Flying Cloud 20"

A Legend is Born:

       Built by Donald McKay in East Boston, Massachusetts in 1851, the Flying Cloud could be considered the fastest clipper ship of her time. Six weeks after her initial launch the Flying Cloud made headlines around the world with her record setting sail from New York to San Francisco in 89 days, 21 hours. Commanded by Captain Josiah Perkins Creesy the brilliant clipper travelled almost 125 miles a day for three days straight.  Two years later the Flying Cloud broke her own record for the journey by 13 hours. In addition to her breathtaking speed on these journeys, the Flying Cloud was significant in that her navigator was Eleanor Creesy, wife of Captain Creesy.

The Flying Cloud and Her Contemporaries:

       In the 1800s, during the California Gold Rush, ships took between six and eight months to travel the 16,000 miles between New York and San Francisco. While there were a few other ships that were capable of such blazing speeds, only two stand out as to be considered in the same league as the Flying Cloud. The clipper Andrew Jackson made the New York to San Francisco journey in 89 days and 4 hours, though after waiting all night to be brought to dock the record was not considered. The second clipper was the Hornet, which lost a race to the Flying Cloud in 1853. Despite departing New York a full two days ahead of the Flying Cloud, the Hornet arrived a mere 45 minutes earlier than her nemesis.

Her Final Years at Sea:

       Following her legendary voyages and blaring newspaper headlines, the Flying Cloud was sold to the British Black Ball Line in 1862, and put to use in the log trade between England and Canada. On June 19, 1874 the Flying Cloud was grounded on shore on Beacon Island bar, St. John's, Newfoundland, later sold, stripped for whatever valuable metal could be found, and burned.