EXTRAORDINARY SAILING OF A CLYDE SHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6296, 21 January 1882, Page 7

EXTRAORDINARY SAILING OF A CLYDE SHIP.

The iron ship Macmillan, 1451 tens, Captain C. Grey, recently arrived at San Diego, California, performed some extraordinary sailing on her voyage from Flushing to'that port. Instead of going by the usual course round the Horn, when Captain Groy arrived in the southern latitude ho foHnd the weather very severe, .with a continuance of he&vy westerly gales, and he decided to take the route by Australia, passing through Bass's Straits, which course, though 1500 miles longer than the Horn, Captain Grey estimated would be run in as little time as would be occupied in bearing auainst "the'heavy gales, and he would besides save his sails and gear from the effects of such severe wsather. He accordingly shaped his course eastwards, and passed through Bass's Straits opposite Melbourne on the 74th day from the Lizard Point and 77th from Flushing. He crossed the equator in longitude 154 W., 96 days from Lizard, and 72 after having passed the line 27.40 W. From the equator in the Atlantic to the equator in the Pacific, the Macmillan sailed a distance of 14,424 miles, her average daily speed being over2oo miles. San Diego was made in 128 days from Flushing, the total distance run having been 21,988 miles, the average being over 171 miles per day, and this without the loss of a sail or spar. When it is considered the Macmillan had 2509 tons dead weight of railway iron and material on board, we think such sailing may be pronounced as unprecedented, and this vessel called one of the fastest ships afloat, as she is certainly the largest carrying iron sailing ship ever built! Tho Macmillan was built by Messrs. A. Macmillan & Son, Dumbarton, aud is owned by her builders.