Extreme clipper

An extreme clipper is a clipper designed to sacrifice cargo capacity for speed. They had a bow lengthened above the water, a drawing out and sharpening of the forward body, and the greatest breadth further aft. Extreme clippers were built in the period 1845 to 1855.

Medium and extreme clippers

From 1851 or earlier another type of clipper ship was also being built, the medium clipper. Two early examples are the Antelope of Boston (1851): "The design of her model was to combine large stowage capacity with good sailing qualities"; and the Golden Fleece (1852): "In the form of her ends she is of the medium model." The medium clipper, though still very fast, had comparatively more allowance for cargo.

After 1854 extreme clippers were replaced in shipbuilding yards by medium clippers. "...after 1854, a fine class of ships, known as medium clippers, was constructed, some of which proved exceedingly fast, and remarkable passages continued to be made. Many of these medium clippers would be considered very sharp and heavily sparred vessels at the present time."