Engineering:Swordfish (clipper)
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States
| |
| Name: | Swordfish |
| Owner: | Barclays & Livingston |
| Builder: | William H. Webb |
| Launched: | 1851 |
| Fate: |
Wrecked at the mouth of Yangtze Kiang when her achors were fouled, July 1862 Wreck sold at auction, 26 July 1862 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Extreme clipper |
| Tonnage: | 1,036 t (1,020 long tons; 1,142 short tons) |
| Length: | 169.6 ft (51.7 m) |
| Beam: | 36.6 ft (11.2 m) |
| Draft: | 20 ft (6.1 m) |
| Notes: | [1] |
Swordfish was an 1851 clipper ship which has been called William H. Webb’s masterpiece. She is known for her record-breaking race to San Francisco with the clipper Flying Fish.
Record voyage
“On her first passage out to San Francisco a race was arranged for large stakes between her and the Flying-fish, a Boston record-breaker, built by the great designer, Donald McKay. The Sword-fish won, making the trip in ninety-two days,—the second best record ever made,—her rival taking ninety-eight days.” [2]
The race took place in the fall the Sword Fish sailed out of Boston and the Flying Fish out of New York. The Flying Fish led to the equator by 4 days, but they both went round the Horn neck and neck. The Sword Fish would do the journey in 90 days, the Flying Fish in 98 1/2. Her career best record time to San Francisco was 92 days.[3]
References
- ↑ Bruzelius, Lars (1998-08-13). "Sailing Ships: Swordfish (1851)". The Maritime History Virtual Archives. http://www.bruzelius.info/Nautica/Ships/Clippers/Swordfish%281851%29.html. Retrieved Aug 4, 2020.
- ↑ Bank of the Manhattan Company, Walton Advertising and Printing Company (1915). Ships and shipping of old New York: a brief account of the interesting .... Boston, Mass.: International Marine. p. 56. ISBN 0-07-014501-6. https://books.google.com/books?id=6yy9VCMxK7cC&q=swordfish+&pg=PA56.
- ↑ Clarke, Captain Arthur H.; Howe, Dr. O. T. (1913). Some Ships of the Clipper Era. State Street Trust Company. p. 20. https://archive.org/stream/someshipsofclipp00stat/someshipsofclipp00stat#page/20/mode/1up/search/sword. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
Template:List of Ships Built by William H. WebbTemplate:Clipper ships
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