A writer in the London Times appears rather jealous of the fact that this fine ship made the shortest sailing passage on record, between New York and Liverpool, and by way of throwing it into the shade, states that the British frigate Resistance, 11 or 12 years ago, made the passage from Quebec to Cork in 12 ½ days. We have little hesitation in stating that, with the same chance, the Sovereign of the Seas would have made the same passage in 9 days -- but more likely in 7, and further, with a whole sail breeze, such as she had when she ran 430 miles in a day, she would run any ship or steamer in the British navy, or any other navy, out of sight in four or five hours. The ship which can sail alongside of her, we believe, has yet to be built.
The Clipper Ship Sovereign of the Seas, Capt. McKay, from New York, at Liverpool, made the passage in 14 days 3½ hours, from the time she hove her anchor up at New York until she cast it at Liverpool, being the shortest passage between the two ports ever made by a sailing vessel. The next shortest was made by the ship Independence in 14 days 9 hours. The steamer Washington, which sailed from New York the same day that the Sovereign of the Seas sailed from the same port, arrived at Southampton only 10 hours earlier than the latter arrived at Liverpool. By comparing the log of the Sovereign of the Seas, with that of the steamer Canada, we find that the ship on the 25th of June was ahead of the steamer 240 miles, the steamer then in longitude 56 12, and the ship in longitude 50 10. On the 20th, the ship was in lon. 8, and the steamer in lon. 21 45, thus showing that the ship in 5 days had beaten the steamer 325 miles. The steamer's greatest day's run was made on the 20th ult. -- 306 miles, and the ship's run on the same day was 340 miles; and the ship too was drawing 22 feet water, and rather crank, having been badly laden. A letter from Liverpool says that she attracts much attention, and has been visited by many of their best ship builders. Below we give an abstract of her log.
Saturday, June 18th, 1853, took steamer and went down the bay. At 6.30, P.M. sea time. June 19th, Light ship bore N, one mile distant. Crew, 39 seamen, 8 boys.
June, 19th, lat. 41 20, lon. 61 16, course E, dist. 143; wind -- S by W. Remarks: light breezes from SW, fine weather.
June 20th, lat. 41 20, lon. 68 22, course ENE, dist. 150; wind -- SW. Remarks: weather pleasant; all sail set.
June 21st, lat. 42 54, lon. 63 33, course ENE, dist. 245; wind -- W. Remarks: fine weather. Passed steamer Humboldt, bound W, for New York.
June 22d, lat. 43 30, lon. 60 25, course E by N, dist. 120; wind -- W. Remarks: fine weather; light breezes.
June 23d, lat. 44 18, lon. 57 10, course ENE, dist. 128; wind -- W. Remarks: moderate breezes.
June 24th, lat. 46 28, lon. 53 05, course NE½E, dist. 244; wind -- NW. Remarks: at 6 A.M. took in studdingsails; made Cape Race, fresh breeze and clear weather.
June 25th, lat. 46 20, lon. 50 10, course E¼S, dist. 130; wind -- NNE. Remarks: on the Grand Banks, saw several fishermen; weather cold, passing fog.
June 26th, lat. 47 34, lon. 43 05, course E by N½N, dist. 307; wind -- N. Remarks: strong breezes.
June 27th, lat. 49 45, lon. 37 40, course NE by E½E, dist. 255; wind -- NNW. remarks: squally weather; strong breezes.
June 28th, lat. 50 22, lon. 28 55, course E½N, dist. 344; wind -- N. Remarks: took in topgallant-sails, single reefed topsails, ship very crank, lee rail under water; rigging slack, weather squally, ship rolling heavily, strong breeze.
June 29th, lat. 50 48, lon. 24 08, course SE by E, dist. 203; wind -- NW. Remarks; moderate breezes, rough sea, squally.
June 30th, lat. 50 57, lon. 15 20, course SE by E¼E, dist. 340; wind -- NW. Remarks: royal studdingsails set.
July 1st, at 6 A.M. course SE by E½E, dist. 255; NNW. Remarks: made Cape Clear, Ireland.
July 2d, at 2 P.M. took pilot, and at 10 P.M. anchored in the Mersey.
From our position on the Grand Banks on the 25th, and in lat. 46 20, lon. 50 10, we were 135 hours to Cape Clear, a distance of 1668 miles; from noon to noon each day, being 296 miles per day, or 12 1/3 knots per hour.
Transcribed by Lars Bruzelius.
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Copyright © 1997 Lars Bruzelius.