Clipper Ships

Clipper ships are merchant ships known for their speed. They were only invented after the discovery of copper bottomed hulls which helps add to their speed. The ships carry less cargo than other merchant ships, but they are prized for their ability to sail between the empire and the colonies in a week thus making them ideal for time sensitive shipments. For coastal shipping, they tend to be built with a schooner sailplan and may have as many as five masts. The depth of the ships is also less than their slower counterparts which makes them ideal for getting to more ports which don't require as deep water. Only a few shipbuilders know how to make them, and they continue to make improvements to the design. The transoceanic vessels have a ship rig. They are expensive to make, but that cost is easily returned through the value of goods they can carry. Strangely, the trade guilds are slow to add clipper ships to their fleets, and they tend to be commissioned by independent shipping lines which thrive in northern Kos. There, they often carry whale meat which is prone to spoiling quickly in warmer southern waters. They also move fruits and vegetables from the south up north. A clipper ship traveling between Muloes and Polta only takes seven days, while a regular merchant ship takes twice as long. The ships travel at between 15-20 knots with the fastest ships reaching speeds of 23 knots. Part of the expense is the need for specialized wood which can withstand the increased pressure on the hull and mast. They have very sleek designs meant to cut through the water, and even fully loaded, they tend to ride higher in the water than more traditional merchant ships. The navies have so far avoided using clipper ships because of the prohibitive cost. They have tried commissioning smaller ships to use as signal ships, but when the rest of the fleet can't keep up, they run the risk of having too few guns to be effective in a fight alone, and slowing down to stay with other ships negates their purpose.