The sailing boat conjures up the perfect, romantic image of laid-back life on the ocean wave. Today’s luxury sailing boats are simply a development of some of the simplest designs, first originated several millennia ago.

Sailing boats harness the power of the wind. They are now largely used for pleasure and competitive sailing – due to the advent of the engine providing faster speeds to cross the water by power boat – although fishermen across the world still make use of the sailing boat today.

There are several different types of sailing ships, which all differ in their hull design, rigging and mast or sail type and number. These include barques, cutters, clippers, ketches and schooners.

The annual Tall Ships’ Race takes place in European waters and is a wonderful opportunity for tall ship enthusiasts to spot large, multi-masted ships, like schooners and brigs, jostling for supremacy on the sea. Over 100 ships take part each year, drawing thousands of spectators and demonstrating the continued popularity of the tall sailing ship.