A VESSEL WITH A HISTORY.

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 16, 19 January 1924, Page 24

A VESSEL WITH A HISTORY.

One of the oldest vessels afloat an-d in commission is the four-masted shin Lancing. She is a vessel with a history, and although 57 years old, she is still classed 100 Al at Lloyd's, which is a tribute to her builders. She was originally built as . a steamer in 1886 by Messrs. B. Napier and Co., pi Glasgow, for the Compag'nie (Jene|-ale. Transatlantic] lie, and for about 24 years was engaged in carrying mails and passengers between Havre and New York under the name of Pereire. In these early days of steam she was remarkable for her speed, and was known as one of the "greyhounds" of the Atlantic. A notable event of this stage of her career was that ■in her cabin the Emperor .Napoleon 111. approved the plans of the port of Havre, which was then about to be constructed. On completion of her 24 years' (service, for the Compagnie Generate Transatlantique, she was converted ,intb a four-masted full-rigged sailing ship, and renamed Lancing. In ISOO she. was transferred to the Norwegian flag, under which slie has remained ever since. She is the longest sailing ship iii the world, being 405 feet over all. The truck- of. her highest mast is £00 fee: above the keel. Since her conversion into a sailing ship, slic has made many remarkable passages, and is generally acknowledged at the present time to be Olio of the finest and fastest sailing vessels iilloat. One of her most remarkable passages Wiis.fiom Buenos Aires to Now Caledonia, a distunce of 11.088 nautic.nl miles, in 12 days, which gives an avcraga-. speed of 11 knots--.