Though the steamship was the "wave" of the future for British and American shipping, sailing ships and other vessels still had a place in Victorian transportation (and sports). This section looks at types of ships and boats still powered by wind or other means besides steam. Visit the Steamships page for information on vessels powered by steam, including submarines!

Alone at Sea (Leisure Hour, 1868)

A brief sailing adventure.

El Gooffah, by A. Locher (St. Nicholas, 1875)

A type of Mesopotamian boat used on rivers, often as a ferry-boat; it looks like a rather large wicker basket.

A Full-Rigged Ship (Collier's Cyclopedia, 1882)

Very nice illustration that shows the positions and names of all ropes, sails, etc.

The Evolution of the American Yacht, by S.G.W. Benjamin (Century Magazine, 1882B)

Through Waterspout and Typhoon, by James J. Wait (Century Magazine, 1883B)

Our Sailors and Ships (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1884)

The Building of Ships (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1887)

Sea Wings, by Robert C. Leslie (Harper's Monthly, 1887B)

An overview of various types of sails and sailing ships, with excellent drawings of each type.

Snubbin' Through Jersey, by F. Hopkinson Smith and J.B. Millet (Century Magazine, 1887B)

Navigating New Jersey waters in a canal boat.

The Hudson River Night-Boat (Pictorial Museum of Sport & Adventure, ca. 1890)

Night travel on a "floating palace" on the Hudson.

In a Cyclone (Pictorial Museum of Sport & Adventure, ca. 1890)

A cyclone at sea in the Polynesian Islands.

English Racing Yachts, by Dixon Kemp (English Illustrated Magazine, 1892A)

The Steering of Yachts (Century Magazine, 1892B)

Gondolas, by Helen Zimmern (Girl's Own Paper, 1895)

How a Racing Boat is Built, by S.J. Housley (The Strand, 1897B)

The America Cup: Its Origin and History, by G.F. Lorimer (Windsor Magazine, 1899B)

The famous yachting trophy dates from 1851!

See also

• Steamships

• Navigation, Lighthouses & Shipwrecks

• Recreation: Boating, Sailing & Rowing