1900 sailboats

History of Sailing & Boat Types

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

June 15, 2022

A Brief History of Ships

When and where did sailing originate? The answer to that question is threaded through our entire written history. Humans have been using various forms of boats to travel by water for longer than we have had written language. The oldest known reference to a ship was from approximately 10,000 BCE, where a carving depicted a reed rowing ship that carried twenty men. Experts believe that boats were around a lot longer than that though so far, there has been no physical proof. Ship travel is older than any other form of transportation and has been steadily improving over the millennia.

It has been determined that the first sea-worthy ships were not even built by humans but by their evolutionary predecessors, Homo Erectus, nearly 800,000 years ago. This explains how they were able to spread across the planet. The mega sailing ships and cutting edge boats of today are direct descendants of those ships built by an extinct species so long ago. It is stunning to think of how far we have come while remaining tied to the water.

Since then, ships have been made of every conceivable material, and they were used to spread people around the globe before other types of transportation like airplanes came into use. These trusty vehicles are still valued and used for warfare, commerce, and recreational sports.

They are testaments to human ingenuity and perseverance. Over the course of hundreds of thousands of years, there have been many significant changes made to the way in which boats are made, sailed, and appreciated by the general public. This article will go over the different kinds of boats, historical events, and ships of significance and also a brief glimpse of current 21st-century sailing.

Table of contents

Types of Boats and When They Originated

There have been many kinds of ships and floating transportation used throughout mankind's history. With so many years and different civilizations traveling by water to explore, trade, and wage wars, there have been a large number of boats for every conceivable purpose. As building materials improved through the ages, so have the designs of seaworthy ships.

Below is a timeline of the history of various types of boats and the advent of any significant shipping features.

Most of the earliest boats were lashed together rafts of anything that would float (e.g., reeds, bamboo, balsa, and other woods, etc.). All of these types of rafts and small boats are still in use today around the world. There is no single geographical location that can be narrowed down for when and where rafts started as a means of water transportation.

Sailing Boats

The first sailing boats recognized by historians were those used by Egyptians in 4000 BCE. They were made of reeds and traveled the Nile using masts and sails.

Invention of Planks

It was not until around 3000 BCE, the Metal Age when tools were invented that allowed for the creation of planks that could be used in boat building. Planks made it possible to construct very large ships for war and trading. The first civilizations to use these types of larger ships were the Phoenicians, Greeks, and Egyptians. Egyptians at around 2500 BCE were starting to use larger ships to travel across the ocean.

Galley Ships

A galley ship is propelled by rowing and sails. These were quite common starting in 1550 BCE until the early 19th century. Originally, they were employed most notably by the Phoenicians. War galleys were quite popular until the late 16th century, after which they began to be phased out. These ships are most known for being warships but were also used for trade and piracy. The battle of Lepanto in 1571 is history's largest naval battle involving rowing ships and involved over 400 galley ships.

Common among the Vikings, these ships also used sails and rowers but were built to be much narrower and longer. They started being constructed for long-distance travel around 1000 AD. These amazing ships were created for exploration and conquest. Made with long overlapping planks and a single large mainsail, they were easily identified and were used to travel between Scandinavia and the coasts of France, Britain, and Spain.

The Chinese junk ships employed sails reinforced with bamboo for better aerodynamics, bulkheads to separate sections, and rudders. They came into common use around 1100 AD. In 1405 and until 1433 there were many trips across the Indian Ocean made by Zheng He who worked for the Ming emperor of China. These were exceptional craft for their time. The most massive junk ship was 150 meters long and had nine different masts.

Invented in the 14th century by the Dutch, the yachts were mostly used by rich ship merchants who used these as personal celebratory vehicles. They were also used for a time by the Dutch navy.

Spanish Galleon

Unlike the galley ships that were mainly propelled forward using oars, the Spanish Galleon used enormous sails. They were so big that it took multiple people to take them in and out using thick ropes. They were used in the 16th century to transport goods to and from the Americas. These were also used by pirates and have become the iconic historical sailing ship in the media.

Steam Powered Ships

The world's first steam-powered ships were built in 1819 and were mostly used for transporting people and goods across the Atlantic Ocean.

Clipper Ships

Fast with tall masts and longboat type hulls, the Clipper boats were created in the 1800s. One of the largest, the Royal Clipper was one of the largest ships of its kind for decades, and it featured a five-masted barque.

Oceanliners

Metal ocean liners first started being used in the mid-1800s. Most of these steel-hulled ships were competing between the economic interests of the United Kingdom and Germany.

Paddle Steam Boats

Riverboats that used paddles and steam to power them up and down between river towns began to be used in the late 1800s.

Diesel Powered Ships

Around 1910 the steam-powered ships started getting converted to diesel.

Hovercrafts

The idea of a hovercraft - a boat that floated on cushions of air-filled fabric - was invented in 1955 by Christopher Cockerell.

Container Ships

Cargo ships hauling large containers were utilized starting in the 1980s, and their use and size have continued to grow in the decades since then.

Cruise Liners

Ships used specifically as get-away, recreational locations came into popularity in the 1990s, and they have been around since though their popularity has waxed and waned over the years.

Historical Sea Crossings and Events

Most of the world's continents were populated long before the invention of writing, but a few were rediscovered through sea travel. These historical sea crossings and events are responsible for some of the most important war, exploration, and trade journeys recorded throughout history.

Prior to the 15th Century

• Greenland was discovered between 980-982 by the Norse sailing explorer Erik the Red.
• Around eight years later, Erik the Red's son, Leifur, reached Newfoundland.
• The Norse continued to sail and expand their travel near Vinland by boat, including the married explorers Thorfinn Karlsefni and Gudrid Thorbjarnardóttir.

15th to 18th Century

• Christopher Columbus, starting in 1942, began several famous sea voyages that led to the discovery of the Americas.
• In 1500, Pedro Álvares Cabral sailed to Brazil.
• The Straits of Magellan are named after Ferdinand Magellan, who sailed through them from Spain to reach the South Atlantic in 1519.
• In 1563 Nicolas Barre was among a group that was the first to build ships in the Americas and sail them all the way across the Atlantic. It was a harsh journey, and only seven of their number survived.
• The first Atlantic trade route was mapped and utilized in 1566 by the West Indies fleets.
• In 1732 the Ann crossed the Atlantic from London and reached the area that is now Georgia carrying the famous James Oglethorpe.
• William Harrison sailed using the H-4 timepiece in 1764. The device on that particular voyage allowed for the creation of longitude.

19th Century

• The first steamship that sailed across the Atlantic was the SS Savannah in 1819.
• In 1865 the very first successful transatlantic telegraph cable was put in place by the SS Great Eastern.
• The Norwegians Frank Samuelsen and George Harbo were the first to row all the way across the Atlantic, and they did so in 1896.

20th Century

• In April of 1912, the RMS Titanic hit an iceberg and sank, and there was a loss of well over 1,200 lives. This is one of the most famous instances of a boat sinking and began a period during which many boats were sunk with large numbers of people on board. The increase of war and transport vessels led to many more instances with similar loss of life.
• In the years between 1914-1918 during WWI, approximately 2,100 ships sunk and 153 U-boats were destroyed.
• In WWII, 1939-1945, it was reported that roughly 3,700 ships were sunk and 783 U-boats were destroyed.
• Ann Davison, in 1952, became the first woman to sail alone across the Atlantic Ocean.
• Quite a few individuals crossed the Atlantic Ocean in the 1960s alone, but Robert Manry was the only one to do so without stopping, and he did it in 1965 using his sailboat Tinkerbelle.
• Gérard d'Aboville was the first man to row single-handedly across the Atlantic, and he did so in the year 1980.
• The first woman to single-handedly cross the Atlantic in a rowboat was Tori Murden in 1991. The entire journey took over 81 days.

Famous Ships in History

These are the ships that you have read about in history books and heard through the retelling of stories. They each played a part in creating the world that we live in today. These were all unique either due to their physical presence or a way they were used, and they are a small number of the thousands of important ships that have helped carry our species across this great globe.

Santa Maria

Originally named Marigalante, the ship sailed by Christopher Columbus was 117 feet and had three masts and a deck. It was also equipped with bombards and fire granite balls. On Dec. 25, 1492, she was run aground near Haiti. The Santa Maria was the largest of the three ships that Christopher and his crew sailed across the Atlantic Ocean. Parts of the ship are still searched for by ship-wreck hunters though pieces of what was believed to be The Santa Maria were found in the mid-2010s.

It is believed that the ship which brought the pilgrims over to Plymouth, Massachusetts, to establish the New England colony was approximately 90 feet and square-rigged. This sailing ship made its trip in 1620 bringing supplies and new settlers to the Americas from England.

U.S.S. Constitution

The warship U.S.S. Constitution was also referred to as "Old Ironsides." It is the oldest commissioned warship and was launched in 1797, and it is currently kept in Portsmouth, England. It is 204 feet and could carry around 450 crew members and 50 guns. The U.S.S. Constitution was the flagship in the Tripoli pirate war that took place in the early 1800s. There were other victories over the many years of its service that left it with the famous nickname, including the War of 1812. This vessel saw many skirmishes on the seas and remains a stalwart reminder of many wartime events.

HMS Victory

This is by far the most famous of the royal ships. It was launched in 1765 and was designed by Sir Thomas Slade. At 186 feet it was able to carry 100-guns and roughly 800 men. Although it sailed through many adventures, the HMS Victory is most known for being the flagship under the control of Admiral Horatio Nelson during the Battle of Trafalgar which took place in 1805. The ship has been partially dismantled and has been part of a museum since 1928.

RMS Titanic

Everyone knows the name Titanic. There have been books, movies, plays, and songs written about this tragedy. What had been a promising ship turned into a cautionary tale. This luxury liner was meant to cross from New York to England in 1912. It sunk early April 15th after striking an iceberg. Of the over 2,200 crew and passengers approximately 1,500 were killed. This remains one of the most tragic events of the 20th century.

This British navy ship was commissioned in 1820 and sailed all around the world. It was responsible for transporting Charles Darwin to South America among other places. During this voyage is when the naturalist developed his theory of evolution based on the species that he studied. The ship was 90 feet 4 inches and had two masts. It was intended as a naval scout and took part in other light duties. The observations that Charles Darwin made while traveling aboard the HMS Beagle changed the thread of scientific discovery.

Flying Cloud

This clipper ship had quite a history. It was 225 feet and incredibly fast. Captain Josiah Perkins Creesy set a record in 1854 for sailing from Cape Horn to San Francisco, and his speed record was not beaten for nearly 130 years. This ship is also famous for having set an early speed record for the same trip, but with the ship under the control of Josiah's wife, Eleanor Creesy.

Battleship Bismarck

This was a German battleship in WWII launched in 1939 as part of the Nazi navy. This was one of the largest class of warships made by the German army and reached a length of 792 feet, 8 inches at the waterline. It sailed for eight months during WWII and spent that time raiding allied ships in the Atlantic Ocean. In 1941 after sustaining heavy damage from allied forces, it was scuttled and sank. The wreck was later discovered in 1989 by Robert Ballard.

Sailing for Sport

Sailboats have been used for hundreds of years to break speed records around the world, and that kind of sport sailing has only increased within the last decade. This kind of pastime has evolved to the point where there are Olympic sailing classes, international sailing clubs, and even an International Sailing Federation (ISAF), which was created to make the sport safer.

The ISAF was originally called the International Yacht Racing Union (IYRU), which was created in 1907 as a way of regulating sailing rules. This allowed sailors from all over the globe to compete together since they no longer had incongruous letters of the law to follow when competing during sailing competitions. Everything from the uniform to safety precautions became standardized. In 1960 a universal set of rules was agreed upon by multiple parties, which made it easier for everyone involved in sport sailing.

There are multiple sailing disciplines that are a part of the sport today. They include but are not limited to the following.

• Match Racing
• Team Racing
• Speed Sailing
• Wave Riding

In addition, there are also several different types of courses that one might sail along during these events. These are listed below.

• Short Course Racing
• Coastal and Inshore Racing
• Offshore Racing
• Oceanic Racing

Most of these have been around for over a hundred years, and the longevity of the sport makes it attractive to a lot of new sailors because there is a rich history to become a part of and learn about. Even today, boat designers are constantly attempting to push the envelope and creating something newer and faster than any ships that have come before. That kind of drive and competition is what has allowed shipping to remain such a solid part of our species' history throughout the millennia. Sailing provides an escape for many people who are tired of a digitized, impersonal world. It is a way to connect back with nature and our own past.

Modern Era Sailing

The 'age of sail' was from 1571 to 1862, when the majority of all ships were masted vessels. In the last several hundred years, ship sailing has taken on a more recreational aspect. With the advent of airplanes, there was a much faster and safer way to travel across the oceans. That being said, they are still used for war and commerce. However, for the most part, sailing boats are relegated to sports and transportation while heavier motored ships with no need for sails have taken over most of the cross-Atlantic duties.

While most sailing is done on light craft close to the shoreline, there are still plenty of adventurous skippers who spend months or even years at sea using only sails to guide them across the oceans. People stay aboard sailboats that are docked as well going out into open waters rarely but using the living space. It is eco-friendly and less expensive than renting in some areas. No matter what you are interested in there is a masted vessel that can give you what you are looking for, whether it be exploring the seas, vacationing near the continent's shoreline, or traveling for business or pleasure across the oceans.

Now that you know more about the history of these amazing watercraft, it is easier to sit back and recognize all of humankind's collective accomplishments. There are thousands of voyages that have changed the path of human evolution and created the world that we live in today. Trade routes, wars, and exploration have all played a part in creating the countries and economies that we live within. There are few things in the history of the world that have left so deep and everlasting an impact as sailing ships and other boats.

In 2020 there is an ever-growing number of personal sailing ships available to buy on the market. Sloops, dinghies, schooners, yawls, and yachts are just a few of the ships available for people to use for going out to sea with their friends and families. In a world that is constantly shrinking with the advent of ever-increasing communication technology, being able to disconnect for a while and feel a sense of adventure is a gift.

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I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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CRUISING SAILBOAT EVOLUTION: Early Trends in Yacht Design

We’ll recall that the advent in the early 19th century of what might be called the first purpose-built cruising boat, Cleopatra’s Barge , was nurtured by the vast personal wealth of one individual, George Crowninshield. And as the 19th century progressed, yachting, not surprisingly, continued to be the domain of the wealthy. The vessels and the egos behind them only grew larger and more extravagant.

Yachting was very much about social status, and this led to the formation of exclusive clubs. The two most prominent were the Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS), formed in England in 1815, and the New York Yacht Club (NYYC), founded in 1844. Neither, however, was the first of its kind in its respective continent. The Water Club, formed in Cork, Ireland, circa 1720, is believed to have been the first yacht club in Europe, while the Boston Boat Club, circa 1830, was the first in North America. The activities of these clubs centered on racing and wagering, and the racing could be quite vicious. Competitors in early RYS events, for example, would effectively wage combat against each other, wielding weapons of various sorts in efforts to cut away their opponents’ rigs. Like their Dutch predecessors, RYS members also staged mock naval reviews in which large groups of yachts sailed in formation.

Cruising, it should be noted, was not unheard of. Members of the RYS often cruised in company across the English Channel on wine-buying expeditions along the French coast. Likewise, the first thing members of the NYYC did upon forming their club was to cruise in company up Long Island Sound to Newport, Rhode Island, staging various “trials of speed” along the way. To this day the NYYC Annual Cruise with its competitive squadron runs is religiously observed.

Over time, yacht racing became more formal and less violent, though the wagering continued unabated. The designing of yachts also became a specialized practice. Originally, as was the case with Cleopatra’s Barge , a gentleman’s “yacht” was essentially a working vessel dressed in finery. Its construction might be specially commissioned and executed, but its design was based on common working craft. Over time, however, yachts became unique vessels in every respect. Eventually it became possible for men to earn a living by specializing in the creation of these pleasure craft.

Cutters Versus Sloops

As the design of yachts evolved, two fundamental paradigms asserted themselves. In Great Britain, where racing handicaps were based on government tonnage rules for taxing commercial vessels that penalized beam, yachts tended to be narrow and deep. These so-called “cutters”–the term in those days referred to a vessel’s hull form rather than its rig–depended for their stability on a great deal of ballast fixed as low in the keel as possible. In the United States, meanwhile, where beam was not penalized and there was a considerable amount of shoal water along the coast, yachts tended to be wide and shallow. Vessels like this, described as “sloops” (again, the reference is to the hull, not the rig) and sometimes as “skimming dishes,” depended on their wide hulls for stability (though some ballast was carried loose in their bilges) and on centerboards to minimize leeway. The centerboard, an American innovation first patented in New Jersey in 1811, was directly descended from the leeboards used by the Dutch aboard their wide, shallow jaghts .

A radical example of a British cutter with a deep keel and a very narrow hull

American centerboard sloops like Gracie , shown here, were quite wide and shallow

Inevitably, these divergent design paradigms were forced to converge. The first equalizing event came in 1851, when the famous yacht America , owned by John Cox Stevens, a founding member of the NYYC, crossed the Atlantic and trounced a fleet of British yachts in a race around the Isle of Wight. America ‘s hull was not radically shallow, nor did she carry a centerboard, as she had been designed expressly to cross the Atlantic and was based more on New York pilot schooners than on cutting-edge racing yachts. But she was wider than the British yachts she competed against and, more importantly, carried much of her beam aft and had a hollow bow with a fine entry forward. This was the exact opposite of the crude “cod’s head and mackerel’s tail” shape (a wide entry forward with a narrow run aft) that still prevailed in Britain.

As a result of America ‘s success, though British yachts did not immediately become significantly wider overall, their proportions started shifting. Bows became more hollow and concave, and the point of maximum beam moved farther aft. This was exactly in keeping with the first scientific theory of naval architecture–called the Wave Line Theory–which had been developed and promulgated by a Scotsman, John Scott Russell, nearly a quarter of a century earlier, but had until then been ignored in Britain.

Besides winning her famous cup for the New York Yacht Club, the yacht America was an early example of a “scientifically” designed sailboat

Lines of America

The next significant equalizing event came in 1876, when the American centerboard schooner Mohawk capsized and sank in a sudden but relatively moderate squall off Staten Island in New York Harbor. The boat’s owner, Will Garner, his wife, and a party of guests were killed in the incident.

Mohawk , an extreme example of the skimming-dish type, was intended by Garner to be the largest, fastest, most opulent yacht in the NYYC fleet. She was 141 feet long, 30 feet wide, and had a draft of just 6 feet that increased to 30 feet when she dropped her massive 7-ton centerboard. She flew an amazing 32,000 square feet of sail area. The fact that she could not stand up to all her sail in spite of her great beam helped fuel arguments that the wide, shallow yachts favored in the United States were fundamentally unsafe. It did not help either, of course, that Mohawk was slower than Garner had hoped and proved a dud on the race course.

Schooner Mohawk under sail. She proved both slow and unstable

A narrow British cutter named Madge crossed the Atlantic and raced successfully against several U.S. yachts in 1881, and then another large centerboard schooner, Grayling , capsized on her maiden sail in 1883. As a result a vociferous group of “cutter cranks,” who called the skimming dishes “death traps” and favored British designs instead, became prominent in American yachting circles. This led to the development of “compromise” designs pioneered by Edward Burgess of Boston, Massachusetts, an entomologist turned yacht designer who was heavily influenced by British cutters he had observed during a summer spent on the Isle of Wight.

These compromise boats, like the British cutters, had heavy ballast keels, but they were not nearly as narrow or deep relative to their length. Also, like the American boats, they carried centerboards. The litmus test came in 1885, when the Burgess-designed Puritan defeated an American skimming dish, Priscilla , for the right to defend the America’s Cup, then beat a British cutter, Genesta , in the Cup finals.

Lines of Puritan . A successful compromise design that bridged the gap between narrow British cutters and wide American sloops

Racing Rule Development

The final factor that helped to unite the opposing camps of yacht design was the development of empirically based handicap rules for racing. As noted, handicaps originally were based on commercial measurements devised for tax purposes. Over time, however, it became clear that these formulas had little to do with a vessel’s actual performance.

Performance, it was noticed, depended most directly on waterline length–i.e., more waterline equals more speed . In 1883, the first handicap rule based on measurements of waterline length and sail area, the Seawanhaka Rule, developed by New York’s Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, was adopted in the United States. Soon afterward, in 1888, a similar rule came into use in Great Britain. The result, ultimately, was a universal trend favoring boats with overhanging ends whose waterlines increased as they heeled to the wind.

One of the most important yachts to exploit this little rule-beating trick was Gloriana , a 70-foot sloop designed and built by Nathanael Herreshoff for E.D. Morgan in 1891. Gloriana , thanks at least in part to her overhanging spoon-shaped bow, was undefeated the one season Morgan raced her and instantly secured Herreshoff’s reputation as a yacht designer. Described by some as the first “scientifically contructed” yacht, she was also very stable and could carry a great press of sail, as weight above her waterline was greatly reduced and was instead concentrated as ballast in her keel.

E.D. Morgan’s Gloriana under sail. She was undefeated the one season he raced her

Lines of Gloriana

In the decade that followed, the continued development of these features, plus a tendency to cut away as much keel as possible to reduce surface area below the water, produced increasingly radical boats. This evolution culminated in a 1901 Bowdoin Crowninshield design, Independence , that was lightly built with immensely long overhangs, a tiny keel, and a gigantic sailplan. Independence leaked badly, however, and handled, as her skipper put it, like “an ice wagon.” Nat Herreshoff managed to perfect the concept in his equally radical Reliance , which defended the America’s Cup in 1903. Termed a “monster” by many at the time, Reliance measured 144 feet long on deck (and a little over 200 feet overall if you measured from the end of her boom to her bowsprit), and had a waterline length of just 90 feet, with over 16,000 square feet of sail area flying from a single mast that was 200 feet tall.

Lines of Independence

Reliance running off with maximum sail set

Profligacy in the Gilded Age

In all ways, the general trend in yacht construction in the latter half of the 19th century was increasingly grandiose. This was particularly true in the United States, where the enormous expansion of the national economy in the years following the Civil War—the Gilded Age, as Mark Twain termed it—allowed for the accumulation of private wealth on a scale never before imagined. Picking up where George Crowninshield had left off with Cleopatra’s Barge , the American “robber barons” competed with each other in creating ever more extravagant vessels.

Originally, these 19th century super-yachts could function both as cruising and racing vessels. Will Garner’s Mohawk , for example, though intended to excel on the race course, also featured fabulous creature comforts, including gas lighting, hot and cold freshwater plumbing, and a steam-heat system, not to mention a grand piano and other lavish, heavy furnishings. Even America’s Cup contenders were tricked out in this manner and were often cruised between campaigns. By the end of the century, however, the superwealthy tended not to cruise in the sailing vessels they raced, as these were becoming ever more extreme. Instead, they cruised for pleasure aboard enormous steam yachts that were even larger than their sailboats.

The trend toward profligacy, and toward steam, was reflected in the changing composition of the NYYC’s squadron of members’ vessels. In 1870 the squadron consisted of only 49 vessels, four of which were steam yachts. The largest vessel was a 145-foot schooner displacing 275 tons, owned by William Douglas. Within just 30 years, the squadron mushroomed to 402 vessels, 207 of which were steam yachts. The queen of the fleet was Lysistrata , a 314-foot steamer displacing 2,682 tons that belonged to newspaper magnate James Gordon Bennett.

The nearly tenfold increase in the size of the squadron was not really a function of yachting’s growing popularity as a sport. Instead it reflected yachting’s growing importance as a venue for public displays of status and wealth–a fact, of course, that was also reflected in the growing size of the yachts themselves. Many of the “yachtsmen” who owned these vessels, unlike George Crowninshield, who made his fortune at sea aboard trading vessels, had little interest in nautical matters. Even those who owned and campaigned racing yachts were often happy just to write checks (and make wagers) and never sailed their boats themselves.

As for cruising, the tycoons of the late 19th century did indeed wander far and wide in their floating palaces. One of these was an Englishman, Sir Thomas Brassey, who circled the globe in 1876-77 in his 170-foot steam auxiliary schooner Sunbeam . His wife, Lady Anna Brassey, published an account of the voyage (it was, in fact, the first circumnavigation ever made by a yacht) that became a bestseller both in Britain and the United States.

J.P. Morgan’s Corsair . By the end of the century rich yachtsmen most often cruised in large steam vessels and only raced under sail

The Brasseys were followed by many others, particularly Americans who, like Crowninshield before them, yearned to cruise the Mediterranean, where they could purchase art and perhaps hobnob with European royalty. J.P. Morgan, for example, bought his first yacht— Corsair , a 185-foot steamer—in 1881 and at once took off on an art-buying cruise to Palestine. His third Corsair , built in 1899, which he often cruised to Europe, was 304 feet long. James Gordon Bennett, meanwhile, spent almost 20 years living aboard his steam yachts, meandering ceaselessly back and forth across the North Atlantic. Lysistrata , his last and largest vessel, had more than 100 paid crew, a stable for a milking cow, and three separate owner’s staterooms.

Needless to say, cruising on this scale never trickled down to the lower strata of society. But upper-middle-class and middle-class sailors were finding ways to get afloat, and in the end the cruises they undertook turned out to be much more influential.

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The Evolution of the Sail

By: American Sailing Equipment

Like most things, the creation of a sail probably started as an accident–someone somewhere held a piece of cloth up to the wind and noticed that it made their canoe/raft/piece of driftwood move faster. From those humble beginnings, the idea of using a sail to move through the water went on to change the world forever.

So how did it happen?

For at least a thousand years, the primary type of sailing ship was the square-rigger. A square-rigged sail is, not surprisingly, square, and is designed to have the wind push on it from the back and propel the boat forward. A simple and effective idea, and square-rigged ships drove world travel, commerce, and warfare for hundreds of years. But it had its limitations. The main problem was that you could ONLY sail running with the wind at your back, or at a very limited angle to it. Not very convenient if your destination lay in the other direction. The only answer was to start rowing (or in the case of the Romans and Egyptians, have your slaves do it).

As technology improved, sails began to be cut differently, into the more familiar triangular shape we see today. The materials also changed, from natural fabrics like hemp and cotton to nylon and polyester. But it wasn’t actually anything to do with the sail that caused the massive change from square-riggers to modern boats with more points-of-sail. It was the hull design. Shipwrights in the 18th and 19th centuries improved upon their design, taking them from wide, ponderous tubs to sleek and efficient keelboats. So the next time you’re flying along close-hauled, spare a thought for those hardworking ship designers of yesteryear!

It was a long process of incremental changes and innovations that got us where we are today. Of course, an airplane wing works on the same principles as a sail, so all those centuries of messing about in boats laid the groundwork for human flight. Now airplanes are returning the favor: Fans of the America’s Cup look on in awe as AC45 catamarans slice through the water at speeds above 30 knots. The mainsail of an AC45, which resembles a spaceship more than a sailboat, is made of rigid plastic, and is referred to as a “wing sail.” Whether or not these sails have any mainstream future for the average sailor remains to be seen, but it’s proof that there is still plenty of room for innovation.

Sails conquered earth’s watery frontiers, and space could be next. With the field of solar sails growing, who knows where sailing will take us next? Want to know more about the sail and other parts of a sailboat? Enroll in a local, basic sailing course at an ASA sailing school near you!

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Home  News  From Then ‘Till Now: Sailing in the Olympics

From Then ‘Till Now: Sailing in the Olympics

Sailing has been a part of the Olympics since the dawn of the modern Olympiad in 1896 – only one year before the founding of the NAYRU, which later became US Sailing. The pathway of sailing in the Olympics and the evolution of US Sailing run (or sail?) a parallel course – as the sport evolved, so did its governing body and peak international competition.   

A lot has changed over the last 126 years!   

“It’s even visible in the name,” said Riley Schutt, Head of Technology for the US Sailing Team. “In the beginning, it was known as ‘Yachting,’ whereas now it is the program as ‘Sailing.’”   

While sailing was on the official program for the 1896 Olympics, racing was cancelled due to lack of entries and severe weather conditions. When the sport truly premiered in Paris in 1900, the event features eight classes, 64 boats, and six countries.  

Much like the rest of sailing in the early 20 th century, boats in the 1900 Olympics were not one design, as they are now, but a variety of keelboats organized under a ratings system. The metric chosen in 1900 was the Tonnage rule, organizing boats into eight fleets, from 0-1/2 Ton to 20+ Ton. Medals were awarded by race, rather than an accumulation of points over a regatta.   

One design racing – where all boats in a fleet are of the same make – was introduced to Olympic sailing competition in the 1920s. The ‘20s also saw the first inclusion of dinghies on the Olympic program – a trend that would continue until the elimination of keelboats entirely after London 2012.   

As time went on, Olympic competition reflected the newest advancements within the sport. In 1960, the Flying Dutchman was added, marking the first trapezing boat. In 1976, the first multihull was added to the program, and in 1984, the first board class was introduced as those forms of sailing gained popularity across the world.    

“Some of the changes we see in the Olympics trickle down from technology in, say, the America’s Cup,” said Schutt. “At the same time, the Olympic movement is primarily not about designing the best boat to go as fast as possible; rather, it aims to highlight the skill and athleticism of the sailors. Olympic classes must balance technology with accessibility and affordability, so that you don’t have to be the wealthiest nation in the world to compete.”     

To this end, the current Olympic classes have far more restrictions on equipment, sails, and boat and board manufacture than their predecessors. Even when changes to classes are implemented – like the new 3Di sails in the 49er and 49erFX classes – they are rolled out in a way that attempts to make the changes accessible to all teams competing in the class.   

One thing these early Olympics do have in common with the Games we know today was their open gender policy, allowing men and women to compete against each other on the racecourse. While much more stratified now, with mixed genders required in two classes at the upcoming Paris 2024 games, women and men competed against each other in the Olympics until 1948, when women were barred from sailing events.     

76 years after that decision, the sailing community has made great strides in the direction of gender quality. The 2024 Games in Paris will be the first to feature complete gender parity in Olympic sailing competition – even numbers of medal opportunities for men and women throughout the entire sailing event.  

As for the technology, Olympic sailing has followed where many trailblazers in the sport have led – the world of foiling. Advances in materials technology have made foiling, once a dream of inventors, a reality. Tokyo 2020 saw the first foray into foiling boats with the updated Nacra 17, and in 2024, half of the sailing events will be held in foiling classes (the iQFOil, Formula Kite, and Nacra 17).  

Throughout history, sailing at the Olympics has held a mirror to the sport, reflecting its most aspirational qualities and ambitions – whether that is winning gold aboard 12 metre yachts or foiling to the podium on kiteboards.   

Copyright ©2018-2024 United States Sailing Association. All rights reserved. US Sailing is a 501(c)3 organization. Website designed & developed by Design Principles, Inc. -->

Today's Paper | March 24, 2024

Sailboat history timeline.

4000 BCE: Phoenicians and Egyptians sail under cloth sails on single log and simple long narrow sailboats.

3000 BCE: 900: Square sails are common

2000 BCE: Extensive sailing trading networks starts at the Mediterranean Sea. Ice boats in Scandinavia.

1200 BCE: Greek and Phoenician big cargo ships along the Mediterranean

500 BCE: Phoenicians built ships with two big masts

100 BCE: The Roman Empire has largest cargo and passenger ships of 180 by 45 feet.

400s: First catamarans along the Southeast Asian coasts.

900: Lanteen and triangle sails are used.

1000-1200: The Vikings built 80 feet long and 17 feet wide sailboats for war, trading and colonising.

1000: Norse explorer Leif Eiriksson probably the first European to land in North America. The first of the great explorations in this sailboat history timeline.

1200: First Viking longboats and British merchant sailboats are made with small wholes from which bowmen could fire their guns.

15th century: The Barque or later Bark with sails running breadthways

1500-1650: Sailmakers start using flax fibre to create sails.

1660: King Charles II introduces sport sailing in England. Dutch shipyards give British King Charles a small sailboat, named the Royal Yacht Mary

1680: The Barca-longa two or three-masted lugger in Spain, Portugal and in the Mediterranean Sea.

17th century: The Bermuda rig or Marconi rig with mast and rigging is created in Bermuda.

1720: World’s first yachting club founded in Ireland, the Water Club of Cork.

1790: First iceboat at the Hudson River in New York.

1797: Edmund Hartt Shipyard launches the USS Constitution, a three-masted heavy wooden frigate of the US Navy.

1800: Barquentine vessels with three or more masts are built.

1863: The Star of India is built as a fully square-rigged ship.

1900: Sailing becomes an Olympic sport in Paris.

1920: First aerodynamics designs for increasing speed.

1949: The Optimist Dinghy is introduced by Clark Mills.

1960: German engineer Wilhelm Pröls invents the Dynaship or Dyna Rigg concept. The 12-foot Aqua Cats is created by Art Javes.

1976: The J-24 is presented by Rodney Johnstone and the Toulon dockyard in France constructs the Phocea, world’s largest sailing yacht till 2004.

1977: The Freedom 40 is launched by Gary Hoyt.

2000: The steel-hulled five-masted full-rigged tall cruise ship Royal Clipper is constructed by Zygmunt Choren. According to the Guinness World Records book the Preussen is the largest square rigged ship. The three mast full-rigged clipper Stad Amsterdam is built by Gerard Dijkstra in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

2004: Royal Huisman Shipyard the clipper-bowed three-masted gaff-rigged luxury sailing yacht Athena. The largest yacht in sailboat history.

— Compiled by The Surfer

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Liner Transatlantic Crossing Times, 1833 – 1952

Note: Liverpool / New York. Source: data from P.J. Hugill (1993) World Trade since 1431, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, p.128. Stopford, M. (2009) Maritime Economics, Third Edition, London: Routledge.

The passenger liner era roughly lasted for about 100 years, from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century. Its evolution can be divided into four distinct phases:

• Introduction . The steamship Great Western can be considered one of the first liners in 1838, crossing the Atlantic in 15.5 days. Early liners were made of wood and used paddle wheels, often complemented by sails, as the main form of propulsion. Their capacity was limited to less than 200 passengers. This phase demonstrated the possibility and market potential of transatlantic liner services.
• Growth . By the 1860s, the introduction of iron hulls, compound steam engines, and screw propulsion significantly reduced crossing times to about 8-9 days. No longer limited by the technical limits of wood armatures, the size of liners increased substantially, with a tonnage exceeding 5,000 tons and a capacity of 1,500 passengers. The number and frequency of liner services across the Atlantic (and across the world) increased substantially as the market potential was being realized.
• Maturity . The early 20th century represented the Golden Age of the liner, where those ships dominated long-distance passenger movements. In 1907, the liner Mauretania with a capacity of 2,300 passengers, was able to cross the Atlantic in 4.5 days, a record held for 30 years until the liner Queen Mary reduced the crossing time by half a day (4 days). Liners reached their operational capacity of around 1,500 to 2,000 passengers, and Atlantic crossing times stabilized around 5 days. They relied on quadruple screws using turbine steam engines. This also corresponded to the peak American immigration years from European countries, a process to which liners contributed substantially.
• Obsolescence . By the 1950s, the prominence of the liner was challenged by the first regular transatlantic commercial flights. This challenge quickly asserted itself, and in a decade, the liners shifted from being the main support of transatlantic passenger movements to complete obsolescence. One of the last liners, the United States (mainly made of aluminum), held the transatlantic crossing speed record of 3.5 days in 1952. By the 1960s, air transportation had overtaken the supremacy of liners for transatlantic crossings, and reference time became hours instead of days. Liner services disappeared, and the surviving ships became the first cruise ships .

The usage of ships for carrying passengers is now restricted to cruise shipping, ferries, and small-scale passenger crafts in archipelago countries (Indonesia, the Philippines, Greece, the Caribbean) or great river systems in developing economies (Chang Jiang, Huang He, Nile, and Amazon).

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The design of the RSC1900 combines sleek and modern lines with super yacht styling and luxury. Her modern and competition based naval architecture, complemented with a powerful, push button controlled rig, and clean decks are the key ingredients for making the 1900 a high performance yacht. Her standard rigging and sailing systems are designed to enable short or even single handed sailing.

Extraordinary attention to detail, quality, and comfort puts the 1900 in the super yacht league.  Her aluminum hull and superstructure warrant longevity, but more importantly safety during ocean crossings. In addition, the choice of aluminum as construction material makes the yacht ideal for long circumnavigations.

Whether participating in regatta’s, cruising tropical waters or exploring artic regions, the RSC1900 will be a rewarding yacht to use and own.

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1900's SAILBOATS PAINTING BY HERVEY GARRETT SMITH

Creator: hervey garrett smith offered by: nyc modern.

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• Description Seascape Painting Of Sailboats In The Ocean Painted By Noted Artist Hervey Garrett Smith Who Illustrated Work For The National Geographic Magazine in The 1940's-1960's.He Was a Bayport,Long Island Native Who Also Wrote and Published Books on Sailing and The Arts of The Sailor.His Works are in The National Gallery Of The Arts in Washington,D.C..In Original Gilt Wood Frame This is an Early Oil Painting on Canvas Circa 1900's-1920's ,In Very Good Condition With a Relining.Measurements are Framed 15 1/4" High x 21 1/2" Wide x 1 1/4" Deep.Painting alone is 17 1/2" Wide x 11" High.

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• Sailfish 1900 Bay Boat

Sailfish 1900 Bay Boat Boats for sale

2016 Sailfish 1900 Bay Boat

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Portsmouth, Virginia

Make Sailfish

Model 1900 Bay Boat

Category Bay Boats

Posted Over 1 Month

2016 Sailfish 1900 Bay Boat Serving the Hampton Roads boaters needs since 2011 1900BB OPTIONS - STOCK #752Yamaha F115, Cooler seat with backrest, 2 bank batt charger, Flush mount cleats, 2 underwater lights, Deep blue hullDemand the Difference, the Sailfish Difference  “Demand the Difference” is a lot more than just a slogan at Sailfish. These fishing machines are built by Fishermen for Fishermen. One of the unique characteristics of a Sailfish is they are also very Family Friendly.  For Over 30 Years, Sailfish has delivered on the promise of quality and innovation, with a full line-up of reliable, versatile & stylish Center Console, Dual Console, Walk Arounds and Bay Boats.  It’s in Sailfish’s DNA to consistently exceed their customer expectations.  At Lighthouse marine we also take their slogan very seriously. We strive to sell the best boat to customers who want more that the everyday lower cost mass produced fishing boats. When you look at the fit and finish, the quality of the upholstery, standard features that most call options, you will see why people looking for a top quality boat at a great value choose Sailfish over the competition every time.The Sailfish 1900BB redefines the multipurpose bay boat. With an aggressive 18° dead-rise, 21” gunnel height, standard 16-gallon bait well, standard catch and release live well, and abundance of storage you are ready for a full day out on the water. The 1900BB is by far the most versatile boat in its class, with seating capacity for 5 and easy access built-in boarding ladder. It doesn’t matter if you’re a weekend warrior or a professional angler the 1900BB gets the job done better than the restDo not hesitate to contact us about this boat. We will do everything we can to learn what your boating needs are and put you in your dream boat. We are a full service dealer so we can sell you electronics at competitive prices and have them professionally installed. We have drastically lowered out prices on our '16 models to make room for the new '17's coming very soon. Don't miss out on the best deals of the year GIVE US A CALL, WE WILL EXCEED ALL OF YOUR EXPECTATIONS

2005 Sailfish 1900 Bay Boat

Hampton, Virginia

Category Powerboats

2005 Sailfish 1900 Bay Boat Just reduced $3k. Bring reasonable offers. This boat is a 2005 but has the appearance of being a 2011 as it has been meticulously maintained and seen little use. This Sailfish 1900 Bay Boat (Redfish edition) with a yamaha F150 with only 60 hours. Includes light blue hull color, leaning post setup, trim tabs, stainless rub rail, livewell and release well, Yamaha gauges, console cover, stainless bimini and a single axle Magic Tilt aluminum trailer. Electronics include a Garmin GPS/bottom machine, Icom 302 VHF radio with whip antenna and a Sony am/fm/cd stereo system with two speakers.The Sailfish 1900 Bay Boat has brought the bay boat into the 21st century. An aggressive 18-degree deadrise hull, 21' deep sides and enough storage to accommodate full days needs, the 1900 is the most versatile 19' boat in its class. With available seating for 6, integrated boarding ladder, and all the fishing features you the boater demanded. Equally at home in the bay or offshore, the 1900 is the product of input from both the professional fisherman, and family boater.Please call Forrest Long at 251-476-2699 for details.

2014 Sailfish 1900 Bay Boat

Panama City, Florida

2014 Sailfish 1900 Bay Boat The1900BB has an aggressive 18-degree deadrise hull, 21" deep sides and enough storage to accommodate a full days needs. The 1900BB is the most versatile 19' bay boat in its class. With available seating for 6, new designed cushions, integrated boarding ladder, and with all the fishing features you the boater demanded. Equally at home in the bay or near shore, the 1900BB is the product of input from both the professional fisherman, and family boaters. Voted a top 5 boating destination in Florida. Jacksonville is the gateway to the St. Johns River. This Atlantic Coast city caters to the boating lifestyle with numerous first class marina’s lining the waterways. The city hosts one of the largest kingfish tournaments in Florida. Many five star restaurants, fine hotels, and attractions such as waterfront dining at Nippers Beach Grille, EverBank Field home of the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars, The Jacksonville Landing located on the mighty St. Johns, the Jacksonville zoo and gardens, Friendship Fountain and many art and historical museums. •Fernandina Beach:Amelia Island's Fernandina Beach is a coastal gem with a quiet seaside charm and an artsy downtown feel. Famous for it’s annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, Amelia Island Film Festival, the Amelia Island Jazz Festival & more. Whether experiencing the serene beaches, or an afternoon river cruise, there is always numerous activities to choose from such as horseback riding or horse-drawn carriage rides, kayaking, skydiving, boating, golfing, fishing, or an adventurous stroll through Ft. Clinch State Park. Indulge yourself at one of the many hotels such as The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island, The Omni Resort Amelia Island Plantation & more. Voted “Best Little Beach Town” by Coastal Living and one of the top 10 beaches in Florida! •St. Augustine: The Nation’s Oldest City and coastal community where you can drink from the legendary Ponce de Leon Fountain of Youth. An incredible historic district with cobblestone streets, quaint cafes, bed and breakfast inns, etc. Explore significant landmarks including the Castillo de San Marcos, Lightner Museum, Flagler College and Fort Matanzas. Many attractions including the Alligator Farm Zoological Park, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum.

2012 Sailfish 1900 BB Bay Boat

Clermont, Florida

Model 1900 BB Bay Boat

2012 Sailfish 1900 BB Bay Boat The 1900BB has an aggressive 18-degree deadrise hull, 21" deep sides and enough storage to accommodate a full days needs. The 1900BB is the most versatile 19' bay boat in its class. With available seating for 6, new designed cushions, integrated boarding ladder, and with all the fishing features you the boater demanded. Equally at home in the bay or offshore, the 1900BB is the product of input from both the professional fisherman, and family boaters. THIS BOAT IS TRULY SHOW ROOM CONDITION!

2014 Sailfish 1900 BB Bay Boat

St. Petersburg, Florida

2014 Sailfish 1900 BB Bay Boat Is warranty important in your purchase? Look no further, This Pristine bay boat is currently for sale in St. Petersburg, Florida. She is High and Dry stored and freshly detailed. The Yamaha Four stroke has extended warranty and has been lightly used. Client is going bigger! One owner well maintained. Please call for a private showing.

2015 Sailfish 1900 BB Bay Boat

Cocoa, Florida

Category Saltwater Fishing Boats

2015 Sailfish 1900 BB Bay Boat The Sailfish 1900 Bay Boat redefines the multipurpose bay boat. An aggressive 18° deadrise hull with 21” deep sides, standard 16-gallon bait well, standard catch and release live well, and abundant storage means you’re ready for a full day fishing trip. The 1900 Bay Boat is by far the most versatile boat in its class, with seating capacity for 5 and easy access built-in boarding ladder. It doesn’t matter if you’re a weekend warrior or a professional angler, on the lake or in the bay, inshore or offshore, the 1900BB gets the job done.

2004 Sailfish 1900 Bay Boat

North Miami, Florida

2004 Sailfish 1900 Bay Boat The Sailfish 1900 Bay Boat has brought the bay boat into the 21st century. An aggressive 18-degree deadrise hull, deep sides and enough storage to accommodate full days needs, the 1900 is the most versatile boat in its class. With available seating for 6, integrated boarding ladder, and all the fishing features you the boater demanded, including a live well. Equally at home in the bay or offshore, the 1900 is the product of input from both the professional fisherman, and family boater. Powered by a bullet proof Yamaha 150hp 2-Stroke outboard with power trim and tilt. Fusion Stereo system with iPod integration. No trailer included with this sale. Boat does have bottom paint and stays in water with monthly diving cleaning service. Easy to show, call us now to set up an appointment.

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Tropical Tours Shuttles : from Playa Flamingo to Samara we offer daily shared shuttle bus services and private minibus transportation. Price ranges to Samara starting at: $50 per person on shared shuttles departing at 07:20am. And $145 per trip for a private minibus. It’s a 2 hour ride from Playa Flamingo in Guanacaste to Samara beach in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

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Playa flamingo to samara options and details.

• Shared Buses
• Private Shuttle

Shared Shuttle from Playa Flamingo to Samara details:

• Bus departure time from Playa Flamingo area: 07:20am
• Departure place: at your location (hotel, hostel or house in Playa Flamingo).
• Bus arrival time at Samara area: 09:30am
• Trip estimate duration: 2 hours
• Shuttle service frequency: daily service
• Normally this service is provided on a 10 to 15 passenger minibus
• Price per person: $50

Additional information:

• This service is operated by Tropical Tours Shuttles. (Normally our vehicles are branded with our logo).
• Bus stops are provided along the way on specific locations.
• Our door to door minibus shuttle service will take you safe and directly from your hotel, hostel or rental house in Playa Flamingo to Samara in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
• Remember that surfboards are allowed at no extra charge in our minibuses.
• We set a departing time for each destination, however the minibus has to go through the town picking everyone up and that takes a few extra minutes.
• Costa Rica is a beautiful country, but the infrastructure is uncertain and our geography doesn’t help either, that’s why in some sections of the route you will have to go through bumpy and dusty roads on your way to Samara beach.

Private Shuttle from Playa Flamingo to Samara details:

• You choose the departure time from Playa Flamingo area
• Shuttle service includes your private driver
• Normally this service is provided on a 10 to 15 passenger minibus if you are more than 15 people we can also provide a larger vehicle
• Price for one way is: $145
• Bus stops are provided along the way in case you need it.
• Our minibuses can carry up to 10 persons, however after 6 persons there is an extra charge of $20 per person.
• Tropical Tours Shuttles will pick you up at any time with the private shuttle service, just make your reservation 24 hours before departure and we will meet you at the established time. Please note that pickups between 9:00pm and 6:00am will have an extra charge of $20 due to the time.

Other minibus shuttles from Playa Flamingo

Playa flamingo to santa teresa from $60, playa flamingo to montezuma from $60, playa flamingo to liberia airport private service from $90, playa flamingo to tambor from $60, playa flamingo to samara from $50, playa flamingo to nosara from $50, playa flamingo to cabuya from $60, playa flamingo to san jose airport sjo from $54, playa flamingo to la fortuna arenal from $44, playa flamingo to monteverde from $44, playa flamingo to nicoya from $40, playa flamingo to santa cruz from $35, shuttle + tour deals, where are we.

Our main office is in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica in front of the National Bank on the Nicoya Peninsula. View Map

Office: +506 2640 1900 Office: +506 2640 0811

For customers: +506 8890 9197 only text messages, [email protected], we are social, looking for more destinations, arenal & la fortuna, playas del coco, liberia airport lir, nicaragua border, papagayo gulf, playa conchal, playa grande, playa hermosa guanacaste, playa panama, san jose airport sjo, santa teresa & mal pais, tambor airport tmu, book your seat.

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