“Yatala.”
Probably the fastest of the six was the fine passenger clipper Yatala, which the redoubtable Captain Legoe left the Murray to command. The record from London to Adelaide, pilot to pilot, 65 days, was shared by the Yatala and Devitt & Moore’s clipper City of Adelaide until the famous Torrens beat it.
Unfortunately, Yatala came to an early end, and the following are the times of her outward passages during her short existence:—
| Date. | Left Plymouth | Arrived Adelaide. | Days Out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1865 | Aug. 4 | Oct. 27 | 84 |
| 1866 | „ 2 | „ 14 | 73 |
| 1867 | „ 10 | „ 15 | 66 |
| 1868 | July 9 | Sept. 24 | 77 |
| 1869 | Aug. 7 | Oct. 23 | 77 |
| 1870 | „ 11 | „ 26 | 76 |
| 1871 | July 6 | „ 2 | 88 |
On 18th December, 1871, Yatala left Adelaide in company with the Elder Line clipper, Beltana, which she led to the Horn by a day. The Beltana arrived safely after a tedious light weather run from the line, but the Yatala got ashore near Cape Gris-Nez on 27th March, 1872, when almost in sight of home. Her wool cargo was nearly all saved, but the ship herself became a total loss.
Of the other Orient composites, the Goolwa disappeared from the Register in 1880, but Borealis and Argonaut lasted some years longer.