Salty old world

Daguerreotype: “Champion of the Seas,” East Boston.
circa 1854. Southworth and Hawes, 19th century.
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Champion
of the Seas was the second largest clipper ship destined for the
Liverpool, England - Melbourne, Australia passenger service. Champion
was ordered by James Baines of the Black Ball Line from Donald McKay.
She was launched 19 April 1854 and remained in the passenger trade until
3 January, 1877, when she was abandoned, leaking badly, with a load of
guano off Cape Horn.

Champion of the Seas set a record
for the fastest day’s run in 24 hours: 465 nautical miles (861 km) noon
to noon 10–11 December 1854. This record stood until August 1984, nearly
130 years.

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