With the upcoming launch of 63m Athos, TIDE takes a look at some of the most famous schooners afloat today. Inspired by both past and future, these multi-mast vessels are hard to beat for a truly authentic sailing experience.

In marine lexicon, the word Schooner evokes historic imagery of billowing canvas, forests of spars, rigging and the seamanship of a bygone era. What gets less attention, however, is the contemporary coterie of these special two or three-mast vessels. A handful of Schooners still sail the world over, the crew earning their stripes as some of the most able yachtsmen and women on the water. This select fleet includes well preserved heritage pieces, historical replicas and modern state-of-the-art Superyachts, all sharing two things in common: a generous wardrobe of sails and a need for some serious sailing skill.

The practical argument for the multi-masted schooner rig may have diminished along with the world’s reliance on commercial sail, but the feelings stirred by these majestic creations of two or more masts are as strong as they ever were.