These guides cover the world of traditional and square-rigged sailing — from joining a tall ship as voyage crew with no prior experience, to understanding how a square sail actually generates drive, to the traditional vessel traditions of the Arab world, the Pacific, and East Asia. Each is written for someone who wants to understand or experience sailing beyond the modern marina.
Sailing on a Tall Ship: How to Join a Voyage Crew
No experience required. The voyage crew concept explained — what happens aboard, what it costs, and which ships and operators take paying sail trainees on ocean passages.
- $200–500 for a weekend voyage
- Jubilee, Pride of Baltimore II, USCG Eagle
- OpSail and tall ship festivals
How Square Rig Sailing Actually Works
The physics of square sails, the vocabulary of a full rig from courses to royals, how to brace a yard, going aloft to furl, and why clipper ships followed the trade winds south.
- Cannot point closer than 60–70° to wind
- Bracing, furling, passing gaskets
- Barque rig: the dominant compromise
Traditional Sailing Vessels of the World
The Arab dhow, Indonesian pinisi, Chinese junk, Pacific proa, Hawaiian double hull, and Bristol Channel pilot cutter — traditional designs that shaped modern sailing.
- Hokule'a: Hawaii to Tahiti by stars
- Bugis pinisi still built in Sulawesi
- Battened lug sail that inspired modern rigs
The Voyages That Shaped Sailing History
Magellan-Elcano, Captain Cook, Joshua Slocum, Francis Chichester, Robin Knox-Johnston, Bernard Moitessier, Ellen MacArthur — the passages that defined what was possible under sail.
- Slocum: first solo circumnavigation 1895–98
- Knox-Johnston: 312 days non-stop
- Moitessier: turned away from winning
About These Guides
These are editorial resources covering tall ship sail training, square rig seamanship, and maritime history. Voyage costs, operator schedules, and vessel availability change seasonally. Always verify current sailing opportunities directly with operators listed in the Sail Training International directory before booking.