A schooner is a type of sailing vessel defined by its rig, which is fore-and-aft rigged on all of two or more masts. In the case of a two-masted schooner, the foremast is generally shorter than the mainmast. A common variant is the topsail schooner, which also has a square topsail on the foremast, to which may be added a topgallant. Many schooners are gaff-rigged, but other examples include Bermuda rig and the staysail schooner.
The name "schooner" first appeared in eastern North America in the early 1700s. The origins of schooner rigged vessels are obscure, but there is good evidence of them from the early 17th century in paintings by Dutch marine artists. The earliest known illustration of a schooner depicts a yacht owned by the mayors.
Schooners have two or more masts, and the defining feature for a schooner is that the after masts must be the same height or greater than the foremast. The fore-and-aft rigging of schooners makes them handle better in coastal winds, have shallower drafts for shallow waters, and require a smaller crew in proportion to their size.
