schooner

A schooner is a sailing vessel defined by a fore-and-aft rig on two or more masts, with the aft-most mast, usually the mainmast, taller than the foremast. In a classic schooner, all masts carry fore-and-aft sails rather than square sails, enabling easier handling and better performance to windward.

Originating in the early 18th century on the American Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean, the schooner rapidly became popular for coastal trade, fishing, and cargo because its rig balanced ease of handling with speed and maneuverability. By the 19th century it was a dominant working rig in North American waters, powering ships from lumber sloops to coastal freighters. The term later broadened to include multi-masted yachts and racing craft.

Two-masted schooners are the standard form, but three-masted and other multi-masted variants existed. Sail plans vary: common configurations use a gaff-rigged mainsail on the mainmast and a fore-and-aft foresail on the foremast; additional sails such as staysails or small jibs may be used. Regional designs include the fast American fishing schooner and other coastal types, many of which featured long, shallow hulls and large sail areas.

Today, schooners are built and used mainly for recreation, training, and historical sailing. They remain a fixture in coastal fleets, with examples used in sail training programs and in traditional schooner races in places like New England and the Caribbean.