| As trade flourished between different parts of the | | | | Previous commercial shipping had not managed to |
| globe in the 19th century, it was important to have | | | | achieve 5 knots but the clipper ship's target was 9 |
| an efficient and speedy means of transport for | | | | knots; this was often exceeded. The different ship |
| goods. The clipper ship was the answer. These were | | | | owners were extremely competitive with each other |
| very fast vessels with numerous large sails. They did | | | | and newspapers entertained the public by publishing |
| not have the capacity for carrying a large amount of | | | | the speeds of the main vessels. Pirates and |
| cargo but their speed was their greatest attribute. | | | | smugglers also took advantage of these ships, glad |
| The most famous of these ships were built by the | | | | of the speed and maneuverability that they offered. |
| British and Americans but they were popular in | | | | The ships were in constant service and were usually |
| European countries too. | | | | salvaged after 20 years of use. The golden age of |
| The British had various colonies, which they wanted | | | | the clipper ship could not last forever, as modern |
| to exploit to the full. Ships sailed on trading routes | | | | innovation overtook it. Steamships gradually became |
| between Europe and the East. Cargo was very | | | | dominant, for passenger travel and cargo. Steam |
| valuable, especially tea from India, silk from China and | | | | Clippers were employed for a while, a combination of |
| spices from various countries. The Tea Clippers were | | | | sail and steam engines. The reliability of the |
| particularly fast and had elaborate sail systems. The | | | | steamship, not dependent on the wind, was |
| most famous of these is the Cutty Sark, currently in | | | | ultimately preferred. This was brought to a head in |
| dry dock in Greenwich, England and a popular tourist | | | | 1869 when the Suez Canal was opened. This |
| destination. Of the clipper ship fleet that still remains, | | | | gateway to Asia was ideal for the steamship but |
| this is the ship that is best preserved. | | | | was unsuitable for sail. |
| Other routes were also in demand , such as the | | | | The public of today is still fascinated by the world of |
| Trans-Atlantic passage and the route between New | | | | sail and the clipper ship. Certain ships have passed |
| York City and San Francisco. In addition to cargo | | | | into folklore, such as the Marco Polo, that achieved a |
| transport, the ships were used to carry passengers | | | | 60 day round voyage between England and Australia. |
| and mail. The public was thrilled with the romance of | | | | These ships have become museums, allowing us an |
| these sailing ships that flew through the waves. | | | | insight into the past glories of sail. |