“MAITLAND”(1865-1874)- TEA CLIPPER

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Anatol
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Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2009 2:13 pm

“MAITLAND”(1865-1874)- TEA CLIPPER

Post by Anatol » Sun Nov 21, 2021 4:41 pm

“Maitland”-tea clipper built in 1865 by William Pile, Sunderland. Longitudinal section, deck plan and sail plan are preserved in the Science Museum, London. The builder's half model is in the possession of Joseph L. Thompson & Sons, Sunderland.
Whilst the name of Maitland is much less familiar than those legendary clippers such as Ariel, Taiping and Thermopylae, she was nevertheless a notable vessel dating from the most exciting decade in the history of the China Tea Trade. With owners wanting ever faster ships to bring the new season’s tea home as speedily as technology would allow. Despite Pile’s earlier success with the doughty Lammermuir of 1856, his yard was not renowned for turning out record-breakers; nevertheless much was expected from Maitland as she neared completion. Launched on 2nd December 1865, she was registered at 799 tons and measured 183 feet in length with a 35-foot beam. Of composite construction, her planks were laid upon iron frames and her considerable beam provided good stability for her large and lofty sail plan. This even included some highly unusual moonsails above her standing skysails, a feature that simply added to the thoroughbred appearance.
Credited with a speed of 15 knots in 1869, Captain Coulson - her first master - even claimed a burst of 17 knots on her maiden passage, but these figures were to prove the exception rather than the rule. However, she still made Hong Kong 87 days out of Sunderland on that first outward run and this resulted in a prime cargo at Foochow when the local shippers heard of it. She returned home in a speedy 104 days, fast but not remarkable, and this was to become characteristic of her performance thereafter.
She survived the potentially fatal striking of the Ariadne Rock when leaving Woosung late in 1868 only by beaching herself in the nick of time with five feet of water in her hull. Repaired at Shanghai, she was back in service the following year during which she claimed a record dash of 22½ hours from Sunderland to the Downs at the start of her outward passage, returning home in a creditable 102 days against Thermopylae’s cracking 91 days, Foochow to London.
Under Captain Hunter, in 1870 September 10 - December 30 she made the passage from Foochow to London in 111 days.
In 1871 February 12 - May 19 sailed from Cardiff to Hong Kong in 96 days.
Short-lived, like so many of her contemporaries, she was wrecked on a coral reef in the Huon Islands, north of New Caledonia, on 25th May 1874 whilst on passage from Brisbane to China.
Mozambique 2020;(6x16,0) MT.

Source: https://www.charlesmillerltd.com/auctio ... ea-clipper.
http://www.bruzelius.info/Nautica/Ships ... 1865).html.
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