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“I hate being frightened, but, even more, I detest being prevented by fright.” Sir Francis Chichester
During the 1840s and 50s, ship designers started to push the boundaries of what ocean- and coastal-going vessels could be expected to do in all weathers; they had to make time in strong or light air. Before the railroad and the Panama Canal were built, ships had to round the tip of South America; it was a slog into prevailing southerly winds and demanding sea states to get to, as an example, San Francisco in order to supply goods for the influx of people lured by the prospect of striking it rich with gold. Time meant money, and with the opportunity to make some serious scoots to transport these goods, it only stands to reason that ships would be needed to get to their destination on the quick step. (For example, getting goods from Canton to New York City could take six months. This was a cost/benefit dilemma and simply not acceptable people wanted their tea and