Is a schooner right for you? A what? you may be asking. A SCHOONER? One of those old timer boats?
Despite the fact that the schooner is the only American designed and built sailing vessel, most people are woefully ignorant of its attributes and vital contribution to American history. Notwithstanding the popularity of ketches and yawls, most people never consider a two-masted schooner to be an option when they select a boat. And there are as many types of schooners as there are, well…types of apples.
The schooner was originally used for smuggling – that could be an attractive feature for a few! Built for smuggling goods from the West Indies, the schooner was designed to be fast to elude the British gunboats, small enough to get into hidden coves the large British ships couldn’t begin to enter, and manageable by very few men.
The original two-masters were called the “Virginia Model.” According to Neale Haley in The Schooner Era, “The fore-and-aft rig made it easy to sail close to the wind. The draft was shallow so the men could avoid shoals and mud flats in the out-of-the-way places where they did their unloading” (p.28). It didn’t take the British long to recognize the great sailing qualities of the American schooner, and they bought many, including the notorious Halifax, famed for “…the devastation she brought the nation of her birth” during the Revolutionary War. (p. 28).
Schooners soon became the workhorse of the country, hauling coal, lumber, rocks and even lime. More masts were added, until eventually the seven-masted Thomas W. Lawson appeared. Although the vessel’s hull was plenty deep for cargo, its draft was so great there were only a few harbors accessible for the ship.
Schooners plied the rocky coast of the eastern seaboard from the time of the Civil War to the 1920’s. These “…were some of the finest years for sail. They were the last years in which a wind vessel could earn its way on the sea. Those are the years America should remember with pride” (p. 19). Eventually the steam engine driven ships took control of the country’s shipping trade, but during its heyday, “The schooner forged a heritage for a nation, kept alive the tradition of the sea” (p. 15).
So, what are the advantages of a schooner rig? There are several according to Philip C. Bolger in 100 Small Rigs. First, the largest sail is aft where it can be raised first and lowered last. Because of the design of the sail, it can be left up while anchored, even in moderate weather, and doesn’t cause the boat to want to take off. Then, because the sails get smaller as one goes forward, they are aerodynamically perfect. If the sails are set and sheeted right, each sail holds its shape and causes the air to flow smoothly from sail to sail. And because the sails are generally smaller than other rigs of comparable size, they are easier to handle.
Sail combinations on a schooner are numerous, and the needs for each weather condition can easily be met. In heavy weather the rig can be snugged down and well-balanced, thus causing absolutely no strain on the hull. And the bottom line is, schooners under sail just look good.
As for the rigs, there’s a multitude of choices. Bolger lists many, including the Baldheaded gaff rig; Gaff rig with main topsail and fisherman staysail; Jibheaded mainsail with gaff foresail and single jib with club; Jibheaded with boomless foresail; and Leg-o-mutton schooner yawl. Marconi rigging and gaff rigging are often used together also, with the Marconi sail being the main aft sail.
While schooners will not compete nowadays with the ultra light racing yachts, the 86 foot schooner Lurline won the Transpac three times, and the 120 foot Mariner held the Transpac record for 26 years, the longest time the record has ever been held.
Serving actively in four wars (Civil War, War of 1812, The spanish American War and WWI) the schooner is a true American Veteran. Yet, as Haley sadly points out, “The schooner made more voyages, carried more cargoes, was used for more types of work, sailed for more years than any other vessel of America – and the schooner is the vessel America forgets” (p.15).
Once owned the schooner is truly beloved. It has a dashing, eye-catching allure, and it is often the center of attention in harbors.
Traditionally, the schooner is sturdy and tough, plying the American coastline and seas of the world with assurance and character. The schooner, simply put, is an American heritage. If you are adventuresome, bold and daring, perhaps with a touch of nostalgia, a schooner may be right for you!
Reference: Neale Haley, "The Schooner Era."
Becky Coffield is an award-winning freelance writer and the author of the award-winning, humorous "Life Was a Cabaret: A Tale of Two Fools, A Boat, and a Big-A** Ocean"; the award-winning suspense novel "Northern Escape," "You Can Conquer TMJ: Ideas and Recipes," and the newly released "One Pot Galley Gourmet."
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