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| The early 19th century Virginia pilot schooners were the |
| predecessors to the famous Baltimore Clippers. Virginia built or pilot construction boats were usually schooner rigged or brigantine rigged. As early as the American Revolution some vessels carried a square rig. These schooners had sharply raked masts, sharp-bowed hull, and fairly deep draft. The fore and aft rig enabled them to sail closer to the wind and fewer crew were needed. The schooner was one of the fastest boats on the east coast. Harbor pilots needed to be the first boat to reach an incoming ship to provide the pilot and earn the pilotage fee. |
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| These distinctive features found great favor among all maritime nations. Due to their speed, the British Navy used the original types extensively as dispatch boats. American fishermen on the east coast could bring in their catch faster to command the better prices. The American Navy painted these boats black, armed them to use to enter enemy ports, to destroy similar ships being built. |
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| Schooners have been used as privateers, pleasure craft, carried cargo, and as vessels for smuggling. |
| The America was a famous schooner that won the race for the 100 Guinea Cup from England by such a long lead it was reported to the Queen “America is first and there is no second”. Thereafter, the 100 Guinea Cup was called The America’s Cup. |
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| THIS VESSEL COMMISSIONED BY |
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| IN THE ORDER OF: REPLICA SCALE 1:50 WITH INDIVIDUALLY NAILED |
| PLANK-ON-FRAME CONSTRUCTION. DOUBLE PLANKED HULL OF AFRICAN WALNUT ON RAMEN. FORE AND AFT SCHOONER RIG WITH FULL COMPLIMENT OF SAILS. |
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| NAUTICAL RE-CREATIONS |
| by |
| WARREN LEE THOMAS |
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| Scale replicas of history’s finest sailing vessels artistically presented in realistic detail |
| Hand-crafted using original woods |
| 51599VPS2 |
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