Sweepstakes (clipper)
'Sweepstakes'
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| History | |
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 United States
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| Name: | Sweepstakes |
| Owner: | Chambers & Heiser, New York |
| Builder: | Daniel and Aaron Westervelt, New York |
| Launched: | 1853 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Clipper |
| Length: | 216 ft. 4 in. |
| Beam: | 41 ft. 6 in. |
| Draft: | 6 ft. 2 in. |
The Sweepstakes was an 1853 clipper ship in the California trade. She was known for a record passage from New York to Bombay, and for a race around the Horn with three other clippers.
Sweepstakes made a record passage from New York to Bombay in 1857, of 74 days, between May 9th and July 22nd. At the time, it was "one of the fastest passages on record between the two ports."
The Sweepstakes was built at the height of the clipper ship boom, in 1853, when there was a high demand for quick transportation to the California Gold Rush. Forty-eight clipper ships were built that year. Sweepstakes was the last clipper ship built by the Westervelt shipyard.
Just the year before, in autumn of 1852, "four splendid new clipper ships put to sea from New York, bound for California" in "the most celebrated and famous ship-race that has ever been run": the Wild Pigeon, the John Gilpin, the Flying Fish and the Trade Wind. "All ran against time; but the John Gilpin and the Flying Fish for the whole course, and the Wild Pigeon for part of it, ran neck and neck, the one against the other, and each against all. It was a sweepstake with these ships around Cape Horn and through both hemispheres."
The Sweepstakes, though black-hulled like other clippers, bore a stripe of gold, found on only a few others like the N.B. Palmer, and was praised for her sleek lines and speed. The clipper bow of the Sweepstakes was an unusual form, with an upright, curved stem, a straight keel, and a rockered, arched forefoot.
A rather dramatic mishap occurred during the launch. The ship was sliding down the ways towards the water, when the rails gave way and spread out. The ship careened onto its side, and remained toppled over for three days, until Tuesday the 21st. The ship "struck the staging alongside and around the stern" of another clipper ship under construction, the Kathay. A "large number" of spectators viewing the launch from the Kathay were pitched into the water, but all were recovered without incident.
With the help of steam tugs and two floating derricks, Sweepstakes was brought to Brooklyn Navy Yard for inspection and repairs.
Afterwards, the owners proposed a sweepstakes race for the new ship. "Messrs. Chambers & Heiser offer[ed] to sail the Sweepstakes, a clipper ship of 1600 tons, partially launched on June 18th from the ship-yard of Messrs. Westervelt & Sons, in this city, a race of 3000 miles, say 1500 out and return, each ship to pay an entrance of $10,000; the race to be subject to such rules and regulations as shall be prescribed by the New York Yacht Club.
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Wikipedia