Ha Ha :lol: They could do 17 or 18 if the wind was right, but it seldom was :sad: Voyage averages of the fastest clippers could not compete with the 7 knot tramp steamer that pushed on at its plodding 7 knots, day in, day out, almost regardless of the weather! That is why commercial sailing ships finally disappeared! They had the advantage on long voyages where they didn't need coal, but the Suez and Panama canals put the final nail in their coffins!
Bob