Clipper ships and the golden age of sail : races and rivalries on the nineteenth century high seas

In the era of commercial sail, clipper ships were the ultimate expression of speed and grace. Racing out to the gold fields of America and Australia, and breaking speed records carrying tea back from China, the ships combined beauty with breathtaking performance. With over 200 gorgeous paintings and illustrations, and thrilling descriptions of the adventures and races on the water, this beautiful book brings the era vividly to life. Chapters include: The origins of the clippers - from the gold rush to the tea trade A hell ship voyage with 'Bully' Waterman, one of the most successful and notorious captains of the era Marco Polo , the fastest ship in the world - her rise to prominence and subsequent decline Mary Patten's battle with Cape Horn - a lady captain takes charge in a very male world Mutiny aboard the 'wild boat of the Atlantic' The great China tea race of 1866 - an amazingly close race across the world, only decided in the final few miles The Sir Lancelot defies the odds - her eccentric captains and rivalry with the legendary Thermopylae The Cutty Sark 's longest voyage First-hand accounts, newspaper reports and log entries add fascinating eyewitness detail, whilst the stunning images show how the designs of these thoroughbreds developed over the years. A wonderful read and worthy celebration of these racehorses of the sea. Decline and fall4 MARY PATTEN'S BATTLE WITH CAPE HORN; The Rapid's turnaround; An unusual honeymoon; Captain and mate; Mary's dilemma; Keeler's second chance; The frustrating final leg; End of the fairytale; 5 MUTINY ABOARD THE 'WILD BOAT OF THE ATLANTIC'; The Dreadnought's recipe for success; Liverpool packet rats; The provocation; Crisis point; Rudderless in mid-ocean; Wrecked near Cape Horn; 6 THE GREAT CHINA TEA RACE OF 1866; Out to sea; The captains and their ships; The challenges of sailing China clippers; Manoeuvring for position; On the home stretch; 7 THE SIR LANCELOT DEFIES THE ODDS Cover; Half-title; Title; Copyright; Contents; INTRODUCTION; 1 THE ORIGINS OF CLIPPER SHIPS; Baltimore clippers; Britain lags behind; Gold rush; Time for tea; Beauty at any cost; End of an era; 2 A HELL SHIP VOYAGE WITH 'BULLY' WATERMAN; Fame and fortune; A challenge for the Challenge; Rotten crew; Crisis at Cape Horn; The reckoning in San Francisco; The aftermath; 3 MARCO POLO, THE FASTEST SHIP IN THE WORLD; A stranding with a twist; Under new ownership; Up through the hawse-pipe; Troubles on the record passage; Commander of the Lightning; The Schomberg's only voyage; Dangerous gamble Dismasted in the Bay of BiscayThe race line-up; 'Go ahead' Robinson; The Sir Lancelot catches up; A new rival; Against the Thermopylae; Robinson's final record; 8 THE CUTTY SARK'S LONGEST VOYAGE; Cruel mate; Search for a new skipper; Tramp of the ocean; Hazing and hardship; Drunk in command; Wool clipper; EPILOGUE: Twilight; APPENDIX: Principal records set by British and American clipper ships; CREDITS; INDEX