Dimensions of Spars
| — | Length | Diam. |
| Fore | ft. | in. |
| Foremast, from deck to masthead | 69½ | — |
| Below deck | 14½ | — |
| Total | 84 | 19½ |
| Top and topgallant-mast | 45 | 12 |
| Fore-yard | 50½ | 12 |
| Topsail-yard | 42½ | 9 |
| Topgallant-yard | 33 | 7 |
| Fore-gaff | 29½ | 7 |
| Fore-boom | 33¾ | 9 |
| Main | ||
| Mainmast from deck to masthead | 74 | — |
| Below deck | 14½ | — |
| Total | 88½ | 19 |
| Main-topmast | 422/3 | 9½ |
| Main-gaff | 29¾ | 7½ |
| Main-boom | 35½ | 8¾ |
| Mizen | ||
| Mizenmast from deck to masthead | 78½ | — |
| Below deck | 7½ | — |
| Total | 86 | 18½ |
| Mizen-topmast | 43½ | 9½ |
| Mizen-gaff | 33 | 9 |
| Mizen-boom | 52¾ | 13½ |
| Jibboom, length 49 ft. 9 in., diameter 9½ inches | ||
| Bowsprit " 21 ft. 9 in." 17½ inches (outside knighthead) | ||
It may be interesting to give some general account of the 'Sunbeam's' performances at sea.
In making the voyage round the world in 1876-77 the total distances covered were 15,000 knots under sail and 12,800 knots under steam. The best run under steam alone was 230 knots. The most successful continuous performance was on the passage from Penang to Galle, when 1,451 knots were steamed in a week, with a daily consumption of 4-¼ tons of coal. The best runs under sail, from noon to noon, were 298 and 299 knots respectively. The first was on the passage from Honolulu to Yokohama, sailing along the 16th parallel of north latitude, and between 163° and 168° 15' east. The second was in the Formosa Channel. The highest speed ever attained under sail was 15 knots, in a squall in the North Pacific. On 28 days the distance under sail alone has exceeded, and often considerably exceeded, 200 knots. The best consecutive runs under sail only were:—
1. Week ending August 13, South Atlantic, in the south-east trades, wind abeam, force 5, 1,456 knots.
2. Week ending November 19, South Pacific, south-east trades, wind aft, force 5, 1,360 knots.
3. Four days, January 15 to 18, North Pacific, north-east trades, wind on the quarter, force 5 to 9, 1,027 knots. The average speed in this case was 10.7 knots an hour.
The following were the average speeds of the longer passages:—
| —— | Days at sea | Total Distance | Distance under steam | Daily average |
| miles | miles | miles | ||
| 1. Cape Verdes to Rio | 18 | 3,336 | 689 | 185 |
| 2. Valparaiso to Yokohama | 72 | 12,333 | 2,108 | 171 |
| 3. Simonosaki to Aden | 37 | 6,93 | 4,577 | 187 |
On a later voyage to Australia, the total distance covered was 36,709 knots, 25,808 under sail and 10,901 under steam. The runs under sail included thirty-nine days over 200 knots, fifteen days over 240, seven days over 260, and three days over 270. The best day was 282 knots. 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, October 13 to 27, 1887, 3,073 knots, giving an average speed of nine knots an hour, were covered under sail alone, with winds of moderate strength. Balloon canvas was freely used.