September 2017 - Sailing Ship High Point
Members of the Horndean & District U3A met for their regular monthly meeting on Friday 1st September 2017 at Merchistoun Hall. They were entertained by Bill Cumming talking about the "High Point of Sailing Ships."
Bill spoke about sail power which goes back to cavemen using sheets as sails. UK is and always has been a maritime nation which relies on the sea for trading. There has always been a romantic image around sailing ships. He reminded us of the great Vasco de Gama (Portuguese) who sailed around the tip of Africa to India and established a trade route.
Bill showed many pictures of clippers from the past. The first was of the Sovereign of the Sea 1854 from the USA. It had high sides and masts and could be turned over when not loaded. It had cotton sails rather than the canvas used in the UK. All crew were expected to be able to go up to the top of the sails!
He showed a rare image of the 1869 Thermopylae which the Cutty Sark beat! The Clyde became the centre of shipbuilding and Glasgow which became the prosperous "Second city of the Empire" was the centre for rivets and iron plate. The long haul workhorses of the late 18th and early 19th centuries were the West Indiaman and East Indiaman which had vast rigging and large crews.
In 1869 the Suez cannel opened but it didn't save money because the local winds were unfavourable and the UK were charged high taxes to use it. Between 1875 - 1885 steam took over from sail but they had less capacity in the holds.
A revolutionary and large four mast iron ship named the County of Peebles was launched in 1875 and traded far and wide for 22 years. It was a great success and was a major milestone in maritime history, being the first iron 4 masted merchant ship. It was followed by a series of brilliant iron clippers launched from the Clyde. Steam eclipsed sail power from about 1885 but later sailing ships were still being built including the impressive five masted windjammers.
Bill showed his passion and depth of knowledge regarding sailing ships of the past - too much and too many to recount here! Members were inquisitive and asked questions of Bill and he was enthusiastically thanked.
Diane Stoner
Speaker Coordinator