PART II.
Reading edition
(A) ABSTRACT OF LOG OF ‘SUNBEAM,’ PREPARED BY THOMAS ALLNUTT BRASSEY.
(B) OUTLINE OF VOYAGE, REPRINTED FROM ‘THE TIMES’ OF DECEMBER 15TH, 1887.
PORTSMOUTH to BOMBAY.
Date Remarks Baro- meter Temperature (Fahr.) Latitude Longitude Distance Wind
Water Air Steam Sail
8 a.m. 8 a.m. Noon 6 p.m.
1886 ° ° ° ° ° ´ ° ´
Nov. 16 6 p.m. left Portsmouth. 8 p.m. arrived Cowes — — — — — — — 12 — —
17 9 a.m. left Cowes. 10 a.m. arrived Southampton. 6 p.m. sailed for Plymouth — — — — 52·6 — — 10 — —
18 ... ... ... 30·12 — 51 52 53·5 50.26 N 2.43 W 30 73 NW 5
19 8 a.m. arrived Plymouth. 2 p.m. sailed for Gibraltar 30·27 — 61 61 59 50.22 N 4.08 W — 82 SW 3 to 4
20 8 a.m. rounded Ushant 30·30 — 59 59 58 48.18 N 5.42 W 126 23 SW 3 to 5
21 ... ... ... 30·35 — 59·5 61 60·5 45.02 N 8.22 W 152 40 SW ½ S 2
22 Noon, Cape Finisterre abeam 30·26 — 58 61 61 42.56 N 9.26 W 23 207 ESE 5
23 ... ... ... 30·26 60 62 62 62·5 40.25 N 10.07 W 45 121 E by N 3 to 4
24 ... ... ... 30·20 63 61 61 61·5 37.33 N 9.28 W — 185 E 2 to 4
25 ... ... ... 30·08 67·5 62 61·5 60 36.26 N 7.52 W — 115 ENE 3
26 3.30 p.m. arrived Gibraltar 29·98 65 59 60 60 35.52 N 5.40 W 36 111 E by S 7
27 ... ... ... — 63 61 61·5 61 — — 30 — —
28 ... ... ... — 62 61 62 61 — — — — —
29 11 a.m. sailed from Gibraltar for Port Said — 61·5 61·5 62 62 — — — — —
30 ... ... ... 30·09 61·5 61·5 61·5 62 36.20 N 2.27 W 90 86 W 4. Calm
Dec. 1 ... ... ... 29·98 63·5 60 55 57 36.54 N 1.04 E — 185 NNW to NNE 6 to 2
2 Called off Algiers 30·00 62·5 57 55 58 36.50 N 3.11 E 48 74 Variable
3 ... ... ... 29·97 63 60 55 61 37.27 N 6.23 E — 158 SW to N 3 to 6
4 ... ... ... 29·91 65 57 53 55 37.35 N 9.59 E — 179 NW to NNW 3 to 7
5 ... ... ... 29·97 65·5 60·5 61 60 36.15 N 14.25 E — 240 NW 5 to 9
6 2 p.m. called off Malta 30·11 66 61 66 64 36.35 N 17.07 E — 155 S to WNW 3 to 4
7 ... ... ... 30·13 68 62 67 65 34.33 N 20.14 E 147 16 Calm
8 Heavy rain. No observations 29·90 68·5 67 66 64 33.19 N 23.57 E 198 — Calm
9 ... ... ... 29·66 71 65 66·5 65 32.46 N 28.14 E — 222 SW to W 6 to 9
10 Noon, anchored Port Said 30·05 70 64 66 62 31.18 N 32.21 E 4 238 W to WNW 6 to 7
11 8 a.m. left Port Said. 8 p.m. anchored off Ismailia — 65 56 64 60 — — 24 — —
12 6.15 a.m. weighed anchor. 3 p.m. reached Suez. 5 p.m. sailed for Aden — 63 54·5 70 63 — — 66 — —
13 ... ... ... 30·07 72 64 71 69 27.42 N 33.57 E 18 168 NNW to SW 4
14 ... ... ... 30·18 75 68 72 72 24.53 N 35.57 E — 212 W to NW 3 to 6
15 ... ... ... 30·15 78 73 75 75·5 22.31 N 37.38 E — 169 N to NNW 2 to 5
16 ... ... ... 30·15 81 77 79·5 79 20.18 N 38.32 E — 209 N to NNW 4
17 ... ... ... 30·08 81·5 80 82·5 82 17.04 N 40.37 E 183 13 Calm
18 ... ... ... 29·98 80 80 81·5 81 14.36 N 42.35 E 188 — S ½ E 3
19 4 p.m. Anchored in Assab Bay 30·05 79 79 80 79.5 13.14 N 42.37 E 114 — SE to S by E 5 to 7
20 6.30 a.m. weighed anchor. 9 p.m. passed through Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb 30·00 78·5 78 79·5 79 13.09 N 43.07 E 50 — SSE 6
21 ... ... ... 30·09 78 78·5 80 79 11.59 N 44.07 E 111 16 E to S by E 5
22 10 a.m. anchored in Aden inner harbour. Coaled, and sailed at 7 p.m. 30·18 79 80 83 80 12.46 N 44.59 E 69 68 E by N 4
23 ... ... ... 30·08 78·5 79 81·5 79·5 12.52 N 46.44 E 110 — E 3 to 5
24 ... ... ... 30·18 78 78 80 78·5 13.53 N 49.09 E 168 — ENE 3
25 ... ... ... 30·15 75·5 75 76 76 14.49 N 51.50 E 178 — ENE 3 to 4
26 ... ... ... 30·16 77·5 75 76 75 15.19 N 53.43 E 162 — NE by E 6
27 ... ... ... 30·21 78 74 76 75 15.41 N 55.02 E 68 86 NNE to E by N 6
28 ... ... ... 30·11 78 75 76 75 14.50 N 57.27 E — 149 NE 6
29 ... ... ... 30·02 77 75 76 75 14.09 N 59.36 E — 133 NNE 4
30 ... ... ... 30·08 78 75 77 76 13.41 N 62.11 E 16 146 NE to NNE 3
31 ... ... ... 30·07 78·5 75 77 76 15.01 N 65.02 E 190 — NE 2
1887 Jan. 1 ... ... ... 30·08 78·5 75 77 76 16.22 N 68.03 E 192 — NE 1
2 ... ... ... 30·08 80 75·5 80 77·5 17.49 N 71.08 E 173 28 NNE to N by W 3
3 4 a.m. made the Prongs Light. Lay-to until daylight. 3 p.m. arrived Bombay — 78·5 76 77·5 76·5 — — 1 139 N to NNE
BOMBAY to KURRACHI, RANGOON, BORNEO, and MACASSAR.
Date Remarks Baro- meter Temperature (Fahr.) Latitude Longitude Distance Wind
Water Air Steam Sail
8 a.m. 8 a.m. Noon 6 p.m.
1887 ° ° ° ° ° ´ ° ´
Jan. 6 2 a.m. left Bombay 30·05 78·5 76 79 76·5 19.26 N 71.55 E 47 22 NNE 4
7 ... ... ... 30·04 76·5 73·5 76 73·5 20.46 N 70.16 E — 135 NE by E to NW 3 to 5
8 Off Poubundu, Kattywar 30·08 75 71 75 73 21.34 N 69.30 E — 115 N to NNE 1 to 3
9 ... ... ... 30·08 74·5 73 76 73 23.06 N 67.43 E 96 54 NW to W by S 1 to 3
10 6.10 a.m. arrived Kurrachi — 70 67 69 67·5 — — 132 — SW to E 4 to 6
From January 10th to February 7th at Kurrachi — — — — — — — — — —
Feb. 7 6 p.m. left Kurrachi — 65 65 65 65 — — — — —
8 ... ... ... 30·18 70 65 69 66 22.20 N 67.55 E — 168 W to NE by E 4 to 6
9 9 p.m. made Spit Light Bombay. Hove-to 30·11 74·5 68 71 70 19.48 N 71.22 E — 268 NE 4 to 7
10 3 p.m. arrived Bombay — 74 70 73·5 73 — — — 115 NE by N to N by E 4
11 ... ... ... — 72 67 74 73 — — — 10 —
From February 11th to February 22nd at Bombay — — — — — — — — — —
22 6.45 a.m. left Bombay. 11 p.m. lay-to off Rajpuri — 77 79 81 79·5 — — — 20 —
23 8 a.m. anchored off Jinjeera Fort. 1 p.m. weighed anchor 29·93 79 80 83 81 18.17 N 72.55 E — 87 NW to NNE 1 to 4
24 ... ... ... 30·00 80·5 80 81 81 17.35 N 73.00 E — 50 NW 3. Calm
25 8 p.m. brought up in Aguada Roads 30·00 82 80 82 81 16.09 N 73.21 E — 85 NNW to NNE 1 to 3
26 To Goa in steam launch. 8 p.m. weighed anchor — 82·5 81 83 81·5 — — — 57 NNW 4
27 ... ... ... 29·96 83 82 83·5 82·5 13.39 N 73.41 E — 115 WNW to NNW 3
28 ... ... ... 29·97 83 83 84·5 82·5 12.55 N 74.28 E — 75 S 2 to N 1
Mar. 1 ... ... ... 29·98 83·5 83 86 82·5 11.33 N 75.13 E — 95 Variable
2 ... ... ... 30·02 83·5 83·5 85 82 9.59 N 76.00 E — 106 NNW to WNW 1 to 3
3 ... ... ... 30·12 83 82 84 82·5 8.13 N 76.48 E — 120 W by S 4 to NW 1
4 ... ... ... 30·05 81·5 81·5 83·5 82 7.38 N 76.08 E — 88 NW. Calm
5 9 a.m. arrived Colombo 30·00 82 80·5 83 80 6.56 N 79.50 E 98 12 Calm
From March 5th to March 8th at Colombo — — — — — — — — — —
8 1.15 a.m. left Colombo 30·02 82·5 80 81·5 81 5.56 N 80.25 E 86 — Variable
9 7.30 p.m. anchored off Trincomalee dockyard 30·09 82 80·5 82 81·5 7.50 N 81.44 E 184 — ”
10 8.15 p.m. left Trincomalee — 82 80·5 83 81 — — 60 — —
11 ... ... ... 30·05 81·5 80 83·5 82 9.45 N 83.04 E 140 — Calm
12 ... ... ... 30·07 81·5 81 83 81·5 10.50 N 86.00 E 184 — ENE 2
13 ... ... ... 30·07 82 81·5 83·5 81·5 12.17 N 88.55 E 195 — ENE 2
14 4 p.m. made the Andamans 30·05 81·5 79 80 79 13.28 N 91.49 E 170 10 Calm. N by W 3
15 8 a.m. made Great Coco 30·05 81·5 79 79·5 79 14.06 N 93.29 E — 120 NNW 2
16 Midnight anchored at mouth of Irrawaddy River 30·01 82 80 83 81 15.28 N 95.40 E — 150 NNW to W by N 1 to 4
17 6 a.m. weighed anchor. 10.30 anchored at Rangoon 29·95 83 84 89 86 16.45 N 96.09 E 40 60 —
18 11.30 p.m. left Rangoon — 83·5 83 87 88 — — — — —
19 1.30 p.m. anchored off Amherst — 81 81 84 82 — — 109 — —
20 9 a.m. weighed. 1 p.m. anchored off Moulmein — * 80·5 87 82·5 — — 50 — —
21 At Moulmein — 81 86 82·5 — — — — —
22 1.30 p.m. left Moulmein. 5.30 p.m. passed out of river — 80 82 81 — — — — —
23 ... ... ... 30·06 82 83 82 15.33 N 97.13 E 40 60 S by E to WSW 2
24 ... ... ... 30·05 82 84 84 14.32 N 97.26 E — 101 SW to WSW
25 ... ... ... 30·02 82 85·5 83 11.41 N 97.14 E 130 40 Calm. E 4
26 11 p.m. passed Sayer's Islands 29·98 82 85 84 9.19 N 97.01 E — 160 ENE to SE by E 3 to 5
27 6 a.m. made The Brothers 29·95 83 84 83 7.05 N 98.16 E 139 11 SE 5 to N 1
28 2 a.m. made Penang Light 29·92 84 84·5 83 5.01 N 100.02 E 170 — S by E 4
29 In Macassar Strait 30·02 83 84 82 2.35 N 101.28 E 188 — S by E
30 8 a.m. arrived Singapore — 82 84 83 — — 175 — Calms and light airs
31 3 p.m. weighed. 7 p.m. arrived Johore — 82 83 82 — — — —
Apr. 1 11 a.m. weighed. 3 p.m. anchored Singapore — 83 85 84 — — 74 —
2 2 a.m. left Singapore. 6 p.m. Barren Island abeam 30·03 88 85 84·5 1.26 N 105.36 E 105 — SW 2
3 10 p.m. anchored off Tanjong Po 30·05 83 85 84 2.04 N 109.10 E 225 — Calms and light airs
4 6.30 a.m. weighed, and proceeded up Kuching River. 10 a.m. anchored off Sarawak. 7 p.m. sailed — 83 83·5 83·5 — — 113 —
5 ... ... ... 29·97 83 84 83 3.48 N 112.04 E — — Calms and light airs
6 7 a.m. made land; set by current 30 miles to ENE. 2 p.m. anchored Victoria Harbour, Labuan — 83 85 82 — — 230 —
7 7 a.m. weighed. 9 a.m. anchored off mouth of Brunei River. 5 p.m. weighed. — 83 84·5 83·5 — — 40 —
8 6 a.m. fine view of Kina Balu, 13,000 ft. 4 p.m. anchored Kudat 29·95 84 86 85 6.56 N 116.34 E 160 — NE 2
9 6.30 a.m. left Kudat. 4.30 p.m. touched on coral patch, 6° 40´N. 117° 52´ E. Midnight arrived Sandakan — 82 85 82·5 In Millewalle Channel 87 — SE 1 to 2
10 At Sandakan — — — — — — 100 — Calm
11
12
12 9.30 p.m. left Sandakan — 81 84 82 — — — — —
13 6 p.m. anchored in Darvel Bay, off Silam — 82 85 83 83·5 4.57 N 118.47 E 135 — Calm
14 At Silam — — 82·5 86 83 — — 54 —
15 8.45 a.m. left Silam. 9 p.m. entered Celebes Sea — — 83 84 84 4.40 N 118.34 E 32 —
16 ... ... ... 29·95 — 83 84·5 84 2.27 N 119.30 E 235 — NW 2
17 7.15 a.m. crossed the line 29·92 — 86 87·5 86 0.51 S 118.50 E 207 — Calm
18 8 a.m. off Cape Mandai. 11 p.m. hove-to off Spennar di Archipelago 29·89 — 84 87 85 4.14 S — 211 —
19 12.15 p.m. arrived Macassar — — 83 85·5 84 — — 144 —
* No temperature of water taken.
MACASSAR to ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
Date Remarks Baro- meter Temperature (Fahr.) Latitude Longitude Distance Wind
Water Air Steam Sail
8 a.m. 8 a.m. Noon 6 p.m.
1887 ° ° ° ° ° ´ ° ´
Apr. 20 8 p.m. left Macassar — — — — — — — — — —
21 ... ... ... 29·91 — 84 85·5 85 6.00 S 118.34 E 63 23 N 3 to 5
22 4 p.m. entered Allas Strait 29·87 — 85 83 84 7.56 S 116.56 E — 174 NW to W by S 3 to 5
23 ... ... ... 29·92 — 81·5 81 80·5 9.52 S 116.39 E 66 62 W to SW by W 3 to 7
24 ... ... ... 30·02 — 80 80·5 80 11.52 S 116.39 E — 127 S by W to W 3 to 5
25 6 p.m. slight showers. Picked up trade wind from S by E 30·05 — 80 80 80 13.59 S 114.52 E 158 8 Calm
26 ... ... ... 30·02 — 79·5 81 80 15.24 S 113.10 E 36 104 SSE
27 ... ... ... 29·96 — 78·5 78·5 78 16.56 S 111.32 E — 131 SE to S by E 3
28 ... ... ... 30·01 — 76·5 77 77 18.43 S 109.24 E — 148 S to SE by S 4 to 5
29 ... ... ... 30·03 — 76 75 74·5 20.25 S 107.31 E — 143 SSE to SE by S 3 to 4
30 ... ... ... 30·12 — 72 73·5 72·5 22.27 S 105.35 E — 162 S by E to SE 3 to 5
May 1 ... ... ... 30·18 — 69 70·5 69 24.39 S 104.14 E — 153 SE by S to SE 4 to 6
2 ... ... ... 30·23 — 67 68·5 68 26.46 S 103.38 E — 131 SE to ESE 2 to 6
3 ... ... ... 30·19 — 67 67 66·5 29.02 S 103.02 E — 140 SE to SE by E 2 to 4
4 5 p.m. spoke 'Liguria' of Orient Line 30·20 — 64 65 64 30.22 S 104.20 E 86 40 Variable
5 Moderate gale with heavy squalls 30·10 — 62 60 60 31.29 S 105.48 E — 136 WSW to SSW 7 to 10
6 ... ... ... 30·10 — 60 60·5 60 32.28 S 108.06 E — 144 SW to SSW 7 to 4
7 ... ... ... 30·22 64 62 62·5 61 33.12 S 110.30 E 7 122 SW 2. Calm
8 ... ... ... 30·19 63·5 60 62 61 34.47 S 113.54 E 136 58 Calm. W 5
9 10 a.m. made West Point Howe. 4 p.m. arrived Albany, K.G. Sound 30·21 63 59 59 58 — — 33 181 W to SW 4 to 5
9th to 17th at Albany — — — — — — — — — —
17 11.15 a.m. weighed anchor — 61 59 66 64 — — 6 — —
18 ... ... ... 30·03 61 63·5 66 64 35.38 S 119.54 E 10 100 E by N to NNW 4
19 ... ... ... 30·10 60·5 63 66·5 64 36.23 S 122.10 E — 120 ENE to N by W 4
20 ... ... ... 30·18 60 63 67 64 36.25 S 125.13 E — 148 NNW to NNE 3
21 ... ... ... 30·15 60 58 63 59 35.59 S 127.56 E — 135 W to NW 2 to 4
22 1 to 3 p.m. blowing heavily 30·12 61 63 66 63·5 35.55 S 132.07 E — 206 WSW to WNW 5 to 9
23 7 a.m. made Kangaroo Island. 7.30 p.m. hove-to off Glenelg 30·19 63 62 64·5 61·5 35.30 S 137.10 E — 265 W to WSW 8 to 6
24 7.30 a.m. anchored off Glenelg — 61 56 63 60 — — — 95 —
ADELAIDE to MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, and PORT DARWIN.
Date Remarks Baro- meter Temperature (Fahr.) Latitude Longitude Distance Wind
Water Air Steam Sail
8 a.m. 8 a.m. Noon 6 p.m.
1887 ° ° ° ° ° ´ ° ´
May 26 11 a.m. left Glenelg. 3 p.m. arrived Port Adelaide — 60 59 64 61 — — 23 — —
May 26th to June 3rd at Adelaide — — — — — — — — — —
June 3 7 a.m. left Port Adelaide — 60 52 50 50 — — 14 8 —
4 2 a.m. laid to. 9.30 a.m. rounded Cape Willoughby 29·94 59 48 49 48 36.06 S 138.23 E — 103 SSW to W by N 4 to 7
5 Midnight, made Cape Otway light 29·84 57 47·5 47 47 38.57 S 140.55 E — 200 S by W to W by S 4 to 8
6 Heavy gale. 3 p.m. arrived Williamstown 29·63 56·5 40 44 45 38.08 S 144.48 E — 225 NW by W to SW 7 to 9
7th to 29th at Melbourne — — — — — — — — 29 —
29 9 a.m. left Williamstown — — — — — — — — — —
30 9.30 a.m. rounded Wilson's Promontory 30·20 — — 55 — 39.03 S 146.42 E — 145 NE by N to NW
July 1 5 p.m. rounded Cape Howe 30·00 — — 59 — 37.50 S 149.31 E 143 10 NE
2 ... ... ... 30·05 — — 59 — 35.35 S 150.30 E 142 8 NNE to NW by N
3 10 a.m. arrived Sydney — — — — — — — 7 113 NW by W to WSW 3
July 3rd to 18th at Sydney — — — — — — — — — —
18 5 p.m. left Sydney — 5 59·5 66 63·5 — — — — —
19 7 a.m. arrived Newcastle — — 58 70 60 — — 4 65 West
20 7.30 a.m. left Newcastle — — — — — 32.43 S 152.19 E — 25 NW 3
21 ... ... ... 30·02 — — 64 — 30.25 S 153.12 E — 150 WNW to WSW 2 to 5
22 ... ... ... 29·95 — — 64 — 29.08 S 153.39 E — 79 Variable
23 2.15 p.m. rounded Cape Moreton. 10 p.m. arrived Brisbane — — — — — 27.26 S 153.35 E — 133 NNW to W 4 to 6
24 ... ... ... — — — — — — — 62 18 —
24th to 28th at Brisbane. 28th, 1.30 p.m. left Brisbane — — — — — — — — — —
29 6 a.m. off Indian Head — 65 64 71·5 64·5 24.23 S 153.24 E 20 184 SE to ESE 5
30 7.15 a.m. anchored at Sea View. 3 p.m. proceeded. 9 p.m. arrived Rockhampton — 66 61 72 64 — — 12 138 —
31 ... ... ... — 65 63 73 64·5 — — 46 — —
July 31st to Aug. 4th at Rockhampton — — — — — — — — — —
Aug. 4 10 p.m. left Rockhampton — 66 65 72·5 64 — — — — —
5 2 a.m. anchored Johnson Point. 8 a.m. proceeded. 10 a.m. cleared river — 66 58 63 60 — — 43 — —
6 6 p.m. anchored off Glo'ster Island 30·22 67 63 70 64·5 20.42 S 149.05 E — 214 SE to SSE 5
7 9 a.m. weighed. 2 p.m. arrived Bowen — 67·5 64 71 66 — — — 67 SSE 4 to 5
8 6 a.m. left Bowen. Anchored in Cleveland Bay 30·25 68 64 70 66 19.30 S 147.41 E — 60 SSE 4
9 2 p.m. left Townsville. 6 p.m. anchored near Palm Islands — 68·5 65 72 67 — — — 64 SE
10 10 a.m. weighed anchor. 4 p.m. anchored off Dungeness. Hinchinbrook Channel 30·17 69 69 70 70 18.42 S 146.30 E — 42 SE 4
11 At Dungeness. Rain 30·15 69·5 70 72 70 18.30 S 146.20 E — 22 SE 3
12 10 a.m. left Dungeness. Noon, anchored Cardwell. 3 p.m. proceeded. 7, reached Mourilyan — 70 70 72 70 18.14 S 146.05 E 24 — Calm
13 8 p.m. left Mourilyan — 71 71 75 72 17.35 S 146.08 E 41 — Calm
14 ... ... ... 30·07 72·5 72 76 72·5 16.37 S 145.47 E 4 67 Variable
15 8 a.m. arrived Cooktown — 73 72·5 75 73·5 15.28 S 145.17 E 3 74 Variable
16 At Cooktown — 73 72 77 74 — — — — —
17 8 a.m. left Cooktown. 4.30 p.m. anchored under lee of Howick Islands — 72·5 74 77 74 14.52 S 145.30 E 4 38 SE 4
18 6 a.m. weighed. 7 p.m. anchored near Cape Sidmouth lightship 30·12 72 74 76 73·5 14.07 S 144.17 E — 97 SE 4 to 5
19 10 a.m. weighed. 8.30 p.m. anchored under Piper Islands 30·10 72·5 74·5 77 75 13.21 S 143.40 E — 75 SE 5
20 6 a.m. weighed. 6 p.m. moored in Albany Pass 30·06 72·5 76 77·5 76 11.31 S 142.55 E — 130 ESE 5
21 In Albany Pass. Strong tides 30·05 75 76 77 76·5 10.41 S 142.35 E — 53 SE 5
22 10 a.m. weighed. 4 p.m. arrived Thursday Island 30·02 75 76·5 77·5 77 10.33 S 142.25 E — 16 SE 5
23 ... ... ... 30·05 75 77 78 77·5 — — 7 17 SE 5
24 Steamed to Goode Island and back — 75·5 77 79 77·5 — — 8 — SE 5
25 6 a.m. left Thursday Island. 6 p.m. anchored off York Island 29·95 75·5 77 79 79·5 10.13 S 142.41 E 13 24 SE 5
26 6 a.m. weighed. 11 a.m. anchored at Darnley Island 29·98 76·5 78·5 80 79·5 9.36 S 143.44 E 83 — SE 5
27 8 a.m. left Darnley Island. 7 p.m. anchored under King Point, Howe Island 29·98 77 78·5 81 79 9.50 S 143.09 E — 40 SE by E 5
28 Dropped down to Thursday Island under jib — 76 78 80 78 — — — 74 SE by E 5 to 6
Aug. 28 to Sept. 1st at Thursday Island — — — — — — — — — —
Sept. 1 6 p.m. left Thursday Island — 75·5 76·5 79 77 — — — — —
2 ... ... ... 30·05 77·5 77 79 77·5 10.36 S 139.46 E — 150 ESE 4
3 ... ... ... 30·00 77·5 77·5 80 78 10.40 S 136.11 E — 215 SSE 3 to 5
4 ... ... ... 29·90 77·5 78 80 78 10.43 S 134.19 E — 112 SE by E to E 1 to 4
5 6 a.m. made land. 7 p.m. passed through Clarence Strait 30·00 78 78 80·5 79·5 11.27 S 131.39 E 181 — Calm
6 2 a.m. hove to. 7.30 a.m. anchored Palmerston, Port Darwin 30·05 81 79 82 80 — — 92 — Calm
PORT DARWIN to MAURITIUS and CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.
Date Remarks Baro- meter Temperature (Fahr.) Latitude Longitude Distance Wind
Water Air Steam Sail
8 a.m. 8 a.m. Noon 6 p.m.
1887 ° ° ° ° ° ´ ° ´
Sept. 7 2 a.m. left Port Darwin 30·02 79 81·5 83 82 12.27 S 129.46 E 72 — Calm
8 ... ... ... 30·07 78·5 81 81 80·5 12.56 S 126.30 E 200 — Calm
9 ... ... ... 30·06 79 78·5 80 79 13.07 S 124.31 E 68 54 E 1 to SE 3
10 ... ... ... 29·95 79 79 80·5 79·5 13.17 S 121.03 E 208 — S to SE 1 to 2
11 ... ... ... 29·98 79 78 80 79 13.39 S 118.53 E 51 76 SSE 1 to 3
12 ... ... ... 30·05 79 78 80 79 14.11 S 116.47 E — 128 SSE to SE 2 to 3
13 ... ... ... 30·07 79 77·5 79 78 15.17 S 114.28 E — 150 SSE to ESE 1 to 3
14 ☩ Lady Brassey died 11 a.m., committed to the deep at sunset, lat. 15.50 S, long. 110.38 E — 77 76·5 76 75·5 15.45 S 111.39 E — 168 S by E to SE 2 to 4
15 ... ... ... 30·05 76 74·5 74 74 16.14 S 107.38 E — 242 SSE 4 to 5
16 ... ... ... 30·10 74 74 73·5 73·5 16.40 S 104.15 E — 198 SE by S 3 to 4
17 ... ... ... 30·10 73·5 73 73 73 16.58 S 100.36 E — 208 SE 3 to 5
18 ... ... ... 30·12 73 72 72·5 72 17.16 S 96.45 E — 222 SE 3 to 5
19 ... ... ... 30·15 72·5 71 71 71 17.24 S 91.53 E — 273 SE by S 5 to 6
20 ... ... ... 30·11 72·5 72 72 71·5 18.17 S 88.02 E — 226 SE 6 to 3
21 ... ... ... 30·14 73 71·5 72 71·5 18.28 S 84.57 E — 177 SE 2 to 4
22 ... ... ... 30·12 72·5 72 72 71·5 18.37 S 80.19 E — 276 SE 4 to 6
23 ... ... ... 30·24 72 71·5 72 71·5 19.21 S 76.45 E — 207 SE to E 5 to 3
24 ... ... ... 30·22 72·5 71 72 71·5 19.21 S 72.45 E — 227 SE 4
25 ... ... ... 30·17 73 71 72 72 19.23 S 69.07 E — 206 SE 4
26 4 p.m. made Rodriguez 30·15 74 72 72·5 72 19.18 S 64.52 E — 241 SE to SE by S 4 to 6
27 ... ... ... 30·22 73 72·5 73 72·5 19.38 S 61.11 E — 210 SE by S to E by S 6 to 3
28 4 p.m. made Round Island 30·22 73·5 73 74·5 74 19.53 S 58.45 E — 133 E to E by N 3 to 2
29 12.30 a.m. anchored off Port Louis — 73·5 73·5 75 74 — — 71 8 Calm
30 At Mauritius — 73 74 75 74 — — — — —
Oct. 1 1 p.m. left Port Louis — 73 73·5 74 73·5 — — — — —
2 In sight of Bourbon all day 30·22 72 74 76 74·5 22.00 S 55.39 E — 155 SE by E to E by N 5 to 2
3 Noon, Bourbon still visible 30·30 72 70 72·5 72 22.28 S 54.14 E — 83 SE 1 variable
4 ... ... ... 30·40 72 70·5 72 71 24.22 S 49.58 E — 266 SSE to SE by E 5 to 7
5 ... ... ... 30·40 71·5 69·5 71 70·5 27.02 S 45.39 E — 282 SE to E 5 to 7
6 ... ... ... 30·28 67·5 69·5 72 71 28.49 S 41.27 E — 247 ESE to E 6 to 4
7 ... ... ... 30·20 78·5 70·5 71 70 29.41 S 38.39 E 138 19 E by N 2 to 1
8 Brisk gale. Midnight, wind fell light 29·96 69·5 69·5 71 70 30.12 S 34.18 E 96 131 E 2 to NNE 8
9 Hard gale from SW. Nasty sea. Midnight, gale moderated 29·75 71 71 72·5 72 31.44 S 31.17 E — 183 NE by E 8 to SW
10 5 a.m. made land at Gordon Bay 30·10 71 64 68 66 32.17 S 29.13 E 24 88 SW by S 9 to E 1
11 Beating to windward under steam and sail. 10 p.m. made Cape Recife light 29·90 63 65 67 63 33.57 S 26.39 E 33 120 E by N 9 W by S 7
12 2.30 a.m. anchored Algoa Bay 30·36 62 63 65 64 — — 56 — —
13 6 a.m. left Algoa Bay 30·40 62 63 64·5 63·5 34.14 S 25.20 E 11 24 SE by E 7
14 2 p.m. rounded Cape Agulhas. 10.30 p.m. made Cape of Good Hope light 30·10 64 64 64 64 35.50 S 20.18 E — 260 SE by E 6 to 7
15 8 a.m. anchored Table Bay — 56 63 64 65 — — 19 134 SSE 7
N.B.—On this passage the 'Sunbeam' made the fastest long run she has ever made. In the fortnight Sept. 13 to 27 she did 3,073 knots.
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE to PORTSMOUTH.
Date Remarks Baro- meter Temperature (Fahr.) Latitude Longitude Distance Wind
Water Air Steam Sail
8 a.m. 8 a.m. Noon 6 p.m.
1887 ° ° ° ° ° ´ ° ´
Oct. 24 10.30 a.m. weighed and proceeded to sea. Noon, returned 30·15 55 55 56·5 56 — — — 5 W by N 7
25 7 p.m. left Cape Town. Midnight, off Robben Island under steam. 5 p.m. ceased steaming 30·40 60 56·5 58 57·5 33.10 S 17.12 E 72 3 Calm
26 ... ... ... 30·20 61 62 63·5 63 30.49 S 13.34 E 40 193 S by N to S 2 to 7
27 ... ... ... 30·21 60·5 59 60·5 60 27.55 S 10.22 E — 243 6 to 8
28 ... ... ... 30·23 61·5 61 61·5 61 25.38 S 7.08 E — 223 S to S by E 6
29 'Roslin Castle' passed 'Sunbeam,' homeward bound 30·24 63·5 60·5 63 62·5 24.09 S 3.39 E — 209 SE to SSE 5
30 'Norham Castle' passed 'Sunbeam,' outward bound 30·25 63·5 62 64·5 63·5 22.06 S 2.02 E — 152 SE 4 to SE by S 2
31 ... ... ... 30·23 64·5 64 66 64·5 19.46 S 0.03 W — 182 SE 5 to 2
Nov. 1 ... ... ... 30·20 65·5 65 66 65 17.48 S 1.32 W — 146 SE 3 to 2
2 ... ... ... 30·17 67·5 65 66·5 66 16.18 S 3.25 W — 140 SE by S to SE by E 2 to 3
3 3 a.m. made St. Helena. 9 a.m. anchored off James Town. 10.30 p.m. left St. Helena 30·14 68 66 69 66·5 — — — 140 S by E 4 to 2
4 1 a.m. ceased steaming 30·13 69 68 69 69 14.26 S 7.03 W 17 97 ESE 5 to 3
5 ... ... ... 30·13 71 70 71 70·5 12.11 S 9.15 W — 186 SE 3 to 4
6 ... ... ... 30·17 73 73 74·5 74 9.59 S 11.06 W — 171 SE 4 to 2
7 4 p.m. made Ascension. 10 p.m. hove to 30·02 74·5 73·5 75 75·5 8.33 S 13.33 W — 169 SE to SSE 2 to
8 7 a.m. anchored Clarence Bay 30·04 76·5 76·5 78 77 — — — 68 SE 3
9 5 p.m. left Ascension 30·00 77 76·5 65[7] 77 4.44 S 14.53 W — 200 SE 6 to 5
10 1 a.m. passed H.M.S. 'Wye' 30·00 77 77 78 77·5 — — — — —
11 ... ... ... 30·00 78 78 79·5 79·5 .58 S 14.30 W — 227 SE to SSE 6 to 4
12 ... ... ... 30·00 80·5 79 80 79·5 2.16 N 13.54 W — 196 SE by E 3 to 4
13 11 p.m. commenced steaming 30·00 82·5 81 81 82 5.21 N 13.47 W — 185 SE by S 3 to 2
14 3 p.m. made hills about Sierra Leone. 9 p.m. anchored at Free Town 30·00 81·5 80·5 81·5 82 7.57 N 14.00 W 104 52 ESE 2. Calm
15 6 p.m. left Sierra Leone 30·00 82 81 82·5 81·5 — — 56 — Calm
16 ... ... ... 30·00 83 82·5 83·5 83 9.35 N 14.57 W 120 — NNE 1
17 8 a.m. heavy rain-squall with wind. 12.45 p.m. ceased steaming 30·04 81·5 81 82 81·5 11.04 N 17.06 W[8] 182 — NNE 1 to 8
18 ... ... ... 30·02 80 81 81·5 80·5 12.30 N 20.34 W — 205 NE by N 6 to 7
19 Noon, arrived Porto Praya. 6 p.m. proceeded 30·05 78·5 79 80 79 14.55 N 23.25 W — 240 NE by N 6 to 7
20 1 a.m. to 2.30 a.m. under steam. Passed to leeward of St. Vincent, &c. 30·05 78 77·5 78·5 78 16.25 N 24.55 W 15 130 NE by E 6
21 Sighted two ships and a barque bound south 30·10 78 77 77 76 19.14 N[8] 19.01 N 25.42 W 15 160 E by N 6 to 7
22 Passed numerous sailing ships 30·12 77 74·5 74 73·5 22.37 N[8] 22.20 N 25.54 W — 203 E ½ N 7 to 5
23 6 a.m. commenced steaming. 10 a.m. stopped to repair boiler tubes. Noon, proceeded 30·05 76·5 73 74 73 24.05 N 27.04 W 23 100 NE 4 to 1
24 7 a.m. ceased steaming. Heavy swell from NNE 30·05 75 69·5 70·5 70 26.13 N[8] 25.58 N 28.03 W 81 34 NNE to NE
25 ... ... ... 30·20 73 70 71·5 70 27.30 N 30.50 W — 175 N by E to NE by N 6
26 ... ... ... 30·29 72 68·5 69 67·5 29.40 N 32.14 W — 151 NE 3 to 5
27 Finally lost NE trade 30·25 72 68 69 68 30.55 N 31.58 W — 85 Variable
28 ... ... ... 30·13 70 66·5 67·5 65·5 32.38 N 31.39 W — 112 WNW 4 to E 2
29 Moderate gale 30·15 68 63 64 62·5 34.54 N 31.20 W — 130 E 3 to E by S 7
30 Gale increasing. Split mainsail, mizen foresail, and jib 30·33 67 61·5 62·5 62 36.43 N 30.40 W — 112 ESE 8 to 9
2 Daybreak, made Fayal. Worked up under steam and sail to Pico 30·10 64·5 62·5 65 63 38.42 N 28.48 W — 92 S by E 8 to 9
3 7 a.m. anchored Horta Bay. 4.30 p.m. weighed 30·10 64·5 62 63·5 62·5 — — 37 — S 3 to 4
4 2 a.m. wind flew suddenly to NNE. 10 a.m. blowing a gale. Bore up for Terceira. Hove to 30·03 64 60·5 60·5 59·5 — — 8 99 NE 5 to 10
5 10 a.m. commenced steaming. 10 p.m. ceased, boiler having finally given out 30·30 64 60 61 60 38.48 N 27.22 W 11 61 Calm. E 3
6 ... ... ... 30·40 63 60 61 61 39.09 N 25.15 W 50 55 NE to ENE 3
7 ... ... ... 30·44 63 59 59·5 60 40.59 N 23.30 W — 135 E to S 3
8 ... ... ... 30·26 63·5 60 60 60 42.43 N 20.00 W — 190 SW to W 5 to 6
9 ... ... ... 30·10 58 58·5 60 58 45.08 N[8] 44.53 N 16.04 W — 217 W by S 7 to 8
10 3.30 a.m. wind fell suddenly. No observations 30·10 54 54·5 54 53 46.11 N 13.24 W — 134 W by S 8 to NE
12 8 p.m. made Bishop and St. Agnes lights. Position 35 miles to N of reckoning — — — — — 49.17 N[8] 7.18 W[8] — 201 S by E 6 to SSW 2
13 Weather thick. 4 p.m. made stand near St. Catherine's. 8 p.m. anchored close to the Nab — — — — — 50.13 N 2.17 W[8] — 230 SSW 7 to 8
14 Towed into Portsmouth Harbour — — — — — — — — 64 —
SUMMARY.
SteamSail
Portsmouth to Bombay3,040miles4,046miles.
Bombay to Macassar4,585"2,509"
Macassar to Adelaide601"3,256"
Adelaide to Port Darwin976"3,285"
Port Darwin to Cape of Good Hope1,047"5,622"
Cape of Good Hope to Portsmouth831"6,668"
11,080"25,386"
Total distance under steam and sail, 36,466 miles.
(B) THE CRUISE OF THE ‘SUNBEAM.’
Reprinted from the ‘Times’ of December 15, 1887.
The 'Sunbeam' reached Portsmouth Harbour on Wednesday after her long voyage of 36,000 nautical miles among the British Possessions in all parts of the world. We are enabled to give the following short account of this very interesting cruise.
For certain duties of the navy, such as protection of the revenue, supervision of fisheries, the police of the Pacific, instruction in pilotage, small vessels are required which will be thoroughly seaworthy, capable under sail of taking full advantage of the winds, and in calms making fair speed under steam with a low consumption of fuel. It is believed that such a type is represented in the 'Sunbeam,' and that her performances during an extended cruise recently completed may be of interest in a naval point of view.
The principal dimensions of the hull and spars of the 'Sunbeam' are as follows:—Length between perpendiculars, 137 ft.; beam, 27 ft. 6 in.; depth of hold, 13 ft. 9 in.; displacement in tons, 576; sail area in square yards, 9,200.
In fourteen years of active cruising in all parts of the world the seaworthiness of the 'Sunbeam' has been thoroughly tested. Neither when lying to nor scudding has she ever shipped a green sea. She can be worked with a complement of eighteen seamen and three stokers. She can carry an armament of machine and quick-firing guns.
The consumption of fuel may be taken at three tons in twenty-four hours for a speed of 7¾ knots; four tons for eight knots; and seven tons for nine knots. The measured-mile speed was 10·27 knots. Seventy tons of coal can be carried.
Under sail alone in the most favourable circumstances 13 knots is an extreme speed. Three hundred knots have been made good on a few occasions, with some contributions to the day's run from current. On a passage the average distance made good is 1,000 miles a week, of which one-third is under steam.
The recent cruise of the 'Sunbeam' included India, the Eastern Archipelago, and Australia. The outward voyage was by the Suez Canal and the return voyage by the Cape. On leaving Portsmouth calls were made at Cowes and Southampton, the departure being finally taken from Plymouth on the 19th of November. Gibraltar was reached on the 26th of November, Algiers on the 1st of December, Malta 5th, Port Said 10th, Assab Bay 19th, Aden 21st of December, and Bombay 3rd of January. From England fine weather was experienced as far as Algiers. Thence to Port Said the winds were strong from the westward, with an interval of calm lasting nearly two days. In the northern portion of the Red Sea fresh northerly winds prevailed. On leaving Aden the north-east monsoon blew with such force that it was decided to make a stretch to the eastward under sail. As the distance from the Arabian coast increased the monsoon gradually abated, and a course was laid under steam direct to Bombay. On nearing the coast of India the monsoon became more northerly, and the 'Sunbeam' fetched Bombay under sail. Having given a general description of the weather, the records of the log-book may be summarised as follows:—Distance under sail, 4,046 knots; distance under steam, 2,830 knots; the average speed in each case being within a fraction of seven knots.
On the first section of the voyage the average speed of 1,000 miles a week was maintained with remarkable uniformity. Bombay was reached on the precise day which had been estimated before leaving England.
After a few days at Bombay the 'Sunbeam' proceeded to Kurrachee, and remained in its salubrious climate from the 10th of January to the 7th of February. Lord Brassey and his family in the interval made an extended journey in North-Western India. The return passage from Kurrachee to Bombay, favoured by a brisk north-east monsoon, was made entirely under sail in less than forty-eight hours, the distance covered on the 9th of February being 268 miles. The Queen's Jubilee was celebrated during the second visit of the 'Sunbeam' to Bombay.
The voyage was resumed on the 22nd of February. Touching at Jinjeera and Goa, Colombo was reached on the 5th of March. The entire distance from Kurrachee to Cape Comorin, including both entering and leaving port, had been accomplished under sail. The monsoon was not felt on the Malabar coast. From Bombay to Cape Comorin the passage was made with the daily sea breezes, blowing fresh in the afternoon, followed by calm prolonged through the night and the first part of the day. Calling at Trincomalee en route, the 'Sunbeam' next proceeded to Burmah. March is a busy season in the rice trade, and a noble fleet of sailing ships was assembled at Rangoon.
After leaving Rangoon the 'Sunbeam' proceeded to Borneo, touching at Moulmein and Singapore. The Sarawak river was reached on the 3rd of April. Following the northern and eastern coast of Borneo, Labuan, Brunei, Kudat Bay, Sandakan, and Darvel Bay were successively visited. Macassar was reached on the 19th of April. In the section of the voyage extending from Bombay to Kurrachee, and thence by the route which has been described, the total distances covered were 4,695 knots under steam at an average speed of 8·3 knots, and 2,509 knots under sail at an average speed of 5·1 knots.
The 'Sunbeam' left Macassar on the evening of the 20th of April. The Indian Ocean was entered from the Allas Straits, which divides the islands of Lombok and Sumbawa, on the 24th. A heavy swell was encountered from the east, caused, as it was afterwards learned, by a cyclone which did great damage to the fleet engaged in the pearl-fishery on the north-west coast of Australia. The South-east Trades were picked up on the 25th, and blew steadily until the 3rd of May. On the 5th of May a gale, with furious squalls, was experienced from the south-west. It was followed by a calm, and afterwards by westerly winds. Albany was reached on the 8th of May. The 'Sunbeam' again put to sea on the 17th of May. A week was occupied on the passage to Adelaide. In the great Australian Bight north-east winds were encountered, gradually shifting to the west, and blowing a gale during the last two days before reaching port. On the day before the arrival at Adelaide the distance of 265 knots was made good; sail having been much reduced for several hours to avoid running down on Kangaroo Island in thick weather at night. Between Macassar and Adelaide a distance of 3,256 knots was covered under sail at an average speed of 6·3 knots. The distance under steam was 601 knots and the average speed seven knots.
From Adelaide the 'Sunbeam' made a smart run to Melbourne, encountering a heavy gale with furious squalls off Cape Otway. After a long stay at Melbourne the voyage was resumed to Sydney, Newcastle, and Brisbane.
On leaving Brisbane the passage was taken inside the Great Barrier Reef without the assistance of a pilot. Fourteen hundred miles of this difficult navigation were traversed under sail. The 'Sunbeam' touched at all the ports of Northern Queensland, and between Cooktown and the Albany Pass anchored in the three intervening nights under the lee of the coral reefs. A somewhat prolonged stay at Thursday Island was broken by a visit to Darnley Island and other anchorages in the Torres Straits. Port Darwin was reached on the 8th of September. Between Adelaide and Port Darwin the distance under sail was 3,311 knots, and the average speed 7·2 knots. The distance under steam was 966 knots, and the average speed 6·5 knots. On arrival at Port Darwin the 'Sunbeam' had completed successfully the circumnavigation of the Australian continent. Unhappily the cruise, so auspiciously commenced, ended with that painful event which has cast a dark shadow over all its other memories.
From Port Darwin to the Cape of Good Hope, and thence to Sierra Leone, the voyage lay for the most part within the zone of the South-east Trades. Rodriguez Island was sighted on the 26th of September, and Mauritius was reached two days later. The passage from Port Louis to Algoa Bay occupied 11 days. To the southward of the Trades, off the coast of Natal, a short but severe gale from the south-west was encountered. The gale was followed by a fresh breeze from the east, which carried the 'Sunbeam' rapidly to the westward from off Gordon Bay, her landfall on the coast of Africa. A day was spent at Port Elizabeth, and two days of rapid sailing before an easterly wind brought the yacht into Table Bay on the morning of the 15th of October, just in time to gain the anchorage before one of the hard gales from the south-east set in which are not infrequently experienced at the Cape. The construction of a noble breakwater has given complete security to the anchorage off Cape Town.
Between Port Darwin and the Cape the distance covered was 1,047 knots under steam and 5,622 knots under sail; the average speed under steam and sail was exactly eight knots. In the fortnight from September 13 to 27, 3,073 knots, giving an average speed of nine knots, were covered under sail alone, with winds of moderate strength. Balloon canvas was freely used.
The 'Sunbeam' left Cape Town on the 24th of October. She touched at St. Helena on the 3rd of November, Ascension on the 7th, and Sierra Leone on the 14th. In this section of the voyage the distance under canvas was 3,327 knots, the average speed 7·7 knots; and the distance under steam 289 knots, with an average speed of seven knots. The South-east Trades were light, and balloon canvas again proved extremely serviceable.
The 'Sunbeam' left Sierra Leone at sunset on the 15th of November, under steam. The North-east Trades were picked up in latitude 11 deg. N. A call of a few hours was made at Porto Praya on the 19th of November. On the following day the northern islands of the Cape Verde group were sighted. During the 21st and 22nd of November a great number of sailing ships were passed, outward bound. The Trades were interrupted by a calm on the 24th of November and stopped finally on the 27th. On the following day, without warning from the barometer, a strong gale commenced from the east, and lasted without intermission for four days. Under low canvas and close hauled the 'Sunbeam' gallantly struggled forward, making 130 knots on the 29th of November, and on the three following days 112, 57, and 92 knots respectively. While hove-to in this gale the canvas was severely punished. All the lower sails were more or less damaged, and sail was reduced to storm trysails. Two large barques were passed lying-to under lower main topsails and mizzen storm staysails. At dawn on the 2nd of December Fayal was sighted.
Shelter was obtained for 24 hours under the lee of the island of Pico, and on the following day the 'Sunbeam' anchored off Horta, the port of Fayal. The passage from Sierra Leone to Fayal had been accomplished, with adverse winds during a considerable part of the voyage, in 16½ days, 2,005 knots being covered under sail at an average speed of 6·3 knots, and 460 miles under steam at an average speed of six knots. Having taken in water and provisions, the voyage was resumed on the evening of the 3rd of December, with a favourable wind from the south-south-east. At midnight the wind shifted suddenly to the north-east, and on the following morning the 'Sunbeam' bore up before a severe gale for shelter under the lee of Terceira.
On the 5th of December the gale subsided to a calm, and the voyage homewards was commenced under steam. In a few hours the engines broke down, and sail was made to a light breeze from the north-east. In the succeeding days favourable winds were experienced from the westward. On the 11th the wind shifted to the south-east, accompanied by drizzling rain and fog, rendering observations impossible, which continued until the Scilly Island lights were sighted in a fortunate lifting of the haze on the evening of the 12th. The run from the Scilly Islands to Spithead was made at the rate of 11½ knots before a south-westerly gale. The total distance from Fayal, including the call at Terceira, was 1,440 miles, of which 60 only were under steam. The average speed was seven knots. The 'Sunbeam' entered Portsmouth Harbour at noon on the 14th of December. The total distance covered during the voyage was 36,709 nautical miles, 25,800 under sail and 10,909 under steam. The runs under sail only included 39 days over 200 knots, 15 days over 240, seven days over 260, three days over 270. The best day was 282 knots. The total consumption of coal was 330 tons. Though the quality taken in abroad was in many instances inferior, an average distance of 33 knots was steamed for every ton of coals consumed.
When the 'Sunbeam' reached the Cape it was found that the tubes of the boiler had been seriously injured by the great varieties of fuel burnt during the voyage. The pressure of steam was considerably reduced, with a corresponding loss of speed. On leaving Terceira the boiler broke down completely, and for the remainder of the voyage the winds were the only resource.
The crew, consisting of 24 men in various ratings, have behaved in a highly creditable manner. The offences when in port have been few, and at sea every duty has been carried out in a manner worthy of British seamen. Three men joined at King George's Sound. They had been sentenced to a short term of imprisonment for insubordination on board a yacht returning from a cruise in Australian waters. To oblige the Government Resident, Lord Brassey consented to receive these men on board on trial. Better men it would not have been possible to obtain had they been recruited through the usual agencies.