It is almost impossible to provide a clear historical basis for all the many ways that “high speed” has been introduced into the marine world. Inventors have tumbled over themselves in conceptualizing, building, testing and otherwise trying out their designs. History has been constantly repeating itself as new designs appear that are frequently nothing more than a reappearance of some earlier design but have gained status because the earlier designs were either lost in the patent offices or abandoned by the original inventor for say, financial burdens or personal crises and other reasons. Sometimes the “new” design came into being simply because the “time was right” and the original inventor is lost to antiquity. In some cases, the speed improvement is overshadowed by the introduction of a new and unexpected technology. The “invention” of the Clipper Ship that was so successful in the 1840s was soon eclipsed by the invention and application of the steam engine for marine use. In these days of seeking “alternative energy sources” perhaps the use of sails may come back!

There are many books already written that document the ways that “high speed” has been introduced in the marine field and it is not the purpose here to repeat such documentation. Christopher Dawson's book, “A Quest for Speed at Sea”1 published in 1972 provides an excellent treatment of advances in sail, engine propulsion, hull form and the start of the “dynamic lift” ships such as hydrofoils and air cushion craft. Dawson shows how the conflicting requirements for speed, load carrying, seaworthiness, endurance, economy and reliability have greatly influenced each of the various designs from historical times to the present day. Although Dawson's book was published over 40 years ago, not much has changed in these conflicting requirements since that time. Frequently, in modern day developments, time and money has been spent on re-living this history.

Another respected historian is H.F.King, a noted former editor of (now defunct) Flight International and Air Cushion Vehicles. King in his 1966 book “Aeromarine Origins”2 documents the results of his research into many of the designs used today.