STAR OF THE WEST

[aukepalmhof]

Built as a wooden hulled vessel by Messrs Domaille and Brache, St Sampson at the north of Guernsey for a syndicate comprising Messrs. Dorey, Brache, Collas, Mahy, Domaille, Carrington, Falla and one unknown.
As was usual in that time the building cost was divided into sixty-fourths, each shareholder buying the number of shares he requires.
03 April 1869 launched under the name STAR OF THE WEST.
Tonnage 202 ton, dim. 1115 x 25.6 x 12.2ft.
One deck
She was wire-rigged as a hermaphrodite brig (Guernsey post gives brigantine).
Copper sheathed. Her lower mast were made of Oregon pine
1869 Completed, managed by J.Dorey & Co., Guernsey.

She was described in the local newspaper as being “a creditable specimen of marine architecture”.

STAR OF THE WEST was the first vessel in Guernsey to comply with the Merchant Shipping Act of 1867 and to the new regulations from Lloyd’s. The act benefitted both the owner and the crew: the former was given reduction in tonnage provided that certain facilities were provided for the health and comfort of the crew. When one realizes that these facilities amounted to an area being set aside “securely constructed, properly lighted, protected from water and sea and shut off from effluvium caused by cargo of bilge water, it is obvious that life aboard ship previously was most unsavoury.
Other “luxuries” allotted to the crew were 72 cubic feet of space per man, and several “privies” were installed.

The new Lloyd’s regulations allowed the vessel to dispense with the usual heavy cross beams, thus obtaining a shallower draft and greater cargo capacity. A shallower draft was important to STAR OF THE WEST as she was designed for the trade with Rio Grande, Brazil, at the entrance to which harbour was a sand bar. Ships could wait for days before the water level rose sufficiently to allow then to cross the bar.

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The 9p stamp depicts her launch in 1869. It appears that a temporary framework of timbers was laid across the road into the water, some of the coping stones being removed to obtain a better angle.

Her maiden voyage was under command of Capt. Harwood which took her to the exotic island of St Lucia, as seen on the 28p stamp

The 26p stamp illustrates the STAR OF THE WEST tacking off the Rio Grande in a heavy squall: on one voyage it took twenty-five days before the brigantine could pass the bar and enter the harbour safely.

18 November 1872 command was taken over by Captain J.G. Lenfesty, who is depict on the 9p stamp he remained on the vessel for ten years, until the end of her deep sea service.
Most of the vessels long voyages commenced from either St. Sampson or St Peter Port, Guernsey
The 13p stamp shows her leaving from St. Peter Port.

A typical route is depict on the 31p stamp. Carrying a cargo of railway sleepers when she sailed from London via Guernsey where she arrived on 03 May 1879 to Cadiz.
After the sleepers were discharged, a cargo of salt was loaded, where after she left bound for Rio Grande where the salt was discharged.
On her homeward leg she made a call at Aguadilla in Puerto Rico where a cargo of sugar was loaded.
She returned in the spring of 1880 in St. Sampson.

The rise of iron and steam put “paid” to the brigantine’s deep sea voyages in 1882. Capt. Lenfestey handed the vessel over to Capt. J. Saunders where after he retired.

STAR OF THE WEST was thereafter used as a collier between the U.K. and Northern France. The rough treatment of loading stone and coal took its toll.
1892 She sprang a leak and sank during calm weather.
During her years in service she had sailed some 370.000 miles and had carried some 60.000 tons of cargo.

Guernsey 1983 9p/31p sg282/286, scott?

Source: Guernsey Post Office release as given in Watercraft Philately 1986 page 27. American Lloyds Register of American and Foreign Shipping. First Day envelope text.