<human>:  Are those tall ships with white sails and big billowing masts the same ships in the 16th century?
<bot>: It is difficult to say for sure, but it is likely that the tall ships with white sails and big billowing masts of today are similar to the ships that sailed in the 16th century. While the designs may have changed somewhat over time, it is likely that the underlying principles of sail technology have remained unchanged.