SAILING SHIPS REVIEWED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 231, 1 October 1935, Page 10

SAILING SHIPS REVIEWED.

ECHOES FROM THE PAST.

Many thrilling episodes from the past were recalled to Auckland Rotarians yesterday, when Captain H. H. Sergeant, harbourmaster at Auckland, gave an illustrated address on the subject of "Sailing Ships." The speaker had arranged for the presentation of a large number of lantern slides and between each ho gave interesting descriptions of most of the vessels shown, together with first-hand information in regard to sailing requirements, as well as notable facts in the history of the old-time clippers.. . , The range of the pictures reproduced was wide, enough to include vessels used by very early navigators, namely, tlic British Coracles, early Viking ships and the Roman galleys. Then followed pic-, tures of many of the early 6hips_ that traded to New,. Zealand, with details of the sails, carried and other well-known sailers. 1 Of those great rivals the Cutty Sark j and Thermopylae, both shown on the same screen, Captain Sergeant said they were amongst the fastest known, though the speed record was attributed the Lightning, which was credited with 436 miles in a day's run. Ihe Cutty Saik and Thermopylae when travelling under full sail, presented a magnificent spectacle, and they were capable of from 17 to 18 knots. Later came the James Bain, built for the Australian trade. This vessel, though only 26(>ft in length, left Liverpool on one occasion with 1200. emigrants, so it could be understood i thaT the passengers were closely packed, j It was claimed that this vessel had logged 21 knots one night. One of the finest pictures shown was that of two clippers in the tea trade —the Ariel and the Taiping—arriving at London from Foo Chow. After racing for 98 days they arrived almost simultaneously at their destination.