With their billowing sails, towering masts and long wooden
hulls, 19th century clipper ships were staggering feats of
design -- and Europe's lifeline to the world's most exotic
goods. Laden with spices, teas and chocolates from across the
globe, the use of these wind-powered sailing vessels reached its
peak during the late 1800's, a period often referred to as the
"Golden Age of Sail." Abandoned in the advent of steamboats, the
centuries-old transport is now enjoying a revival among cargo
traders, with a new breed of merchant ships returning to wind
power in an effort to promote environmentally sustainable trade.
This week, the 32-meter brigantine Tres Hombres set sail from
the Netherlands to the Caribbean in an eight-month voyage
transporting ale, wine, rum and chocolate -- much the same way
as merchant ships would have done 150 years ago. Named in honor
of the three friends who founded the ambitious scheme, the
35-ton carbon-neutral vessel has no motor and relies on solar-
powered fridges to keep its cargo c