Top Square Sail Schooner

[toosail]

Ok, I know for a fact there is a wealth of knowledge here. So as quickly as possible can I pick your brains as far as working a tall sailing ship, In particular, a top square sail schooner. Any and all info is appreciated on this type of sailing ship.
Thank you in advance

[captainKJ]

now is the time in Maine for hte tall sailing ship,,,,in late september and october they head to the caribbean,,,,,look up THE TALL SHIP GAZALA IN PHILADELPHIA,,,you can crew for free on her,,,there is always THE US BRIG NIAGARA,,,on lake eric and the east coast,,,,the bounty,,

Sail A Tall Ship


nothing like being 120 plus feet above the deck while doing 10 knots,,have done that even hanging upside down on the tagallient

[sailronin]

What are you trying to find out? How to get a job aboard a square topsail schooner or how to sail one?
There are lots of schooners (well relatively speaking) in Maine that trade with guests for the summer charter trade. A couple are square tops'l while the majority are fore & aft rigged.

[jcleverley]

I've crewed on a couple of topsail schooners. What would you like to know? Are you looking for classes, history, stats, sailing techniques, charters?

[toosail]

Hey guys sorry for the random question. What I'm wanting to know is everything there is to know about a top square sail schooner between 100' and 200', think of it as a final or a doctrine type question. I am just wanting to know the ins and outs of a typical schooner of that size. history,ways to sail, pointing abilities, line names, you know, as if I were writing a book on them and am trying to gather any and all info from those of you that might know something about them.
I hope that clears it up a bit
Thanks

[skipmac]

Asking someone to tell you "everything there is to know" about a topsail schooner? That would take several books to cover, probably a bit beyond what someone would want to type in a post on a forum.

[toosail]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Asking someone to tell you "everything there is to know" about a topsail schooner? That would take several books to cover, probably a bit beyond what someone would want to type in a post on a forum.

Ok, let me clear this up before it gets out of hand. I am trying to gather information about top square sail schooners. I would like and welcome any information on this type of ship that anyone may have. Particularly, ones that have intimate knowledge of this type of sailing ship. Now I'm not sure how many of you have that, but again, I am trying to gain as much knowledge on this type of ship as I can. Everything from how they sail, to how you sail them, to the pros and cons, the history as to why the are rigged the way they are as opposed to other tall ships, etc....... So again to clear it up a bit, I am reaching out to hear what people think of a top square sail schooner, in any capacity.

[toosail]

So far I'm getting responses to the question at hand and why I asked it, and no facts about that type of ship and how they became back in time to the present. That's what I'm looking for.
Again, thanks in advance

[Amgine]

The question is a little too general.

Generally, a topsail schooner is a two-masted fore-and-aft rigged vessel carrying topmasts and, at least on the foremast, is also rigged to carry square yards. The rig is known to be particularly handy in beam winds, and was a favourite of coastal trade and fishermen of New England and the east coast of Canada.

Beyond that (and even within that) there is great controversy as to what the rig is, how to use it most efficiently, and what kinds of hull it should be carried on.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by toosail

So far I'm getting responses to the question at hand and why I asked it, and no facts about that type of ship and how they became back in time to the present. That's what I'm looking for.
Again, thanks in advance

Perhaps you are asking too much of a forum. Again, the depth of knowledge you're asking for would be better addressed by putting a little work and research into the matter.

Instead of asking for everything there is to know how about a specific question, like the downwind performance of a schooner with a square topsail vs a fore and aft rig.

[toosail]

Originally Posted by Amgine

The question is a little too general.

Generally, a topsail schooner is a two-masted fore-and-aft rigged vessel carrying topmasts and, at least on the foremast, is also rigged to carry square yards. The rig is known to be particularly handy in beam winds, and was a favourite of coastal trade and fishermen of New England and the east coast of Canada.

Beyond that (and even within that) there is great controversy as to what the rig is, how to use it most efficiently, and what kinds of hull it should be carried on.

Awesome! Thank you I know the question is general an I also know I'm no author, I'm just trying to find out as much as I can about that type of ship. Thanks for the response.

[jcleverley]

If you have specific questions. I recommend contacting Doug Prothero. he may be too busy to help but his knowledge on the subject is fantastic. His company has restored and sailed a cariety of tallships. If you would like his details, feel free to private message me.

[toosail]

I apologize Skipmac,
I don't even know enough about tall sailing ships to even specify a question. And that's why I have'nt done so. In any case what is downwind performance of a schooner with a square topsail vs a fore and aft rig?

[Amgine]

I note you have a quote from R.D. "Pete" Culler in your signature file. He's a rather noted schooner builder/designer of the 20th century, and there are a couple of books by him about his work. You might read his book "Skiffs and Schooners".

[skipmac]

Schooner - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Square rig - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Schooner