Sovereign of the Seas, a clipper ship built in 1852, was a sailing vessel notable for setting the world record for the fastest sailing ship, with a speed of 22 knots (41 km/h).[2][a]
 Sovereign of the Seas
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Builder | Donald McKay of East Boston, MA |
| Launched | 1852 |
| Fate | Ran aground on the Pyramid Shoal in the Strait of Malacca, becoming a total loss, on voyage from Hamburg to China, 6 August 1859[1]: 97 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Extreme clipper |
| Tons burthen | 2421 tons. |
| Length | 252 ft (77 m) |
| Beam | 45.6 ft (13.9 m) |
| Draft | 29.2 ft (8.9 m) |
| Notes | Has held the record for the fastest speed ever for a sailing ship, 22 kn (41 km/h), since 1854 |
Notable passages
edit
Built by Donald McKay of East Boston, Massachusetts, Sovereign of the Seas was the first ship to travel more than 400 nautical miles (740 kilometres) in 24 hours.[3] On the second leg of her maiden voyage, she made a record passage from Honolulu, Hawaii, to New York City in 82 days. She then broke the record to Liverpool, England, making the passage in 13 days 13+1⁄2 hours. In 1853 she was chartered by James Baines of the Black Ball Line, Liverpool for the Australia trade.
Record
editIn 1854, Sovereign of the Seas recorded the fastest speed for a sailing ship, logging 22 knots (41 km/h).[2]
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ Note that this is a very specific record. It applies to a ship in the most literal sense, a three-masted, square-rigged, sailing vessel. It has been far exceeded by multi-hulled sailing craft and modern monohulls.
References
edit- ^ MacGregor, David R (1993). British and American Clippers: A Comparison of their Design, Construction and Performance. London: Conway Maritime Press Limited. ISBN 0-85177-588-8.
- ^ a b Octavius T. Howe; Frederick G. Matthews (1986). American Clipper Ships 1833-1858. Vol. 1. New York. ISBN 0-486-25115-2.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "San Francisco Commerce, Past, Present and Future". Overland Monthly and Out West Magazine. April 1888. p. 370. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
Further reading
edit- Lyon, Jane D (1962). Clipper Ships and Captains. New York: American Heritage Publishing.
External links
edit
- Sovereign of the Seas, Springfield Museum, Currier and Ives lithograph
- Painting of clipper ship Sovereign of the Seas, San Francisco Public Library