Transit

An experimental four-masted barquentine designed by Captain Richard Hall Gower and built in 1800 at Itchmor, Sussex. The hull was framed by ordinary house carpenters, while it was planked by shipwrights. Dimensions: 92'(keel)×22'×11', 195 tons burthen.

1800 May 10

Launched at Itchmor, Sussex.

1800 September 18

Sailed from London for Lisbon, but was forced to return to London due rig damaged caused by heavy weather in the Channel.

"The Transit, five-masted vessel, was the only one of the outward bound from the Downs which persevered in proceeding to Portsmouth during the late gales, which place she would have fetched, notwithstanding it blew so hard from the South-west, as she was within seven miles of it. Unfortunately she carried away several of her sprits, which obliged her to put back. This new-constructed vessel rode out the gales in the Downs at single anchor, with ease, while several others were driving. The Deal Pilots considered her a very safe sea boat." [The Times, October 6, 1800]

1801 Spring

Changed to four-masted barquentine rig.

1801 July 23 -

. . .

"Late last night arrived the four-masted ship Transit, Captain Gower, having been cruising off the Isle of Whight to see whether the Transit would sail well. The Transit beat her to windward seven miles in eight hours."

[The Times, July 25, 1801]

After this, as might be expected, we hear nothing more of the Transit; but Mr. Gower has at least the satisfaction of knowing that his principle of construction is adopted, to a limited extent, with great advantage, in some of the fastest merchant schooners that navigate the North Sea.

[George Bayley: His Majesty's Ship Transit, The Mechanics Magazine Vol. 10 (1828), p 120]

1801 August 27 - September 25

Sailed in convoy from Portsmouth to the Tagus where she arrived after having been weathering a storm at Torbay for a week.

1807 November 17

"Extract of a letter from Captain Liston, of the Transit, bound to St Domingo, dated 17th November, Cape Finisterre distant 140 miles, to his owners, Messers St Barbe, Green and Bignell: 'Having fallen in with two large Portuguese ships, laden with wine, for London, I take this opportunity of informing you, that, about 20 leagues to the Westward of Scilly, we fell in with a French privateer which chased us within gunshot; we shortened sail, put our broadside to her, fired two shots, when she made off. I am sorry it blew a gale, otherwise should have had a chance of taking her". [The Times, December 11, 1807]

1810

Stranded on a reef off the SW end of the Island of Heneaga. [Lloyd's List, December 18]

Select Bibliography:

[Fore-and-aft method of rigging explained]. Naval Chronicle, Vol. II (1798), pp 422-424. "... and to make the fore-and-aft sails stand at the same angle with the wind, both below and aloft, which cannot be done in the present fore-and-aft vessels."
Naval Chronicle, Vol. IV (1800), pp 51-52.
A Supplement to the Practical Seamanship: ... with an Appendix.
J. Mawman, London, 1807. 8vo, 15,5x8,5 cm, (4), 208 pp, ill., 7 plates. Containing: I. Observations on the present "Construction of Ships", with an Account of the Four-masted Vessel "Transit". [pp 1-95, ill., 3 plates]. II. ...
A Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Seamanship, Together with a System of Naval Signals. The Whole Forming a Useful Compendium to the Naval Officer; to Instruct Him when Young and to Remind Him when Old. Third Edition, Corrected and Enlarged. By Richard Hall Gower, Late an Officer in the Sea-Service of the East-India Company, and Author of the Supplement to this work; Containing original observations on marine surveying, together with an account of the four-masted vessel Transit.
Printed for Wilkie and Robinson; J. Walker, Scatcherd and Letterman; Black, Parry & Kingsbury, Lackington, Allen & Co.; and W. Heather, London, 1808 (3rd). 8vo, 16x8,5 cm, xxvii, (1), 242, (2) pp, 1 ill., 3 diagr., 50 figures. With a volvelle model of a ship. First edition 1793 and the second in 1796.
A narrative of a mode pursued by the British Government to effect Improvments in Naval Arcitecture.
Printed by T. Davidson and sold by J. Mawman, London, 1811. 8vo, 16.5x8.5 cm, (2), 126 pp, (2) pp adv., ill., 3 plates. Appendices: - Observations and instructions relating to the management of the vessel constructed on Mr. Gower's principle, [pp 109-121, ill.] - ...
Observation on the present Construction of Ships, and an Account of the four-masted vessel Transit.
1814.
Original Observations regarding the inability of ships to perform their duty with promptitude and safety, with suggestions for their improvement, as Practiced on board the Transit an experimental vessel, invented, built, and commanded by the Author. Also the description of a propeller or a floating anchor, and that of a life catamaran both instruments of novel structure and simple formation, being well adapted to secure the safety of shipping, and to protect the lives of seamen. By Richard Hall Gower, Esq. Late an Officer in the Sea Service of the East India Company, and Author of Several Works on Seamanship.
Printed at the Albion press, by S. Piper, Ipswich, (c1835). 4to, 20x15 cm, v, (vi), (3-), 94 pp, ill., 6 in part fold. plates. Works relating to Richard Hall Gower and the "Transit" by other authors:
anonymous: [No title]. Naval Chronicle, Vol. III (1800), p 412 & 504.
Cairo, Robert F.: Samuel Bentham Forgotten Shipbuilder and Engineer.
Nautical Research Journal Vol. 23, Washington, 1977-79. pp 23:115-128, 189-196, 24:29-36, 125-135, 25:13-25, 200-211, 26:11-17, ill. About the first "Transit".
Chaplin, W.R.: The Four-Masted Ship Transit.
The Mariner's Mirror Vol. 19, London, 1933. pp 312-326, 2 plates.
Mainwaring, G.E.: The Transit of 1800.
The Mariner's Mirror Vol. IX (1924), pp 222-223. Answer to Query No. 9:15.
O'Starr, Max: The Story of Richard Hall Gower.
Nautical Research Journal 18, Washington, 1971. pp 147-161, ill.
Salisbury, William: The Shipbuilding Bayleys.
The Mariner's Mirror Vol. 51, London, 1965. pp 290 About the second "Transit".
Cairo, Robert F.: Samuel Bentham Forgotten Shipbuilder and Engineer.
Nautical Research Journal vol. 23, Washington, 1977-79. pp 115-128,189-196, 24:29-36, 125-135, 25:13-25, 200-211, 26:11-17, ill.
Chaplin, W.R.: The Four-Masted Ship Transit.
The Mariner's Mirror Vol. 19, London, 1933. pp 312-326, 2 plates.
Gower, Richard Hall: (Fore-and-aft method of rigging explained).
Naval Chronicle, Vol. II (1798), pp 422-424.
"… and to make the fore-and-aft sails stand at the same angle with the wind, both below and aloft, which cannot be done in the present fore-and-aft vessels."
Gower, Richard Hall: ( ? ).
Naval Chronicle, Vol. IV (1800), pp 51-52.
Gower, Richard Hall: A narrative of a mode pursued by the British Government to effect Improvments in Naval Arcitecture.
Printed by T. Davidson and sold by J. Mawman, London, 1811. 8vo, 16.5x8.5 cm, (2), 126 pp, (2) pp adv., ill., 3 plates.
Appendices:
- Observations and instructions relating to the management of the vessel constructed on Mr. Gower's principle, [pp 109-121, ill.].
- Description of the propeller, or floating anchor, [pp 121-124, ill.].
- A prospectus of the objects which are comprehended by Mr. Gower's System of Naval Architceture, [pp 125-126]. Gower was the author of a work on seamanship, and here presents an account of the Transit, a vessel of his design and of unusual construction, meant to be particulary weatherly. It is a hard-chine, fourmasted barquentine, without a lower course on the mainmast, which is the foremast. The vessel and its trials are descibed in some detail, as are Gower's trials with the Navy Board.
References: National Maritime Museum*; The Mariners' Museum; Essex-Peabody Museum.
Gower, Richard Hall: Original Observations regarding the inability of ships to perform their duty with promptitude and safety, with suggestions for their improvement, as Practiced on board the Transit an experimental vessel, invented, built, and commanded by the Author. Also the description of a propeller or a floating anchor, and that of a life catamaran both instruments of novel structure and simple formation, being well adapted to secure the safety of shipping, and to protect the lives of seamen. By Richard Hall Gower, Esq. Late an Officer in the Sea Service of the East India Company, and Author of Several Works on Seamanship.
Printed at the Albion press, by S. Piper, Ipswich, (c1835). 4to, 20x15 cm, v, (vi), (3-), 94 pp, ill., 6 in part fold. plates.
The Mariners' Museum assigns the date 1833.
References: Private Collection*; The Mariners' Museum.
Mainwaring, G.E.: The Transit of 1800.
The Mariner's Mirror Vol. IX (1924), pp 222-223.
Answer to Query No. 9:15.
O'Starr, Max: The Story of Richard Hall Gower.
Nautical Research Journal 18, Washington, 1971. pp 147-161, ill.
Salisbury, William: The Shipbuilding Bayleys.
The Mariner's Mirror Vol. 51, London, 1965. p 290.

Updated 1995-10-28 by Lars Bruzelius

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