Barques

A barque, also spelled bark, is a sailing vessel defined by three or more masts with a distinctive rigging: the foremast and mainmast are square-rigged, while the mizzenmast (the aftmost) carries fore-and-aft sails. This combination gives a vessel that can carry substantial sail area yet remains easier to handle than a fully square-rigged ship of similar size. The term barque identifies both the rig and the general hull form.

Rigging details distinguish barques from related designs. In a barque, all masts except the mizzen have square sails, whereas the mizzen is rigged with fore-and-aft sails. This arrangement allows relatively efficient sailing on long voyages and typically requires fewer crew members than a ship with square sails on every mast, contributing to operational economies for merchant fleets of the era.

Historically, barques were widely used from the 17th through the early 20th centuries in European and North American trade. They spanned a range of sizes and served on global routes, including cargo, colonization, and passenger service. They offered a practical balance of cargo capacity, favorable sailing performance, and manageable crew requirements, making them a common choice in the age of sail.

In modern times, barques largely disappeared from regular commercial service, supplanted by steam and motor vessels. Some survive as training ships, museum ships, or private yachts, and a number participate in tall-ship events and educational programs worldwide. Related rig types include barquentines and full-rigged ships, which use different distributions of square and fore-and-aft sails.