The Search for Speed Under Sail: 1700-1855 - Howard I. Chapelle

The Search for Speed Under Sail 1700-1855 is a definitive maritime history and naval architecture classic. Naval historian Howard I. Chapelle examines how ship designers and sailors sought to increase speed in sailing vessels over more than a century and a half. Through detailed analysis of hull lines, rig plans and performance, alongside drawings and photos, the book traces innovations from early 18th-century merchant and war ships to the clipper ships of the mid-19th century.

The narrative blends technical explanation with historical context, exploring how changes in hull form, sail plans and construction techniques responded to economic demands and the quest for performance at sea. It’s both a reference for ship enthusiasts and a scholarly, yet accessible, study of nautical design evolution.

Book Condition : Fair