Great Sailing.

On the morning after the arrival of the Loch Awe the reporter of the "Auckland Star" was supplied with, and published at the time, the following report, particulars being given from the log book by the chief officer, Mr. Boyd: "the Loch Awe, with 369 immigrants on board, left Gravesend on April 6, at 4 p.m., and parted with the pilot on the 9th. We crossed the Equator on April 30, passed the meridian on the Cape on May 22, ran down the easting in latitude 45 degrees with strong south-west to north-west winds; took in the main topsail for the first time in the passage on May 29 in longitude 51.36 E., latitude 45.18 S. Passed longitude of Cape Leeuwin on June 8 in latitude 45.10, and were abreast of Tasmania on 13th June, being within 30 miles of Ruric Rock at 10 p.m. On the 14th we fell in with a very heavy south-east gale, and at 3 a.m. on the 15th the ship took a very heavy roll and filled the port lifeboat, which carried away the davits, taking with them the topgallant and main rails and everything movable on deck. From thence the weather became better, the wind settling into a steady south-east breeze, which carried the ship to within ten miles of the North Cape. The Three Kings were sighted on the 19th June at 1 p.m., the passage from land to land being thus made in the unprecedentedpage 194 time of 69 days 4 hours. The ship experienced south and south-east winds down the coast, and anchored in Auckland Harbour after completing the voyage in 76 days 6 hours. From Tristan d'Acunha into port we occupied only 37 days, a time probably never approached by any ship. The log shows an average daily run during this time of 247 nautical miles, the highest record for the day being 330 miles on the 8th June. During one week from the 4th to the 10th June the Loch Awe ran the extraordinary distance of 2159 miles, representing an average of 308 miles a day."

Captain Weir had the reputation of being a great driver. During the storm on the 15th June the married couples and single girls on board had a very uncomfortable time, and were battened down for two days, but the single men did not suffer this inconvenience.