Sovereign of the Seas (clipper) facts for kids
Sovereign of the Seas
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| 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 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and 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 |
The Sovereign of the Seas was a very fast clipper ship built in 1852. It was a famous sailing ship because it set a world record for speed. This ship could travel at an amazing speed of 22 knots (41 km/h) (knots). Imagine how fast that is for a ship powered only by wind!
Contents
Building a Super-Fast Ship
The Sovereign of the Seas was built by a famous ship designer named Donald McKay. His shipyard was in East Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States. McKay was known for building very fast and beautiful ships.
This ship was special from the start. It was the first ship ever to travel more than 400 nautical miles (740 kilometres) in just 24 hours. That's like sailing from New York City to Washington D.C. in a single day!
Record-Breaking Journeys
The Sovereign of the Seas made some incredible trips. On its first big journey, it sailed from Honolulu, Hawaii, all the way to New York City. This trip took only 82 days, which was a new record at the time.
After that, the ship broke another record. It sailed from New York to Liverpool, England, in just 13 and a half days. This was an incredibly fast time for a sailing ship crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
Setting a World Speed Record
In 1854, the Sovereign of the Seas achieved its most famous record. It reached a speed of 22 knots (41 km/h). This made it the fastest sailing ship in the world. No other sailing ship had ever gone that fast before! This record stood for many years.
The Ship's Final Voyage
Sadly, the Sovereign of the Seas did not last forever. On August 6, 1859, while sailing from Hamburg to China, it ran aground. This happened on the Pyramid Shoal in the Strait of Malacca. The ship was badly damaged and could not be saved. It was a total loss.
See also
- Donald McKay
- List of large sailing vessels
- Transatlantic sailing record
