Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

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

The Loch Urr

The Loch Urr.

The Loch. Urr was a fine roomy iron barque of 716 tons, built at Glasgow in 1870 by Paterson, McCullum, and Co. Captain S. Murdoek was given command when the barque was launched, and remained in that position until 1881, when he was relieved by his brother, Captain J. Murdock. Nothing of an out of the way kind happened on any of the out ward runs of the Loch Urr to New Zealand.

the Loch Urr, prior to her arrival at Auckland in 1874, had made three trips to Sydney, two of which were fast passages of 83 and 86 days. On the run out to Auckland in 1874 she did remarkably well until off the Crozet Islands, where owing to a succession of light breezes from the eastward very little headway was made for a week. On reaching the Three Kings on September 7 heavy fogs delayed her progress, the vessel being hove-to for twenty-four hours, and when of the Poor Knights a heavy gale was encountered, again delaying her progress.

On the voyage out to Auckland in 1881 the Loch Urr left London on August 19 and on the 23rd encountered a heavy gale which continued until September 2,page 308 when she got clear of the Lizard. Off the North Cape of New Zealand on December 13 the vessel was in company with the May Queen bound for Tauranga with some of Vesey Stewart's settlers. The two vessels sailed from Gravesend Within twelve hours of each other.

the Loch Urr had a delightful passage out in 1877, fine weather all the way. Her external appearance was then altered, the barque having a white topside instead of black.

With the exception of a heavy south easterly gale off the Three Kings, which lasted for three days, the barque had another remarkably tine passage in 1880.

On the run out in 1882, after crossing the Equator, a heavy south-easterly gale was experienced and continued for six day—from September 18 to 24—thence fine weather to the North Cape.

the Loch Urr's passages to New Zealand were:-

To Auckland.
Sailed. Arrived. Captain. Days.
June 7 Sep. 11, '74 S. Murdock 96
Jan. 20, '77 S. Murdock 95
Oct. 25, '79 Feb. 4, '80 S. Murdock 102
Sep. 25, '80 Jan. 14, '81 S. Murdock 112
Aug. 23 Dec. 15, '81 J. Murdock 115
Land to land 99
July 26 Nov. 8, '82 J. Murdock 105
To Lyttelton.
Apr. 16 July 27, '87 J. Murdock 102