A "tall ship" is not necessarily one of the great
square-riggers; any vessel in which at least half the people on board are
aged between 15 and 25 and which is over 30-ft waterline length can enter
ASTA or ISTA races. For racing purposes vessels taking part in a race are
divided into Classes, and in some cases; divisions within classes. The rules
for these classes are as follows.....
A tall ship is not a strictly defined type of sailing vessel. Most of us use the term to mean a large traditionally rigged sailing vessel, whether or not it is technically a "ship". The United States Coast Guard's training ship Eagle, for example, is technically a "barque". A tall ship can also be a schooner, brigantine, barquentine, brig, ketch, sloop, or a full-rigged ship depending on the number of masts and the cut of the sails.
For the purposes of classification and race rating, the American Sail Training Association adheres to the descriptions found in the Racing and Sailing Rules and Special Regulations established by Sail Training International.
Division of Classes
CLASS A
All square-rigged vessels and all other vessels over 40m (131 feet) length overall (LOA)
CLASS B
Traditional-rigged vessels with a LOA of less than 40m (131 feet) and with a waterline length (LWL) of at least 9.14m (30 feet).
CLASS C
Modern-rigged vessels with a LOA of less than 40m (131 feet) and with a LWL of at least 9.14m (30 feet), not carrying spinnaker-like sails.
CLASS D
Modern-rigged vessels with a LOA of less than 40m (131 feet) and with a LWL of at least 9.14m (30 feet), carrying spinnaker-like sails.
* Square-rigged vessels (Class A) are defined as those vessels whose sail plan is ship, barque, barquentine, brig or brigantine.
* Traditional-rigged vessels (Class B) are defined as those vessels whose sail-plan has predominance of gaff sails.
* Modern-rigged vessels (Class C and D) are defined as those vessels whose sail-plan has a predominance of Bermudan sails.
* Length Overall (LOA) is the length between the forward end of the stem post and the after end of the stern post. It does not include the bowsprit, pulpit or any other extension at the bow or stern.
Sail Names and Rig Types of tall ships
| 1. Fore mast | 12. Fore upper topgallant sail | 23. Mizzen royal staysail |
| 2. Main mast | 13. Fore royal | 24. Mizzen topgallant staysail |
| 3. Mizzen mast | 14. Main royal staysail | 25. Mizzen topmast staysail |
| 4. Flying jib | 15. Main topgallant staysail | 26. Main spencer |
| 5. Outer jib | 16. Main topmast staysail | 27. Crossjack, mizzen course |
| 6. Inner jib | 17. Main course | 28. Mizzen lower topsail |
| 7. Fore topmast staysail | 18. Main lower topsail | 29. Mizzen upper topsail |
| 8. Fore course | 19. Main upper topsail | 30. Mizzen lower topgallant sail |
| 9. Fore lower topsail | 20. Main lower topgallant sail | 31. Mizzen upper topgallant |
| 10. Fore upper topsail | 21. Main upper topgallant sail | 32. Mizzen royal |
| 11. Fore lower topgallant sail | 22. Main royal | 33. Spanker |
Note that "Mizzen" is a more modern spelling of "Mizen" and that "sail" is frequently abbreviated to "s'l" as in "tops'l" and "stays'l"
Rig Types
| Two Masted Schooner | Brigantine | Topsail Schooner |
| Full Rigged Ship | Barquentine |
| Three Masted Schooner | Brig |
Barque
Sailing vessel with three or more masts: fore and aft rigged on aftermast, square rigged on all others.
Barkentine
3 Masted with Sq rigged on fore mast only
Brig
is a two-masted vessel with both masts square rigged. On the sternmost mast, the main mast, there is also a gaff sail
Brigantine
is a two-masted vessel fore mast being square rigged
Cutter
A sailboat with one mast and rigged a mainsail and two headsails. Also see sloop. Greek Galley Early sailing vessel 500bc
Ketch
Two-masted boats, the after mast shorter, but with a ketch the after mast is forward of the rudder post
Knockabout
a type of schooner without a bowsprit.
Schooner
Sailing ships with at least 2 masts (foremast and mainmast) with the mainmast being the taller. Word derives from the term "schoon/scoon" meaning to move smoothly and quickly. ( a 3-masted vessel is called a "tern")
Topsail Schooner
A schooner with a square rigged sail on forward mast
Windjammer
A non- nautical term describing square rigged sailing ships and large sailing merchantman, especially in the last day of commercial sailing. The original term windjamer was intended as insult from the crews of steamships. The return insult from the sailors was stinkpotter