Torrens

An iron fullrigged ship built in 1875 by James Lang, Sunderland. Dimensions 222'1"×38'1"×21'5" and 1335 GRT, 1276 NRT and 1098 tons under deck.

1875 October: Launched at the shipyard of James Lang, Sunderland, for Elder & Co. Assigned the official British Reg. No. 73595 and signal WTJL. Captain H.R. Angel who also supervised the building became the first master of the ship.
1875 December 12 - March 7: Sailed from Plymouth to Adelaide in 85 days.
1876 October 29 - January 18: Sailed from Plymouth to Adelaide in 81 days.
1877 November 4 - January 11: Sailed from Plymouth to Adelaide in 68 days.
1878 November 2 - January 18: Sailed from Plymouth to Adelaide in 77 days.
1879 October 30 - January 8: Sailed from Plymouth to Adelaide in 70 days.
1880 November 2 - January 6: Sailed from Plymouth to Adelaide in 65 days.
1881 October 29 - January 8: Sailed from Plymouth to Adelaide in 71 days.
1882 October 29 - January 16: Sailed from Plymouth to Adelaide in 79 days.
1883 October 29 - January 7: Sailed from Plymouth to Adelaide in 70 days.
1884 November 2 - January 25: Sailed from Plymouth to Adelaide in 84 days.
1885 November 1 - January 8: Sailed from Plymouth to Adelaide in 68 days.
1886 November 2 - January 15: Sailed from Plymouth to Adelaide in 74 days.
1887 November 8 - January 14: Sailed from Plymouth to Adelaide in 67 days.
1888 November 1 - January 14: Sailed from Plymouth to Adelaide in 74 [?] days.
1889 November 7 - January 26: Sailed from Plymouth to Adelaide in 80 days.
1890: Captain Cope replaced Captain Angel.
1890 October 29: Sailed from London for Adelaide.
1890: Lost her foremast and main topmast in 6°N, 27°W and had to put into Pernambuco under jury rig for repairs.
1891 April 26: Arrived at Adelaide 179 days out from London.
1891 November 25 - February 28: Sailed from Plymouth to Adelaide in 95 days.
1892 October 25 - January 30: Sailed from London to Adelaide in 97 days.
1893 November 3 - January 26: Sailed from London to Adelaide in 84 days. The author Joseph Conrad served as mate for a voyage.
1894 October 14 - January 13: Sailed from London to Adelaide in 91 days.
1895 September 18 - December 6: Sailed from London to Adelaide in 79 days.
1896: Captain F. Angel took over command of the ship.
1897 October 30 - January 15: Sailed from London to Adelaide in 77 days.
1898 October 25: Sailed from London for Adelaide. Collided with an iceberg and was partially dismasted but was able to make her destination in 103 days out.
1899 October 31 - February 5: Sailed from London to Adelaide in 97 days.
1901 October 24 - February 2: Sailed from London to Adelaide in 101 days.
1902 October 26 - January 17: Sailed from London to Adelaide in 83 days.
1903 April 23: Sailed from Adelaide for London. A vessel which cut across the bows of the Torrens was sunk while under tow in the Channel.
1903: Sold to Italian oweners.
1910: Broken up a Genoa.

References:

Square-rigged ships, general references.
Lubbock, Basil: The Colonial Clippers.
Brown, Ferguson & Son, Glasgow, 1948 (2nd).

Updated 1997-04-25 by Lars Bruzelius

Sjöhistoriska Samfundet | The Maritime History Virtual Archives.