THE CLIPPER SHIP THERMOPYLAE.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 790, 18 March 1871, Page 2

THE CLIPPER SHIP THERMOPYLAE.

This magnificent vessel, which since her first advent to Port Phillip waters, and also since her subsequent appearance in the China seas, has been regarded as a triumph in shipbuilding art, has again arrived in H> bjou's Bay, after one of the fastest passages on record ever made by a ship to this port under canvas. The only effort exceeding the present performance was made by the Thermopylse herself on her maiden voyage to this port, and it is somewhat singular that then, as now, she never had anything like a continuation of fair or steady winds during tho voyage. It would almost appear that the best passages of this ship are made in spite of wind and weather, and that when other ships have to •give way to adverse winds, the Thermopylm, on tho contrary, turns theso baffling winds to good account, and makes headway against ■everything. With regard to the present voyage of this ship, it may be stated that she left London on December 27, the Downs on December 29, and parted with the pilot off The Lizard on January I. From thence she had variable winds from N.W. round to N.B, and E., followed strong easterly breezes to lat. 3deg 58min N. Calms and light winds were then met with to the equator, which was crossed on January 17, in long. 27deg 50min W, The S.E, trades were picked up in lat. 6dcg 54min S. and long. 32deg 54min W,, and proved very light and variable. They were carried to hit, 39deg 52min S., and were t succeeded by light r.nd moderate winds from N.W. to S.S.W. to the meridian of the Cape of Good Hope, which was passed on February 8, in lat. 46deg S. Light and moderate breezes then prevailed from N. to N.N.E., N.W., and S.W., to the meridian of Cape Leuwin, which was crossed in lat, 45deg smin S. on February 25. Hero the ship encountered a strong N.E. ga.'e for two days, when the wind veered into W. and W.S.W. until sighting Cape Otway, at 5 a.m. on Thursday, March 2. The greatest day's running made by the ship during the voyage was on Feb. 18, when she logged 333 knots, and in the N.E. trades she logged 310 knots for three consecutive days. As against this running it may be stated that from January 13 to 15 inclusive only 07 knots were recorded. The ship has voyaged altogether on her present run out over 13,000 knots, giving her an average of 219 knots per day, or a fraction over nine knots per hour, no mean rate of speed to be accomplished even in these days of-improved steam propulsion.—"Argus," March 4.