The Rise and Demise of the Largest Sailing Ships: Stories of the Six and Seven-Masted Coal Schooners of New England, (Hardcover)

Immerse yourself in the height of the "Golden Age of Sail" in the early 1900s, when America's insatiable appetite for coal and building materials encouraged shipbuilders to design and construct the world's largest sailing ships. Ten original giant six-masted schooners and the only seven-masted vessel, the Thomas W. Lawson, were built between 1900-1909, all measuring over the length of a soccer or football field! This book brings to life the many challenges these magnificent vessels faced in an era of positive social and political reforms. It provides the historical accounts that followed each ship, like competitions, accidents, battling devastating storms, acts of heroism, and their final voyages. These true stories are balanced with plenty of color and B&W images, famous paintings, and colorful maps, making this an excellent resource for anyone interested in New England maritime history.