This book is an effort to preserve the records of the most perfect type of sailing ship at the very height of its development, and it has been written entirely for sailors and those who are interested in shipping. I have put down as simply as possible the personal histüry of certain ships and that in the plain language of the sea without any attempt to explajn technical or seafaring terms for the bene¿t of the landsman.
The materiell gathered together in this book has been culled from countless abstract log books, as well aa from information supplied to me, not only by the men who sailed the ships but also by their owners, designers and builders.
Indeed I have to thank so many people for their help that a page of print would not contain their names, and I can only hope that this book may, perhaps, recall some pleasant sea memories and thus in some slight way recompense them for their
kindness und trouble.
Reprint of the original edition (1899)