‘How can you be so vain. This isn’t important. We don’t want to pay for this,’” she said. “I said none of this is going to matter if the world can’t see it.”

Her boat was covered with cameras her shore team could monitor, with technology allowing for constant recording that could be used to capture unexpected twists. Ms. Brauer got some immediate traction, but nothing prepared her for the numbers she would hit once the race began.

“We were taking bets in Spain,” said Ms. Brauer, who had to sail First Light nearly 3,000 miles from Newport to Spain as a qualifier for the race. “There was a photo of me excited we hit 10,000 followers. Ten thousand for a little race? That’s massive.”

A few months later she has 40 times that count.

A Dangerous Journey

Only a handful of solo ocean racers have been American, all of whom being male. Now Ms. Brauer has a larger following than any of them, pushing far beyond the typical reach of her sport.

“This is a really good case study,” says Marcus Hutchinson, a project manager for ocean racing teams. For me she’s an influencer. She’s a Kardashian. People will be looking for her to promote a product. She doesn’t need to worry about what the American sailors think. That’s parochial. She has to split with the American environment.”

Unlike her peers, Ms. Brauer is happy to do some extracurricular work along the way toward goals like competing in the prestigious Vendée Globe. “I’m part of the social media generation,” she said. “It’s not a burden to me.”

The playful videos and colorful backdrop, though, can make it easy for her followers to forget that she is in the middle of a dangerous race. Half her competitors in the Global Solo Challenge have pulled out, and ocean races still claim lives, particularly in the violent, frigid storms of the Southern Ocean.

“She was apprehensive,” Ms. Caffari said of Ms. Brauer’s rounding Cape Horn. “I told her: ‘You were devastated that you didn’t get on the Ocean Race. Now look at you. Those sailors didn’t even get to go to the Southern Ocean.’”

The question now is how Ms. Brauer will retain her followers’ desire for content after the race is over.

“She will be unaware of the transition she went through,” Mr. Hutchinson said. “She’s become a celebrity and hasn’t really realized it.”

Ms. Brauer, however, said she received as much from her followers as she gave them.

“They are so loving,” she said. “I send a photo of a sunset, and they paint watercolors of the scene to sell and raise money for the campaign. When I start to feel down, they let me stand on their shoulders.”

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