For instance, the Gold Rush resulted in American shipyards constructing numerous clippers to meet customer demands. Operational before the construction of the Panama Canal, this route went around Cape Horn (the southernmost tip of South America) and ferried passengers between both coasts of the United States.Ĭlippers were in high demand during spikes in the economic boom, especially in Europe, America, and Asia. They were capable of making trans-Atlantic voyages with their fast speeds.Ĭommon routes included Europe-America’s passenger and cargo trips, trade to and from the UK, China with tea, spices, and Opium, and Java with labourers.Ī celebrated route was the San Francisco-New York journey that supplemented commerce during the Gold Rush. The famous clippers of the 19th century were predominantly constructed out of Britain, America, Brazil, France, and the Netherlands. Development and Subsequent Decline of the ClippersĬlippers were covered in sails on every possible inch of the mast to meet the requirements of being classified as a “fast” ship. They had high beams above the waterline to compensate for the lost space and used extra sails to quicken the journey around the Cape of Good Hope. These vessels featured extremely high deadrise angles built and operated by Chinese and Arab merchants and handled by Indians and Far East Asians. To meet this growing requirement for high-quality tea and Opium, the British turned to a new class of clippers operating from Asia- the Opium and Tea clippers. Produced in the plantations of China and India, they required short voyage times to retain cargo freshness. Tea was another commodity in high demand in British society. Opium was a fast-selling commodity in Britain and China, with annual consumption far exceeding the production capabilities of the East India Company. Even today, they rival the speed of modern commercial vessels. The Chinese clippers plucked these routes and were touted as some of the fastest ships. They employed fast clippers to keep a constant supply of goods between these locations and India. The East India Company was a major driving force in creating a demand for goods in Asia and Europe. The phrase “to clip” means “to proceed at a swift pace”, which explains the origin of the term clipper. Being a fast and able vessel, the clipper ship gained popularity, and the term became mainstream by the second half of the 19th century. The term clipper originated in English texts and was followed by its prominent use in America. The other maritime contemporaries of the Baltimore Clipper were Pilot-boat, Virginia Built, and Baltimore Built vessels.Ī possible theory suggests that the term “Baltimore Clipper” was shortened to “Clipper”, giving rise to the now-popular name. It was part of the American shipbuilding spree that gripped the nation in the 18th-19th century. But the consensus is that the Baltimore Clipper was the first vessel to employ that name. The origin of the term “clipper ship” in naval architecture is disputed. How long it took clipper ships to cross the Atlantic?
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