Rainbow (clipper)

History
United States
Name:	Rainbow
Owner:	Howland & Aspinwall
Builder:	Smith & Dimon, New York
Launched:	1845
General characteristics
Class and type:	Extreme clipper
Tonnage:	757 tons OM
Length:	159 ft.
Beam:	31 ft. 10 in.
Draft:	18 ft. 4 in.
Propulsion:	Sails

Rainbow, launched in New York in 1845 to sail in the China trade for the firm Howland & Aspinwall, was the first extreme clipper ship.

Rainbow is considered to be the first extreme clipper ship. It was built in 1845, in accordance with John W. Griffiths' ideas, and followed by Sea Witch the next year. Both of the vessels are cited as being highly influential in subsequent merchant hull design. Though initial opinions were that Rainbow would sink during its first trip, its subsequent success led to a rush to adopt the new design in shipbuilding across Boston, New York, Philadelphia and British manufacturing companies.

Its design was created around the concept of sacrificing cargo capacity for speed. As per Griffiths' ideas, it featured a lengthening of the bow above water, a drawing out and sharpening of the forward body, and the greatest breadth further aft. These modifications had the effect of minimizing water resistance. He allegedly formulated his design after the owner's previous ship, the Ann McKim.

"The Rainbow, which created a sensation while on the stocks because of her concave or hollowed lines forward, which defied all tradition and practice, was launched in 1845."

"The sharp model of the Rainbow gave rise to a great deal of discussion while she was on the stocks in course of construction. It was generally admitted by the recognized shipping authorities of South Street, that she was a handsome vessel, but whether she could be made to sail was a question on which there were varieties of opinion."

"Her bow with its concave waterlines and the greatest breadth at a point considerably further aft than had hitherto been regarded as practicable, was a radical departure, differing not merely in degree but in kind from any ship that preceded her. One critical observer declared that her bow had been turned " outside in," and that her whole form was contrary to the laws of nature."

By 1930, looking back on the clipper era, the bow appeared much less shocking than it did at the time. Cutler writes, “The Rainbow represented a certain departure from fast-sailing models of her day but she was far from being a radically new type ... However, her appearance as she gradually took shape on the stocks aroused so much criticism that her owners delayed her completion for more than a year. She was, perhaps, the first ship of the extremely hollow bow type, and in spite of the fact that very similar lines had been incorporated in pilot boats for years, old wiseacres grumbled that her bows were 'turned inside out.'"

...
Wikipedia