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White Wings Vol I. Fifty Years Of Sail In The New Zealand Trade, 1850 TO 1900

The Loch Fleet

The Loch Fleet.

The Fleet was a full-rigged iron ship of 713 tons, built at Glasgow in 1872. She began trading to New Zealand in 1877, and made her last voyage in 1886. This ship generally experienced unfavourable weather on the voyages out to New Zealand. She had a very rough time when bound for Auckland in 1878, and was carried of her course, sailing about 20,000 miles. The ship on that voyage left Gravesend on August 16, and passed Deal on the 19th. Variable winds detained her in the Channel until the 23rd, when she took her final departure from the Lizard. Two months later Captain Robertson had a most anxious time on the run from the Cape to Tasmania. The first storm started on October 14, and continued with unabated fury for two days. On the 15th a tremendous sea broke over the ship, smashing the captain's gig and doing other damage. The weather continued violent, and on the 20th heavy squalls came down, with snow and hail, and the vessel lost a stunsail boom and suffered other damage. The ship was driven before the wind, and travelled from 300 to 320 miles a day. Squally weather continued right along to the Leeuwin.

On November 6 the ship encountered another storm, which, said one of the passengers on arrival at Auckland, "will live in our memories for ever." The hurricane commenced at 4 p.m., reached its climax about midnight, and caused much damage to the ship. About 7 p.m. a tremendous sea struck the ship, and two hours later another wave, fully 40ft high, broke over the poop and washed the two men from the wheel. One man was carried the whole length of the ship. The other, coming in collision with one of the hatches, was severely knocked about, and sustained a nasty wound in the head. Fortunately the second mate, Mr. Montgomery, rushed to the wheel, otherwise the Loch Fleet might never have reached Auckland. The decks were completely filled with water, and the heavy seas broke the poop rails and carried everything movable overboard.

the Loch Fleet's passages to New Zealand were:—

To Auckland.
Sailed. Arrived. Captain. Days.
Aug. 17, '77 Nov. 21, '78 Robertson 96
Sep. 6 Dec. 20, '80 Clachie 105
July 9 Nov. 8, '82 Cochrane 122
To Lyttelton.
Aug. 16 Nov. 24, '77 Robertson 100
To Dunedin.
Aug. 29 Dec. 22, '79 Robertson 115
Land to land 102
Sep. 1 Dec. 14, '81 Clachie 104
*Nov. 1 Feb. 28, '86 Jones 120
*