Appendix II RECORD PASSAGES OF THE CALIFORNIA CLIPPER SHIPS MADE IN 110 DAYS OR LESS FROM 1850 TO 1860, INCLUSIVE
Reading edition
1850
SHIP PORT OF DEPARTURE ARRIVAL AT SAN FRANCISCODAYS
CelestialNew YorkNovember 1104
Race HorseBostonNovember 24109
Samuel RussellNew YorkMay 1109
Sea WitchNew YorkJuly 2497
1851
ChallengeNew YorkOctober 29108
Flying CloudNew YorkAugust 3189
N. B. PalmerNew YorkAugust 21106
RavenBostonNovember 19105
Sea WitchNew YorkNovember 20110
SeamanNew YorkMarch 11107
Stag-HoundNew YorkMay 26107
SurpriseNew YorkMarch 1996
TyphoonNew YorkNovember 18106
WitchcraftNew YorkAugust 11103
1852
CelestialNew YorkFebruary 17106
CometNew YorkJanuary 13103
CourserBostonApril 28108
EclipseNew YorkApril 22104
Northern LightBostonMarch 8109
Sea WitchNew YorkDecember 8108
StaffordshireBostonAugust 13101
Sword-FishNew YorkFebruary 1090
Flying FishBostonFebruary 1798
John BertramBostonMarch 26105
Shooting StarBostonAugust 17105
White SquallNew YorkJuly 29110
Wild PigeonNew YorkJanuary 28104
Sovereign of the SeasNew YorkNovember 15103
1853
Bald EagleNew YorkApril 11107
ContestNew YorkFebruary 24108
ContestNew YorkOctober 2497
Flying CloudNew YorkAugust 12105
Flying DutchmanNew YorkJanuary 27104
Flying DutchmanNew YorkOctober 7106
Flying FishNew YorkFebruary 192
Golden Age (barque)BostonMay 31103
Golden GateNew YorkMarch 20102
HornetNew YorkAugust 12105
InvincibleNew YorkSeptember 9110
John GilpinNew YorkFebruary 293
MeteorBostonMarch 10110
OrientalNew YorkMay 7100
PhantomBostonApril 21104
Rebekah (barque)BaltimoreMay 10106
Sea SerpentNew YorkJune 1107
Sword-FishNew YorkMay 30105
Storm (barque)New YorkApril 10109
TornadoNew YorkMay 2109
Trade-WindNew YorkFebruary 24102
Westward HoBostonFebruary 1103
WitchcraftNew YorkJuly 8110
Winged RacerNew YorkMarch 30105
Young AmericaNew YorkAugust 29110
1854
ArcherNew YorkApril 29106
ChallengerBostonJune 9110
CourierBostonApril 28108
David BrownNew YorkMarch 2398
EagleNew YorkFebruary 16103
Eagle WingBostonApril 5106
Flying CloudNew YorkApril 2089
Golden CityNew YorkFebruary 8105
Herald of the MorningBostonMay 7106
HurricaneNew YorkSeptember 499
MatchlessBostonFebruary 8109
PamparoNew YorkJanuary 25105
PolynesiaNew YorkApril 10104
RingleaderBostonFebruary 8109
Romance of the SeasBostonMarch 2396
Samuel RussellNew YorkJanuary 20106
San FranciscoNew YorkFebruary 8105
Stag-HoundNew YorkAugust 14110
Westward HoNew YorkFebruary 28106
WitchcraftNew YorkAugust 1597
Young AmericaNew YorkOctober 20110
1855
Boston LightBostonApril 11102
CleopatraNew YorkMarch 4107
Don QuixoteBostonMarch 29108
ElectricNew YorkMarch 4109
Flying CloudNew YorkJune 6108
Flying FishBostonJanuary 10109
Flying FishBostonDecember 27105
Golden EagleNew YorkAugust 25106
Governor MortonNew YorkApril 2104
Greenfield (barque)New YorkMay 6110
Herald of the MorningNew YorkMay 1699
MeteorBostonAugust 30108
Neptune’s CarNew YorkApril 25100
Red RoverNew YorkJune 13107
TelegraphBostonApril 9109
Westward HoBostonApril 24100
1856
AntelopeNew YorkMarch 1597
David BrownNew YorkApril 28103
Don QuixoteBostonMay 31108
Electric SparkBostonApril 9106
FlyawayNew YorkApril 8106
Mary L. SuttonNew YorkJuly 20110
North WindBostonJuly 21110
PhantomNew YorkApril 29101
Red RoverNew YorkApril 7110
ReporterNew YorkMarch 27107
RingleaderBostonFebruary 3106
SweepstakesNew YorkMay 2594
TornadoNew YorkMarch 27110
Wild HunterBostonApril 29108
Young AmericaNew YorkOctober 14107
1857
Andrew JacksonNew YorkFebruary 28100
Flying DragonNew YorkApril 1097
Flying DutchmanNew YorkSeptember 10102
Flying FishBostonOctober 2100
John LandNew YorkJuly 30104
ReporterNew YorkApril 17110
Westward HoNew YorkMarch 26100
1858
Andrew JacksonNew YorkApril 27103
Dashing WaveNew YorkAugust 18107
Don QuixoteNew YorkMarch 4108
Esther MayBostonMay 19103
John LandNew YorkJuly 24108
TwilightNew YorkApril 16100
1859
Andrew JacksonNew YorkApril 5102
Robin HoodNew YorkMarch 25107
Sierra NevadaNew YorkDecember 1797
Young AmericaNew YorkJuly 24105
1860
Andrew JacksonNew YorkMarch 2389
ArcherNew YorkMarch 18106
LookoutNew YorkFebruary 20108
Mary L. SuttonNew YorkMay 12103
Ocean TelegraphNew YorkMarch 13109
White SwallowNew YorkAugust 7110
During the forty-five years that have elapsed since the close of the Civil War a large number of sailing ships have been built for the California trade, and it is a notable fact that only two of these vessels made the passage from an Atlantic port to San Francisco in less than one hundred days. The Seminole, built by Maxon & Fish at Mystic, Connecticut, in 1865, arrived at San Francisco from New York, March 10, 1866, in 96 days, and the Glory of the Seas, already mentioned as the last ship built by Donald McKay, made the same voyage, arriving at San Francisco, January 18, 1874, in 94 days.
The two most successful ships in after years were the David Crockett and Young America. Both were built in 1853, and both continued in the San Francisco trade until 1883, during which time the David Crockett made her best twelve passages from New York to San Francisco in an average of 109-7/12 days each, her best being 102 days in 1872. The Young America, during this period also made twelve passages in an average of 110-7/12 days each, her best being 102 days in 1880.
As these ships were by many years the oldest survivors of the California clippers, there was a good deal of rivalry between them, and their records show that they were very evenly matched. It should, however, be remembered that about the year 1860 their spars and canvas were considerably reduced and that they were fitted with double topsail yards, all of which hampered their speed in moderate weather. Indeed, they resembled two faded beauties who in their youth had been rival belles.