A tall ship is a large, traditionally-rigged sailing vessel. Popular modern tall ship rigs include topsail schooners, brigantines, brigs and barques. "Tall ship" can also be defined more specifically by an organization, such as for a race or festival.

A tall ship from above anchored off of Newlyn in Cornwall
Group of "tall ships" at Hanse Sail 2010

History

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The tall ship Kruzenshtern
 
More than 36 tall ships participated in the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar in Portsmouth, part of the fleet of 167 naval, merchant and tall ships from 36 countries

Traditional rigging may include square rigs and gaff rigs, usually with separate topmasts and topsails. It is generally more complex than modern rigging, which utilizes newer materials such as aluminum and steel to construct taller, lightweight masts with fewer, more versatile sails. Most smaller, modern vessels use the Bermuda rig.

Author and master mariner Joseph Conrad (who spent 1874 to 1894 at sea in tall ships and was quite particular about naval terminology) used the term "tall ship" in his works;[1] for example, in The Mirror of the Sea in 1906.[2]

Henry David Thoreau also references the term "tall ship" in his first work, A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers, quoting "Down out at its mouth, the dark inky main blending with the blue above. Plum Island, its sand ridges scolloping along the horizon like the sea-serpent, and the distant outline broken by many a tall ship, leaning, still, against the sky." He does not cite this quotation, but the work was written in 1849.[3]

While Sail Training International (STI) has extended the definition of tall ship for the purpose of its races to embrace any sailing vessel with more than 30 ft (9.14 m) waterline length and on which at least half the people on board are aged 15 to 25.[4]

Sail Training International

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The masts and yards of a brig
 
Crew aloft, tending sails

In the 21st century, "tall ship" is often used generically for large, classic, sailing vessels, but is also a technically defined term by Sail Training International for its purposes and STI helped popularize the term. The exact definitions have changed somewhat over time, and are subject to various technicalities, but by 2011 there were 4 classes (A, B, C, and D). There are only two size classes, A is over 40 m LOA, and B/C/D are 9.14 m to under 40 m LOA. The definitions have to do with rigging: class A is for square sail rigged ships, class B is for "traditionally rigged" ships, class C is for "modern rigged" vessels with no "spinnaker-like sails", and class D is the same as class C but carrying a spinnaker-like sail.[4]

Class A

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Russian Sedov at the Kantasatama Harbour in Kotka, Finland, during the Tall Ships’ Races 2017

All square-rigged vessels (barque, barquentine, brig, brigantine or ship rigged) and all other vessels more than 40 metres length overall (LOA), regardless of rig. STI classifies its A Class as "all square-rigged vessels and all other vessels over 40 metres (131 ft) length overall (LOA)", in this case STI LOA excludes bowsprit and aft spar. STI defines LOA as "Length overall measured from the fore side of stem post to aft side of stern post, counter or transom".[5]

Class A Tall Ships
Current
name
Current nationality Original
delivery
Mast Rig Length excluding
bowsprit [m]
Beam [m]
Alexander von Humboldt II   Germany 2011 3 Barque 60 10.8
Alpha   Russia 1948 2 Barquentine 8.9
Amerigo Vespucci   Italy 1931 3 Full-rigged ship 82.4 15.8
Belem   France 1896 3 Barque 51 8.8
Bima Suci   Indonesia 2017 3 Barque 111.20 13.65
Capitain Miranda   Uruguay 1930 3 Staysail Schooner 50.3 7.9
Christian Radich   Norway 1937 3 Full-rigged ship 62.5 9.7
Cisne Branco   Brazil 1999 3 Full-rigged ship 60.5 10.7
Constitution   United States 1797 3 Full-rigged ship 62 13.26
Creole   United Kingdom 1927 3 Schooner 42.7 8.9
Creoula   Portugal 1937 4 Schooner 62.2 9.9
Cuauhtemoc   Mexico 1982 3 Barque 67.2 12.0
Danmark   Denmark 1932 3 Full-rigged ship 59.8 10.1
Dar Młodzieży   Poland 1982 3 Full-rigged ship 94.8 14.0
Dewaruci   Indonesia 1953 3 Barquentine 49.7 9.4
Druzhba   Ukraine 1987 3 Full-rigged ship 94.2 14
Eagle   United States 1936 3 Barque 80.7 11.9
Eendracht   Netherlands 1989 3 Gaff Schooner 55.3 12.2
Elissa   United States 1877 3 Barque 45.4 8.5
Esmeralda   Chile 1953 4 Barquentine 94.13 13.1
Eugene Eugenides   Greece 1959 3 Topgallant Schooner 9.2
Europa   Netherlands 1911 3 Barque 44.5 7.3
Gazela   United States 1901 3 Barquentine 42.7 7.9
Georg Stage (II)   Denmark 1935 3 Full-rigged ship 42 8.5
Gloria   Colombia 1968 3 Barque 67 10.7
Golden Quest   Tuvalu 1945 3 Barque 48 7.5
Gorch Fock (I)   Germany 1933 3 Barque 73.7 11.9
Gorch Fock (II)   Germany 1958 3 Barque 81.2 11.9
Greif   Germany 1950 2 Brigantine 7.4
Großherzogin Elizabeth   Germany 1908 3 Gaff Schooner 53 8.2
Guayas   Ecuador 1977 3 Barque 56.10 10.4
Iskra (II)   Poland 1982 3 Barquentine 40 7.9
Italia   Italy 1993 2 Brigantine 53.7 9.16
Jadran   Montenegro 1933 3 Topsail Schooner 8.9
James Craig   Australia 1874 3 Barque 54.8 9.5
Jessica   Australia 1983 3 Topsail Schooner 6.7
Juan Sebastián Elcano   Spain 1927 4 Topsail Schooner 94.13 13.1
Juan Bautista Cambiaso   Dominican Republic 2009 3 Barquentine 54.60 8.5
Kaiwo Maru II   Japan 1989 4 Barque 89.0 13.8
Kaliakra   Bulgaria 1984 3 Barquentine 43.2 7.9
Khersones   Ukraine 1989 3 Full-rigged ship 94.8 14.0
Kruzenshtern   Russia 1926 4 Barque 95 14.0
Leeuwin II   Australia 1986 3 Barquentine 41.2 9.0
Libertad   Argentina 1960 3 Full-rigged ship 91.7 13.7
La Grace   Czech Republic 2010 2 Brig 32.8 6.06
Lord Nelson   United Kingdom 1985 3 Barque 40.2 8.5
Mercator   Belgium 1932 3 Barquentine 68 11.9
Meridian   Lithuania 1948 3 Barquentine 8.9
Mir   Russia 1987 3 Full-rigged ship 94.8 14.0
Mircea   Romania 1938 3 Barque 73.7 12.5
Morgenster   Netherlands 1919 2 Brig 38.0 6.0
U.S. Brig Niagara   United States 1988 2 Brig 37.5 9.8
Nippon Maru   Japan 1984 4 Barque 89.0 13.8
Oosterschelde   Netherlands 1918 3 Topsail Schooner 40.12 7.5
Palinuro   Italy 1934 3 Barquentine 58.7 10.1
Pallada   Russia 1989 3 Full-rigged ship 94.2 14.0
Peacemaker   United States 1989 3 Barquentine 38 10.4
Picton Castle   Canada 1928 3 Barque 45.2 7.3
Pogoria   Poland 1980 3 Barquentine 40.9 7.9
Rah Naward   Pakistan 2001 2 Brig 40.6 9.9
Roald Amundsen   Germany 1952 2 Brig 40.8 7.2
Royal Albatross   Malaysia 2001 4 Barquentine 47.0 7.6
Royal Clipper   Sweden 2000 5 Full-rigged ship 134.8 16.5
Sagres   Portugal 1937 3 Barque 81.3 11.9
Santa Maria Manuela   Portugal 1937 4 Schooner 62.4 9.9
Sedov   Russia 1921 4 Barque 108.7 14.6
Shabab Oman   Oman 1971 3 Barquentine 43.9 8.5
Simón Bolívar   Venezuela 1979 3 Barque 70.0 10.4
Sørlandet   Norway 1927 3 Full-rigged ship 56.7 9.6
Spirit of New Zealand   New Zealand 1986 3 Barquentine 33.2 9.0
Stad Amsterdam   Netherlands 2000 3 Full-rigged ship 62.4 10.5
Statsraad Lehmkuhl   Norway 1914 3 Barque 84.6 12.6
Star of India   United States 1863 3 Barque 62.5 10.7
Stavros S Niarchos   United Kingdom 2000 2 Brig 40.6 9.9
Sudarshini   India 2011 3 Barque 54.0 8.5
Surprise (ex Rose)   United States 1970 3 Full-rigged ship 54.6 9.8
Tarangini   India 1997 3 Barque 54.0 8.5
Thor Heyerdahl   Germany 1930 3 Topsail Schooner 42.5 6.5
Unicorn   United Kingdom 1948 2 Brig 7.3
Unión   Peru 2014 4 Barque 99.0 13.5
Varuna   India 1981 3 Barque 54.0 8.5
Young America   United States 1975 2 Brigantine 7.2
Young Endeavour   Australia 1986 2 Brigantine 35 7.8
Historical
Name Last nationality Original
delivery
Mast Rig End
Alexander von Humboldt   Germany 1906 3 Barque Sold 2011/ relocated to Caribbean, 2013 returned to Germany; currently docked
Bounty   United States 1960 3 Full-rigged ship Sank 2012
Concordia   Canada 1992 3 Barquentine Sank 2010
Dunay   Soviet Union 1928 3 Full-rigged ship Burned 1963
Prince William   United Kingdom 2001 2 Brig Sold (2010); now a sail training ship of the Pakistan Navy with the name Rah Naward
Sagres   Portugal 1896 3 Barque Replaced by the third Sagres in 1961. Sold (1983); now permanently moored in Hamburg, Germany with the name Rickmer Rickmers
Sarmiento   Argentina 1897 3 Full-rigged ship Museum ship, moored in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Uruguay   Argentina 1874 3 Barque Museum ship, moored in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Class B

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Traditionally rigged vessels (i.e. gaff rigged sloops, ketches, yawls and schooners) with an LOA of less than 40 metres and with a waterline length (LWL) of at least 9.14 metres, one good example is Spirit of Bermuda.

Class C

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Modern rigged vessels (i.e. Bermudan rigged sloops, ketches, yawls and schooners) with an LOA of less than 40 metres and with a waterline length (LWL) of at least 9.14 metres not carrying spinnaker-like sails.

Class C Tall Ships
Current
name
Current nationality Original
delivery
Mast Rig Length excluding
bowsprit [m]
Beam [m]
Caroly   Italy 1948 2 yawl 23.66 4.8
Capricia   Italy 1963 2 yawl 22.56 5.03
Stella Polare   Italy 1965 2 yawl 21.47 4.89
Corsaro II   Italy 1961 2 yawl 20.9 4.7

Class D

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Modern rigged vessels (i.e. Bermudan-rigged sloops, ketches, yawls and schooners) with an LOA of less than 40 metres and with a waterline length (LWL) of at least 9.14 metres carrying spinnaker-like sails. There are also a variety of other rules and regulations for the crew, such as ages, and also for a rating rule. There are other sail festivals and races with their own standards, the STI is just one set of standards for their purposes.

Earlier description of classes

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An older definition of class "A" by the STI was "all square-rigged vessels over 120′ (36.6 m) length overall (LOA). Fore and aft rigged vessels of 160′ (48.8 m) (LOA) and over". By LOA they meant length excluding bowsprit and aft spar.[6]

Class "B" was "all fore and aft rigged vessels between 100 and 160 feet in length, and all square rigged vessels under 120′ (36.6 m) (LOA)".

See also a list of class "A" ships with lengths including bowsprit.[7]

Lost tall ships

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Tall ships are sometimes lost, such as by a storm at sea. Some examples of lost tall ships include:

  • Asgard II, an Irish national sail training ship, commissioned in 1982, was lost in 2008 off the French coast. The two-masted brigantine is thought to have collided with a submerged object.
  • Astrid ran aground in 2013 off Ireland, and then broke up in 2014 after being salvaged
  • Bounty, a full-rig ship lost off the North Carolina coast as Hurricane Sandy approached in 2012.
  • Concordia, a triple-mast barquentine built in 1992 and operated by Canada as a school ship; lost at sea in 2010, in a squall.
  • Endeavour II, built in 1968; wrecked in a 1971 gale off New Zealand
  • Fantome, a former yacht built in 1927, then operated as a cruise ship. Was lost in Hurricane Mitch in 1998.[8]
  • Lennie, built in 1871, ran aground on Digby Neck in 1889.[9][10]
  • Marques, built in 1917; was lost in a 1984 Tall Ships Race.
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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Conrad, Joseph (2019-11-20). Selected works of Joseph Conrad. Strelbytskyy Multimedia Publishing.
  2. ^ Conrad, Joseph (1906). The Mirror of the Sea. Harper & Brothers. p. 56. ISBN 9781774415207.
  3. ^ Thoreau, Henry David. "A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers". www.gutenberg.org. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Definition of a tall ship". Sail On Board. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
  5. ^ STI Measurement form. Archived 2013-01-31 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "National Institute for Sea Training (NIST)". kohkun.go.jp. Archived from the original on 27 January 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  7. ^ "National Institute for Sea Training (NIST)". kohkun.go.jp. Archived from the original on 20 October 2008. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  8. ^ Corzo, Cynthia; Morgan, Curtis; Herald, John Barry (8 November 1998). "The loss of the Windjammer Schooner, Fantome". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on 26 October 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2018 – via FortOgden.
  9. ^ "Lennie - 1889". Marine Heritage Database. 2007-10-05. Archived from the original on 2017-10-25.
  10. ^ Lennie (+1889) Wrecksite

Further reading

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  • American Sail Training Association; Sail Tall Ships! (American Sail Training Association; 16th edition, 2005 ISBN 0-9636483-9-X)
  • Thad Koza; Tall Ships: A Fleet for the 21st Century (Tide-Mark Press; 3rd edition, 2002; ISBN 1-55949-739-4)
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