“Cimba.”
In April, 1878, Hood launched the beautiful little Cimba for A. Nicol, and with her green hull, gold scrolls and lion figure-head she was a familiar visitor to Port Jackson for close on 30 years.
An out and out wool clipper, she was very heavily rigged, her chief measurements being:—
| Main lower mast | 60 | feet. |
| Fore and main yards | 82 | feet. |
| Fore and main lower topsail yards | 76 | feet. |
| Fore and main upper topsail yards | 69 | feet. |
| Fore and main lower topgallant yard | 58 | feet. |
| Fore and main upper topgallant yards | 52 | feet. |
| Fore and main royal yards | 41 | feet. |
Her lower masts were short compared to some clippers, but her lower yards were very heavy, her fore and main yards weighing over 4 tons each.
Her first master was J. Fimister, who had her until 1895, when Captain J. W. Holmes took her over until she was sold abroad in 1906.
Under Captain Fimister her best passages were:—
| 1880 | Channel to Sydney | 71 | days |
| 1882 | Channel to Sydney | 82 | days |
| 1884 | Channel to Sydney | 79 | days |
| 1889 | Sydney to London | 75 | days |
| 1891 | Sydney to Channel | 84 | days |
| 1892 | Channel to Sydney | 83 | days |
| 1893 | Sydney to Channel | 86 | days |
| 1894 | Channel to Sydney | 80 | days |
On her maiden trip she left London 27th June—left Channel 2nd July, 5 days out—crossed the line 28th July. 26 days from departure—crossed Cape meridian 20th August, 49 days from departure—arrived Sydney 29th September, 89 days from departure.
A curious notoriety came upon the new clipper in Sydney owing to Captain Fimister, in his eagerness to get loaded and away in good time for the wool sales, jumping Patriarch’s loading berth at Circular Quay.