The “Phoenician.”
The first of the Aberdeen White Star fleet to make a reputation for speed was the celebrated Phoenician, under the command of one of the best known passage makers of the day, Captain Sproat.
Her dimensions were:—
| Length of cut keel | 122 | feet. |
| Rake of stem | 25 | „ |
| Rake of sternpost | 7 | „ |
| Extreme breadth | 27 | feet 5 inches. |
| Depth of hold | 19 | „ 1 „ |
| Registered tonnage (old) | 526 | tons. |
| „ „ (new) | 478 | „ |
| Deadweight capacity | 780 | „ |
Her first three voyages were considered extraordinarily good for those days.
- 1849-50 London to Sydney 90 days—Sydney to London 88 days.
- 1850-51 London to Sydney 96 days—Sydney to London 103 days.
- 1851-52 London to Sydney 90 days—Sydney to London 83 days.
The John Bunyan in 1850 made the run home from Shanghai in 99 days, which, even though she had a favourable monsoon, was a very fine performance.
The Walter Hood on her maiden voyage under the command of Captain Sproat made the passage out to Australia in 80 days, and the account given in the papers remarks:—“Her sailing qualities may be judged from the fact of her having run during four several days 320 miles each 24 hours.”
The Maid of Judah had the honour of taking out the Royal Mint to Sydney in 1853. Her dimensions are interesting to compare with those of the Phoenician, so I give them:—