Sovereign of the Seas (clipper)

19th c. American clipper ship

For other ships of this name, see Sovereign of the Seas.

Sovereign of the Seas

History
United States
Builder| Donald McKay of East Boston, MA
Launched| 1852
Fate| Ran aground on the Pyramid Shoal in the Strait of Malacca, becoming a total loss, on voyage from Hamburg to China, 6 August 1859[1]: 97
General characteristics
Class & type| Extreme clipper
Tons burthen| 2421 tons.
Length| 252 ft (77 m)
Beam| 45.6 ft (13.9 m)
Draft| 29.2 ft (8.9 m)
Notes| Has held the record for the fastest speed ever for a sailing ship, 22 kn (41 km/h), since 1854

Sovereign of the Seas, a clipper ship built in 1852, was a sailing vessel notable for setting the world record for the fastest sailing ship, with a speed of 22 knots (41 km/h).[2][a]

## Notable passages

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Drawing of Sovereign of the Seas from a 1910 book

Built by Donald McKay of East Boston, Massachusetts, Sovereign of the Seas was the first ship to travel more than 400 nautical miles (740 kilometres) in 24 hours.[3] On the second leg of her maiden voyage, she made a record passage from Honolulu, Hawaii, to New York City in 82 days. She then broke the record to Liverpool, England, making the passage in 13 days 13+1⁄2 hours. In 1853 she was chartered by James Baines of the Black Ball Line, Liverpool for the Australia trade.

### Record

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In 1854, Sovereign of the Seas recorded the fastest speed for a sailing ship, logging 22 knots (41 km/h).[2]

## See also

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* Donald McKay
* List of large sailing vessels
* Transatlantic sailing record

## Notes

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1. ^ Note that this is a very specific record. It applies to a ship in the most literal sense, a three-masted, square-rigged, sailing vessel. It has been far exceeded by multi-hulled sailing craft and modern monohulls.

## References

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1. ^ MacGregor, David R (1993). British and American Clippers: A Comparison of their Design, Construction and Performance. London: Conway Maritime Press Limited. ISBN 0-85177-588-8.
2. ^ a b Octavius T. Howe; Frederick G. Matthews (1986). American Clipper Ships 1833-1858. Vol. 1\. New York. ISBN 0-486-25115-2.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
3. ^ "San Francisco Commerce, Past, Present and Future". Overland Monthly and Out West Magazine. April 1888. p. 370. Retrieved 23 December 2016.

## Further reading

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* Lyon, Jane D (1962). Clipper Ships and Captains. New York: American Heritage Publishing.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sovereign of the Seas (ship, 1852).

* Sovereign of the Seas, Springfield Museum, Currier and Ives lithograph
* Painting of clipper ship Sovereign of the Seas, San Francisco Public Library

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Clipper ships

* Baltimore Clipper
* Extreme clipper
* Medium clipper
* List of clippers
* List of people who sailed on clipper ships
* Clipper route

1840s|

* Anglona
* Houqua
* Memnon
* Rainbow
* Sea Witch
* Ticonderoga

1850–1852|

* Antelope of Boston
* Bald Eagle
* Carrier Pigeon
* Celestial Empire
* Challenge
* Challenger
* Comet
* Eastern State
* Flying Cloud
* Flying Fish
* Game Cock
* Golden South
* Golden West
* Harriet Hoxie
* Hippogriffe
* Hornet
* Hurricane
* Ino
* John Gilpin
* Marco Polo
* National Eagle
* N.B. Palmer
* Nightingale
* North American
* Northern Light
* Onward
* Race Horse
* Sea Nymph
* Sea Serpent
* Shooting Star
* Snow Squall
* Sovereign of the Seas
* Stag Hound
* Stornoway
* Surprise
* Swordfish
* Syren
* Westward Ho!
* Witch of the Wave
* Witchcraft

1853–1859|

* Andrew Jackson
* Belle of the West
* Blue Jacket
* Carrier Dove
* California
* Champion of the Seas
* Donald McKay
* Dreadnought
* Driver
* Duncan Dunbar
* Ganges
* Golden Fleece
* Golden State
* Gravina
* Great Republic
* Herald of the Morning
* James Baines
* King Philip
* Kingfisher
* Kosmopoliet
* Lammermuir
* Lightning
* Lookout
* Lord of the Isles
* Mary Robinson
* Mary Whitridge
* Mimosa
* Neptune's Car
* Newcastle
* Ocean Chief
* Ocean Telegraph
* Orient
* Red Jacket
* Robin Hood
* Royal Charter
* Santa Claus
* Scawfell
* Schomberg
* Stag
* Starlight
* Sunny South
* Sweepstakes
* Tayleur
* Tejuca
* Thatcher Magoun
* Wild Hunter
* White Swallow
* Windsor Castle
* Young America

1860s|

* Ambassador
* Ariel
* City of Adelaide
* Coonatto
* Cornwallis
* Cremorne
* Cutty Sark
* Fiery Cross
* Flying Spur
* Fusi Yama
* Kaisow
* Glory of the Seas
* Golden Spur
* Great Australia
* John R. Worcester
* Lahloo
* Lammermuir
* Leander
* Miako
* Norman Court
* Osaka
* Queen of Nations
* Seminole
* Serica
* Sir Lancelot
* South Australian
* Taeping
* Taitsing
* The Murray
* Thermopylae
* Sobraon
* Windhover
* Wylo
* Yatala

1870–1890s|

* Blackadder
* Cimba
* Cromdale
* Florence
* Hallowe'en
* Hereward
* Loch Ard
* Loch Vennachar
* Lothair
* Rodney
* Torrens

Modern|

* Cisne Branco
* Shabab Oman II
* Stad Amsterdam
* Type 2630 training ship

Related|

* Alfred Bulltop Stormalong

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