PATRIARCH
Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 3:38 pm
She was the first of the iron clippers built for the Aberdeen White Star Line (George Thompson).
Built on the yard of Walter Hood at Aberdeen of the best iron plating.
September 1869 launched under the name PATRIARCH.
Tonnage 1.405 gross, 1.339 net, dim. 272 x 38.1 x 22.3ft. (draught).
Building cost £24.000
Built for the cargo- emigrant trade to Australia, she was very luxuriously fitted out her poop with a length of 90 feet, provided the accommodation for 40 salon passengers. Her return voyage mostly loaded with wool.
Her maiden voyage under command of Capt. Pile was almost a record, with on board 40 passengers and a large general cargo she arrived at Sydney on 10 February 1870 after a passage of 67 days pilot to pilot. Her homeward run from Sydney Heads to the West India Docks in London took 69 days.
1887 Command was taken over by Captain Allan, and in 1887 till sold in 1898 Capt. Mark Breach was her commander.
On her first voyage under command of Capt. Breach he was racing against the CUTTY SARK when he left three days ahead England, but both ships arrived the same day at Sydney, PATRIACH made the passage in 82 days and the CUTTY SARK in 79 days
She was strong built even during the Indian cyclone of 1892, which she weathered out with only the loss of a lifeboat, whilst the LOCH VENNACHAR who was 70 miles from her position was dismasted.
Her best 24 run was 366 miles and her best week run 2000 miles.
She was one of the most regular ships seen in the Sydney trade.
1897/98 was her last voyage for the Aberdeen White Star Line, when she was sold for only £3150 to G. Monson, Stavanger, Norway on 1 November 1898. The same year already sold to Alexander Bech, Norway, retaining her original name
Under the Norwegian flag she was used for tramping between timber and sugar ports.
1903 She grounded on the beach of the Rio Grande coast loaded with a cargo of timber, but was lucky she was refloated.
1908 She made a voyage from Montevideo to Port Victoria (Make) in 64 days.
1910 She sailed from Bantjar, Java to Delegoa Bay in 57 days.
Christmas Day 1911 PATRIACH sailed from Algoa Bay for a Gulf port under command of Capt. Johansen, while sailing trough the Yacatan Channel she ran unto a reef in the Bay of Corrientas, Cuba on 23 February 1912, she was abandoned as a total loss.
Penrhyn Island 1981 10c sg185, 1$ sg205, 1983 18c +10c sg302.
Source: The Colonial Clippers by Basil Lubbock. http://www.ship-modelers-assn.org/fam9810.htm
http://www.shawsavillships.co.uk/patriach.htm