Velociworld

CLIPPER SHIPS

I've sailed on square-rigged vessels before, to Europe and back and up and down the New England coast. But I would love to spend time on a clipper ship. Those speedy vessels built roughly between 1833 and 1858, skinned down for more speed and less cargo, that could maintain 18 knots on a trip around the Horn. Very popular taking folks to Frisco during the Gold Rush.

We know the names, they are legend: Cutty Sark, Sea Witch, Flying Cloud. In the heady days of clippers, every voyage was a potential record breaker, and those master mariners knew how to wring a few more knots out of a ship. They were the Craig Breedloves of their day, plying the seven seas instead of the Bonneville Salt Flats.

I've plodded along in a Hitler built sailing vessel, playing endless rounds of tack, tack, tack. Loop the loops all the way across the Atlantic. Would rather have been setting speed records. Clipper ship with sheets taut, slashing through the waves. From Boston to San Francisco so fast you couldn't even spell scurvy.

That would be cool. I should have played the Lotto today. Could have built one had I won.