Sailing ship facts for kids

INS Tarangini, a sailing ship in service with the Indian Navy.

A sailing ship is a big boat with sails which catch the wind. The wind pushes the boat along. A sailing ship had a rig of at least three masts, square rigged on all of them. The great days of sailing ships was from around the 15th century to the middle of the 19th century. They were very important for trade as well as for war. All large boats became known as "ships", so when steam power was invented people talked about "steam ships" to distinguish them from "sailing ships".

Small boats with sails are called "yachts" or sailboats. They are used today for leisure activities.

Images for kids

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  ARC Gloria, a three-masted barque and Colombian Navy training ship, at sunset in Cartagena

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  USS Constitution under sail in Massachusetts Bay, 21 July 1997. Nicknamed "Old Ironsides," the frigate became famous in the War of 1812 when British cannonballs bounced off her oak hull. She is the oldest commissioned warship still afloat, and is open to the public in Charlestown, Massachusetts.

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  The Star of India, is a full-rigged iron windjammer. Built in 1863 and now based in San Diego, she is the oldest ship still sailing regularly and oldest iron-hulled merchant ship afloat.

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  The Cutty Sark is the only surviving clipper ship, permanently moored in Greenwich, England,.

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  Sailing ships tied to shore, circa 1900-1920

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  The brig Niagara was the flagship of Commander Oliver Hazard Perry in the War of 1812, and is famous as the origin of the phrases "We have met the enemy and they are ours," and "Don't give up the ship."

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  ‘Sail in Company’ during International Fleet Review 2016, Visakhapatnam

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  The Moshulu—a four-masted bark.