One of the world’s oldest methods of transporting goods is making an unlikely comeback. Sailing ships, which kept the British Empire in tea, sugar and tobacco, are back in vogue as a green alternative to conventional shipping. Wine, coffee, cacao beans and rum are among the items filling holds on a growing number of ships that are reviving old trade routes more than a century after the advent of steam engines ended the golden age of sail.

defyaugury:

jadelyn:

kdhume:

Not exactly speedy, but there are a lot of goods (like wine) where speed doesn’t really matter. Why not use wind power when possible?

Incidentally, one of Washington’s tall ships was actually built by an eccentric millionaire (Baron Dorcy, dubbed “the ultimate trustifarian” in this article) in 1988 with the same idea in mind.

GOODBYE FRIENDS I AM RUNNING AWAY FROM HOME TO BECOME A SAILOR AND EVENTUALLY CAPTAIN OF A MERCHANT FLEET I WILL MISS YOU ALL

@itsthebeecroft I can’t help but think of you