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, ketch, sloop, brigantine, barquentine, or a full-rigged ship depending on the number of masts and the cut of the sails.

Sail training vessels are as varied as the programs operated on them.

For the purposes of classification and race rating, Tall Ships America adheres to the descriptions found in the Racing and Sailing Rules and Special Regulations established by Sail Training International.

CLASS A – All square-rigged vessels and all other vessels over 40 meters (131 feet) length overall (LOA)

CLASS B – Traditionally rigged vessels with LOA of less than 40 meters (131 feet) and with a waterline length (LWL) of at least 9.14 meters (30 feet)

CLASS C – Modern-rigged vessels with LOA of less than 40 meters (131 feet) and with LWL of at least 9.14 meters (30 feet), not carrying spinnaker-like sails

CLASS D – Modern-rigged vessels with LOA of less than 40 meters (131 feet) and with LWL  of at least 9.14 meters (30 feet), carrying spinnaker-like sails