Wild Deer

A tea-clipper of composite construction built in 1863 by Charles Connell & Co., Glasgow, as Yard No. 13. Dimensions 211'0"×33'2"×20'7" and tonnage 1016 GRT, 1016 GRT and 955 tons under deck. The forecastle was 31' long and the poop 42'. She had an elm bottom fastened with treenails and yellow metal bolts, teak planking from the turn of the bilge and iron topsides. The figurehead was of the godess "Diana". Originally equipped with Cunningham's patent roller-reefing topsails.

1863 December: Launched at the shipyard of Charles Connell & Co., Glasgow, for Walker, London. Assigned the Official British Reg. No. 48652 and signal VTPJ.
1863-1867: In command of Captain George Cobb late of the clipper ship Robin Hood.
1864: Was dis-masted on her maiden voyage and had to into Lisbon for repairs and was re-rigged with a plain single fore topsail and main double topsails.
1864 Aug 24 - Sep 25: Sailed from Shanghai to London in 102 days.
1866 April 16 - July 29: Sailed from London to Shanghai in 104 days.
1866 Sep 7 - Dec 28: Sailed from Shanghai to London in 112 days. Made three consecutive 24-hour runs of 312, 312 and 327 miles whilst crossing the Indian Ocean.
1867 Aug 13 - Oct 22: Sailed from Shanghai to London in 155 days under command of Ganzwyk. The passage time from Anjer was only 84 days.
1868-18__: In command of Captain Smith.
1868 July 26 - Nov 23: Sailed from Shanghai to London in 120 days under command of Captain James Smith. Had a close race with the tea-clippers Peter Denny and Douglas Castle from Gaspar Strait to Gravesend, all arriving on the same tide.
1869 July 28 - November 29: Sailed from Shanghai to London in 124 days.
1870 Sep 1 - Jan 3: Sailed from Shanghai to London in 124 days under command of Captain Cameron.
1866: Sold to Albion Shipping Co.
1871 March 23 - June 21: Sailed from Glasgow to Port Chalmers in 89 days.
1872 February 9 - May 9: Sailed from Glasgow to Port Chalmers in 88 days.
1872 December 21: Sailed from Glasgow for New Zealand. Met with heavy easterly gales in the Thames and sprung the rudder. Had to return to Glasgow for repairs.
1873 January 22 - May 1: Sailed from Glasgow to Port Chalmers in 99 days.
1873 December 10 - March 5: Sailed from Glasgow to Port Chalmers in 84 days.
1874 October 31 - January 20: Sailed from Glasgow to Port Chalmers in 81 days.
1875 November 4 - February 10: Sailed from Glasgow to Port Chalmers in 98 days.
1876 December 29 - March 29: Sailed from Glasgow to Port Chalmers in 90 days.
1878 December 31 - April 2: Sailed from Glasgow to Port Chalmers in 92 days.
1880 July 15 - October 15: Sailed from Glasgow to Port Chalmers in 92 days.
1881 June 8 - September 18: Sailed from Glasgow to Port Chalmers in 100 days.
1881 - 1882 January 30: Sailed from Otago to London [?] in 82 days.
1882 April 20 - July 7: Sailed from Glasgow to Port Chalmers in 77 days.
1882: Transferred with the rest of the twelve ships in the Albion fleet to the new company Shaw, Savill & Albion, London. The price paid for the Wild Deer was £ 14.227 10s.
1883 January 12: Left Glasgow for New Zealand with more than 300 emmigrants.
1883 January 12: Wrecked on the North Rock, Cloughey, County Down.

References:

Clipper ships, general references.
Brett, Henry: White Wings. Fifty Years of Sail in the New Zealand Trade 1850-1900.
The Brett Printing Company, Aukland, 1924. 8vo, 368 pp, ill.
Brett, Henry: White Wings. Founding of the Provinces and Old-Time Shipping Passenger Ships from 1840 to 1885.
The Brett Printing Company, Aukland, 1928. 8vo, 259 pp, 12 pl.

Updated 1998-04-07 by Lars Bruzelius

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