Gilligan wrote:
....

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/e...a/const-es.htm

Not only that the USS Constitution clearly demonstrated she could sail
directly into the wind:

http://www.americanheritage.com/arti...955_3_56.shtml

I didn't see that mentioned - where was it?


If that is not enough, here the USS Constitution is the first US warship to
to have propellers:

http://www.usni.org/navalhistory/art...ingtonApr.html


Not propellers, human powered paddlewheels.