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'''Clipper ships''' were long, narrow, very fast sailing ships designed by Americans (1843-1869) for very long voyages, as to China.  The were [[full-rigged ship]]s that had upwards of an acre of canvas; the design made for limited cargo space.

'''Clipper ships''' were long, narrow, very fast sailing ships designed by Americans (1843-1869) for very long voyages, as to China.  The were [[full-rigged ship]]s that had upwards of an acre of canvas; the design made for limited cargo space.

They set many speed records. The "''Flying Cloud''" in 1854 went from [[Boston]] to [[San Francisco]] in 89 days 8 hours.  The "''Sovereign of the Seas''" once sailed 421 nautical miles (227 km) in a day--an average of 20.2 mph (32.5 km/h), or 17.5 knots, which is faster than the cruising speed of most cargo ships today.  

They set many speed records. The "''Flying Cloud''" in 1854 went from [[Boston]] to [[San Francisco]] in 89 days 8 hours.  The "''Sovereign of the Seas''" once sailed 421 nautical miles (227 km) in a day—an average of 20.2 mph (32.5 km/h), or 17.5 knots, which is faster than the cruising speed of most cargo ships today.  

The [[American Civil War]] and the increasing use of [[composite ship|composite]] iron and steel hulls led to a shift in clipper construction to Britain, where shipyards had been building smaller vessels of the clipper type for some time, but now began competing directly with the Americans. A golden age of the tea-clipper ensued with the races to bring the first of the seasons’ tea from [[China]] to the [[London]] tea-market, creating enormous public interest.  

The [[American Civil War]] and the increasing use of [[composite ship|composite]] iron and steel hulls led to a shift in clipper construction to Britain, where shipyards had been building smaller vessels of the clipper type for some time, but now began competing directly with the Americans. A golden age of the tea-clipper ensued with the races to bring the first of the seasons’ tea from [[China]] to the [[London]] tea-market, creating enormous public interest.  

The opening of the [[Suez Canal]] in 1869 spelt the end of the specialised tea-clipper. For a while they were used in the [[Australia]]n wool trade and carrying South American nitrate - and as a large smuggling craft they were without peer -  but the development of the large 4 and 5 masted [[barque]]s with their enormous efficiency and a drop in the need for large cargoes to be transported very quickly led to a rapid end for this glorious craft.

The opening of the [[Suez Canal]] in 1869 spelt the end of the specialised tea-clipper. For a while they were used in the [[Australia]]n wool trade and carrying South American nitrate - and as a large smuggling craft they were without peer -  but the development of the large 4 and 5 masted [[barque]]s with their enormous efficiency and a drop in the need for large cargoes to be transported very quickly led to a rapid end for this glorious craft.

It is fortunate that one of the last of the breed was preserved as a museum. The ''[[Cutty Sark]]'' resides at [[Greenwich]], London, as a reminder of the era.

It is fortunate that one of the last of the breed was preserved as a museum. The ''[[Cutty Sark]]'' resides at [[Greenwich]], London, as a reminder of the era.

Whilst it is the large [[full-rigged ship]] that comes to mind, the term was first applied to the very fast [[schooner]]s of the [[Baltimore schooner|Baltimore]] type which became famous for their blockade-running exploits during the [[War of 1812]], and infamous as slave ships after the British abolition in 1807. The introduction of square-rig to the beautifully efficient hull design of these vessels created the American clipper which is still considered to be the pinnacle of the age of the sailing ship.  

Whilst it is the large [[full-rigged ship]] that comes to mind, the term was first applied to the very fast [[schooner]]s of the [[Baltimore schooner|Baltimore]] type which became famous for their blockade-running exploits during the [[War of 1812]], and infamous as slave ships after the British abolition in 1807. The introduction of square-rig to the beautifully efficient hull design of these vessels created the American clipper which is still considered to be the pinnacle of the age of the sailing ship.  

* William L. Crothers. ''The American-Built Clipper Ship, 1850-1856: Characteristics, Construction, and Details'' (2000)  

* William L. Crothers. ''The American-Built Clipper Ship, 1850-1856: Characteristics, Construction, and Details'' (2000)  

[[Category: Sailing ship types]]

[[Category:Sailing ship types]]