Tuesday, 4th November.—Lat. 35° 47′ N., Long. 38° 28′ W. Distance 66 miles. Commences with very light airs from the north, our ship on the port tack. Our friend James Baines again in sight astern.
And this was the last the Lightning saw of the James Baines though the two ships arrived in the Mersey within 24 hours of each other, the Lightning leading. Both anchored in the river on 20th November, the Lightning being 84 days out, and the James Baines 105 days.
The following comparison between the two passages is interesting, as it shows that the two ships took the same number of days from the equator to Liverpool, viz., 40 days:—
| Points Between | James Baines | Lightning | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Days | Date Passed | Days | Date Passed | |
Melbourne to Cape Horn | 36 | Sept. 12 | 24 | Sept. 1 |
Cape Horn to equator | 29 | Oct. 11 | 20 | Oct. 9 |
Equator to Western Isles | 28 | Nov. 8 | 29 | Nov. 7 |
Western Isles to Liverpool | 12 | Nov. 20 | 11 | Nov. 20 |
| Best 24-hours’ run | 356 miles | 377 miles. | ||
The James Baines was simply unlucky in having a very light weather passage. Donald Mackay’s ships were never light weather flyers, in spite of setting every kind of light weather kite, from tiny “bulldog,” as they called the moonsail on the main, down to the lowest watersail, that barely cleared the wave crests.
Whilst we are comparing the speeds of James Baines and Lightning, it is only fair to do so in heavy weather as well as light. I therefore give below the logs of their best week’s work on their respective outward passages in 1856. Here it will be seen the James Baines just has the best of it. I have taken the remarks for Lightning’s run from the Lightning Gazette, not the ship’s log.
Best Week’s Run by James Baines, Liverpool to Melbourne, May, 1856.
25th May.—Lat. 37° 40′ S., Long. 3° 28′ E. Distance 328 miles. Winds, S.S.W., S.W. This day begins with heavy gale and heavy squalls. I have never before experienced such a heavy gale with so high a barometer. At 4 p.m. double-reefed main topsail and crossjack. Midnight, similar wind and weather, heavy sea, ship labouring very heavily and shipping great quantities of water. Noon, very heavy sea; sun obscured.
26th May.—Lat. 38° 38′ S., Long. 10° 0′ E. Distance 320 miles. Winds, S.W., W.S.W. P.M., begins with strong gale and heavy sea, squalls and showers of rain, dark, gloomy weather. Midnight, gale decreasing, reefs out of courses, and set staysails. At 4 a.m., still moderating, out all reefs, set royals and skysail; 8 a.m., set all starboard studding sails. Noon, gentle breeze, fine clear weather; wind westering all the time and sea going down.
27th May.—Lat. 40° 2′ S., Long. 17° 41′ E. Distance 384 miles, winds, W.S.W., S.W. Fine gentle breeze and fine clear weather, all sail set. Midnight, same wind and weather. A.M., breeze freshening and heavy black clouds driving up from S.W. Noon, same wind and weather.