Class and type Extreme clipper Launched 1852 Beam 14 m Builder Massachusetts | Draft 8.9 m Length 77 m Tons burthen 2.196 million kg | |
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Fate Wrecked in the Strait of Malacca, on voyage from Hamburg to China, 1859. Notes Has held the record for the fastest speed ever for a sailing ship, 22 knots (41 km/h, 25 mph), since 1854 | ||
Sovereign of the Seas, a clipper ship built in 1852, was a sailing vessel notable for setting the 1854 world record for fastest sailing ship—22 knots.
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Sovereign of the Seas has held this record for over 100 years.
Notable passages
Built by Donald McKay of East Boston, Massachusetts, Sovereign of the Seas was the first ship to travel more than 400 nautical miles in 24 hours. 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 13.5 hours. In 1853 she was chartered by James Baines & Co. of the Black Ball Line, Liverpool for the Australia trade.
Fastest speed ever recorded for a sailing ship
In 1854, Sovereign of the Seas recorded the fastest speed ever for a sailing ship, logging 22 knots (41 km/h, 25 mph).