They were the heirs to the majestic clippers, the last and most glorious of all commercial sailing ships. With their acres of canvas, towering masts and vast holds, they were true giants of the ocean. But all the size and grace in the world could not prevent the coming of steam, and these massive ships had a short commercial life. THE WINDJAMMERS is a comprehensive history of the most magnificent sailing vessels ever built. Learn what separates them from their predecessors, the clippers, and get a remarkable tour of some surviving windjammers. Talk to the men who preserve these vital pieces of maritime history, and marvel at the splendid sight of the giant, graceful ships under sail. And thrill to dramatic stories of their legendary races, where windjammers would compete with each other to bring their vital cargoes of grain and other goods to market before each other. From trading vessels to “Tall Ships,” this is the story of the last great sailing ships, the windjammers. A windjammer is a collective name for many classes of large sailing ships, built to carry cargo for long distances in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Windjammers were the grandest of merchant sailing ships, with between three and five large masts and square sails, giving them a characteristic profile. They usually carried bulk cargo, such as lumber, guano, grain or ore from one continent to another, usually following the prevailing winds and circumnavigating the globe during their voyages. Several of these ships are still in existence, variously operating as school ships, museum ships, restaurant ships, and cruise ships.