CLIPPER SHIPS
WHAT IS A CLIPPER SHIP?
Clipper Ships were built in the first half of the 19th Century to serve the need to
Transport Cargo
on Long Journeys
as Quickly as Possible
WHY IS IT CALLED A “CLIPPER”?What Distinguished Them From Other Ships?
Most had 3 masts
and Large Square Sails
This plan has 32 sails –
just like the Sea Serpent!
What Else Helped Them Go Faster?
The bows (front of the ship) were wide and slightly raked forward
so they could move forward rapidly
cutting the waves
Those with the sharpest bows were called “Extreme Clippers”
Rainbow, launched in New York in 1845 by one of Williams’ distant relatives in the firm Howland & Aspinwall, was the first extreme clipper!
How Fast Could They Go?
Normal ships of the time could go
less than 150 nautical miles per day
Clippers could go 250 …
and some Extreme Clippers went more than 400!
When fully rigged and riding a tradewind,
they had peak average speeds of over 16 knots
Sharper Bows Meant Less Cargo Capacity
But this was not a problem
Since the Cargo was of very High Value
So it was Still Profitable!
CALIFORNIA
was desperate for provisions
to settle the area
and for the Gold Rush
Tea, Silks and Lacquerware
from China
brought high prices in the US
Why Did the Clipper Era End?
The California Boom Years Ended,
so Freight Rates Diminished after 1853
The United States Civil War
caused a Disruption in Trade
Reduced freight rates
made Clippers less profitable
Steamships were developed
that had both faster speed and increased cargo
The Suez Canal opened in 1869
providing a more direct route from Asia to Europe
Clippers could not pass through
but Steamships could
By the early 20th century, clipper ships were no longer competitive
and disappeared from global shipping lanes
However, Clipper Ships Are Still Remembered For Their
Speed, Usability, and Beauty
