Flying Cloud (1851) | Timeline

The "Flying Cloud", 1851

The Flying Cloud was a clipper ship that set the world's sailing record for the fastest passage between New York and San Francisco, 89 days 8 hours. The ship held this record for over 100 years, from 1854 to 1989. (Intro from Wikipedia)

April 15, 1851 - East Boston - The "Flying Cloud" (1,784 tons) is launched at the shipyard of Donald McKay, for Enoch Train, Boston. Purchased by Grinell, Minturn & Co, New York, for $ 90.000.
April 28, 1851 - New York - The "Flying Cloud" is towed by the tug Ajax to New York, under command of Captain Josiah Perkins Creesy

June 2, 1851 - New York - The "Flying Cloud" departs from New York under command of Capt. Josiah Perkins Cressey
June 22, 1851 - Line of the Equator - Crosses the line of the Equator
July 23, 1851 - Le Maire Strait (between Tierra del Fuego and Staten Island) - Passes the Straits of Le Maire. The coast is covered in snow. Cape Horn is sighted

July 31, 1851 - South Pacific - The "Flying Cloud" makes 374 miles in 24 hours. Speed 18+ knots during squalls and gales
August 11, 1851 - Line of the Equator - Crosses the line of the Equator

August 30, 1851 - San Francisco - The "Flying Cloud" anchors in San Francisco harbour after sailing for 89 days and 21 hours
October 20, 1851 - San Francisco - The "Flying Cloud" departs to China
November(?) 5(?), 1851 - Honolulu, Hawaii - The "Flying Cloud" reaches Honolulu in 12 days
December 5, 1851 - Whampoa, China - Arrives at Whampoa

January 6, 1852 - Whampoa, China - The "Flying Cloud" departs from Whampoa to New York
January 25(?), 1852 - Anyer (Banten) - Stop at Anyer to load fruit

April 10, 1852 - New York - The "Flying Cloud" arrives in New York after sailing for 94 days
May 14, 1852 - New York - The "Flying Cloud" sets sail to China
May(?) 30(?), 1852 - Line of the Equator - Reaches the Line of Equator in 30 days
September 6, 1852 - San Francisco - Reaches San Francisco after sailing for 113 days, most of the time in race against "N.B.Palmer"

December 1, 1852 - Whampoa, China - The "Flying Cloud" departs from Whampoa to New York

March 8, 1853 - New York - The "Flying Cloud" arrives in New York after sailing for 96 days

April 28, 1853 - Sandy Hook, New Jersey - Flying Cloud sails for San Francisco, two days after the "Hornet"
April 29, 1853 - The "Flying Cloud" catches the "Hornet" and passes her, being about 12 miles in the lead

May 15, 1853 - Line of the Equator - The "Flying Cloud" crosses the line of the Equator
July 17, 1853 - Line of the Equator - The "Flying Cloud" crosses the line of the Equator

August 12, 1853 - San Francisco - The "Flying Cloud" arrives in San Francisco after sailing for 104 days, and just 45 minutes after the "Hornet"

January 12, 1854 - New York - The "Flying Cloud" departs from New York
January 29, 1854 - Line of the Equator - Reaches the Line of Equator in 17 days
March(?) 3(?), 1854 - Cape Horn - The "Flying Cloud" rounds Cape Horn
April 5, 1854 - Line of the Equator - Reaches the Line of Equator

April 20, 1854 - San Francisco - The "Flying Cloud" arrives in San Francisco after sailing for 89 days and 8 hours
April 28, 1854 - San Francisco - Departs to Whampoa

July 20, 1854 - Whampoa, China - The "Flying Cloud" departs from Whampoa to New York

November 24, 1854 - New York - The "Flying Cloud" arrives in New York after sailing for 115 days
February 18, 1855 - New York - Departs to San Francisco
June 6, 1855 - San Francisco - Arrives at San Francisco in 108 days
June 22, 1855 - San Francisco - Departs to Hong Kong
August 1, 1855 - Hong Kong - Arrives in Hong Kong

September 5, 1855 - Whampoa, China - The "Flying Cloud" departs from Whampoa to New York with a cargo of tea

December 14, 1855 - New York - The "Flying Cloud" arrives in New York after sailing for 99 days

March 13, 1856 - New York - The "Flying Cloud" departs from New York under command of Capt. Reynard

May 10, 1856 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Partially dismasted en route San Francisco and put into Rio de Janeiro for repairs where her spars are cut down

June 23, 1856 - Rio de Janeiro - The "Flying Cloud" resumes its voyage to San Francisco

September 14, 1856 - San Francisco - The "Flying Cloud" arrives in San Francisco after sailing for 185 days

January 4, 1857 - San Francisco - Laid up in San Francisco

April 1(?), 1857 - New York - Laid up in New York
March 1(?), 1858 - New York - Her spars are again cut down, her keel repaired, and topsides caulked
November 1(?), 1859 - New York - She is opened on the inside and found sound

The "Flying Cloud" off the Isle of Wight, 1859

December 8, 1859 - New York - Departs to Deal, England, under command of Captain Alexander Windsor
February 15, 1860 - Gravesend, Kent - After loading in London, the "Flying Cloud" departs from Gravesend
May 22, 1860 - Hong Kong - Arrives in Hong Kong
August 7, 1860 - Fuzhou - Departs to London
December 7, 1860 - London - The "Flying Cloud" arrives in London

February 28, 1861 - Deal, England - The "Flying Cloud" departs to Melbourne

May 24, 1861 - Melbourne, Australia - The "Flying Cloud" arrives in Melbourne after sailing for 85 days
June 28, 1861 - Melbourne - Departs from Melbourne
September 3, 1861 - Hong Kong - Arrives in Hong Kong
December(?) 1(?), 1861 - Hong Kong - The ship is offered for sale but is engaged for 6,000HKD to carry 253 british troops and 10 officers, one lady, one servant and 4 children
December 28, 1861 - Hong Kong - The "Flying Cloud" departs to London
February 26, 1862 - St.Helena Island - The "Flying Cloud" anchors at St.Helena Island
March 9, 1862 - St.Helena Island - The "Flying Cloud" weighs anchor and continues voyage to London
April 16, 1862 - Gravesend, Kent - The "Flying Cloud" arrives at Gravesend

May 1(?), 1862 - London - The "Flying Cloud" is bought by Mackay & Co, Liverpool, for their Queensland service, but instead mortaged to the Forwood family, Liverpool. Sails for James Baines' "Black Ball Line" =(changeflag)
June 4, 1862 - Liverpool - The "Flying Cloud" departs to Australia under command of Captain Owen
August 30, 1862 - Hervey's Bay, Queensland, Australia - Arrives in Australia

October 24, 1867 - Gravesend, England - The "Flying Cloud" departs to Brisbane

February 7, 1868 - Brisbane, Australia - The "Flying Cloud" arrives in Brisbane after sailing for 106 days

June 5, 1868 - Sydney - The "Flying Cloud" departs to England

September 25, 1868 - Gravesend, England - The "Flying Cloud" returns to Gravesend after sailing for 112 days

June 4, 1870 - London - The "Flying Cloud" departs to Eastern Australia

August 30, 1870 - Hervey's Bay, Queensland, Australia - The "Flying Cloud" arrives in Hervey's Bay after sailing for 87 days

April 19, 1871 - London(?) - After James Baines & Co. had suspended payment, Arthur Forwood took possession of the ship and sold her to Harry Smith Edwards of South Shields

June 19, 1874 - Beacon Island Bar, Saint John, New Brunswick - Flying Cloud goes ashore on the Beacon Island bar, Saint John, New Brunswick, and is condemned and sold

June 1(?), 1875 - Saint John, New Brunswick - She is burned for the scrap metal value of her copper and iron fastenings =(END)

Bibliography
LUBBOCK, Basil - The China Clippers
OCTAVIUS THORNDIKE HOWE, Frederick C. - American Clipper ships, 1833-1858, Vol.1

RICHARDSON, John - The Cutty Sark Story