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

The Coronilla

page 207

The Coronilla.

The little iron barque Coronilla, a vessel of 520 tons, chartered by the Shaw, Savill Co., was a very slow sailer, all the passages occupying over 120 days. She made her first appearance at Lyttelton in 1871, and on the run out experienced moderate weather, with the exception of one hurricane which sprang up on July 7, and which increased in fury the following day, accompanied by heavy seas. On this day a terrific sea struck the vessel, breaking over and completely burying her, breaking adrift in its course spare spars and acids, which were being carried on deck. The latter were thrown overboard. It also stove in the long boat and carried away the after boat's skids.

In 1872 the Coronilla sailed from London for Auckland on March 21, and, carrying a leading wind down the Channel, passed Ushant on the 25th. Immediately afterwards she encountered a strong south-west gale, which lasted for six days, during which time the barque made but little progress. She then had light favourable breezes until the Equator was crossed on April 24. The meridian of the Cape was passed on May 25, and westerly winds were then carried until making the west coast of Australia, 88 days out. Here the voyage was once more retarded by a succession of strong easterly winds, and during a period of twenty days the barque traversed a distance of nearly 5000 miles. Owing to these adverse winds a full month was occupied in reaching the New Zealand coast.

On the passage to Auckland in 1881 the barque made a fairly good run from Gravesend to the Equator of 32 days. She encountered a very severe gale on May 1; thence she had a favourable run to Tasmania, when she experienced another run of light contrary winds to the New Zealand coast, making the passage in 122 days, exactly the same time as on her first visit to Auckland.

The barque completed five voyages to the several ports visited as under:—

To Auckland.
Sailed. Arrived. Captain. Days.
Mar. 21 July 21, '72 Mossop 122
Feb. 15 June 17, '81 Davis 122
To Wellington.
Mar. 24 July 23, '85 Carruthers 120
To Lyttelton.
Apr. 11 Aug. 10, '71 Mossop 121
May 2 Sep. 11, '82 Robinson 132