FLYING SPUR
Shipbuildervessel built by
Alexander HALL & Co.
(Footdee, Aberdeen)
Shipownervessel built for
Jardine, Matheson & Co.
(Shipowners, Opium Traders and Merchants, Hong Kong)
DateAugust 1860
Object NameCLIPPER
MediumWOOD
ClassificationsShip
Dimensionslength 184.7' x breadth 31.4' x depth 19.4'
gross tonnage 735 tons
gross tonnage 735 tons
Object numberABDSHIP001107
Keywords
Yard Number: 219
Official Number: 29004
Fate: wrecked on Martim Vaz island, 680 miles east of the coast of the Brazil, 13 February 1881.
Propulsion: Sail
Description: Ship rigged clipper, 3 masts, forecastle 43', raised quarter-deck 48'
Owner:
1861-81: John Robertson & Co. (for Jardine, Matheson & Co), registered at London
Masters:
1861-67: Master J. Ryrie
1869-71: Master Atkinson
1872-73: Master Barnett
1874: Master Murray
1875-76: Master Croft
1877-80: Master G. Croot
1881: Master O. J. Arnold
Voyages (from Lloyd's Register):
1861: Aberdeen - China
1862-68: London - China
1869-71: London - Australia
1872-73: London - Japan
General History:
One of fleet of Jardine, Matheson & Co. - Jardine's crest was a winged spur, and so the new vessell was given the name of FLYING SPUR. John Robertson was her managing owner in England [Jardine, Matheson being based in China].
(David R. MacGregor (1972) "The Tea Clippers: Their History and Development 1833-1875" (Conway Maritime, London), p. 124)
Frederick Paton (served in her 1865-70) wrote she "was a very fast vessel, as good as the fastest [tea clippers] with the exception perhaps of the ARIEL and SPINDRIFT. We were 7 days in company with TEIPING once and ten days with SIR LANCELOT and were quite a match for them in any wind. Their Captains drove them harder in strong winds. I do not think they owned any shares in them, whereas Captain Ryrie was quite a large owner in FLYING SPUR and nursed her".
(Ibid p. 124)
1865-66 Tea Season - 130 days Foochow - London.
Her fastest passage from China was 116 days made after retiral of Ryrie in 1867. (ibid.) On 13 February 1881 she stranded on Martin Vas, North Rock in South Atlantic, having aboard cargo of coal and crew of 18 (compared to 36 in her days as tea clipper). She later drifted ashore. (ibid., p. 123)
16/11/1866:
Great Ship Race from China: the arrival on Sept 6 in the downs, off Deal, of three of the nine clipper ships engaged in a great ocean race from China created much interest in the city. FLYING SPUR, 731 tons, sailed June 5, 7 days after the first ship. The ships were laden with the first cargo of teas of the season - additional freight of 10 shillings per ton allowed to first ship arriving in dock. The ARIEL and TAEPING, which had lost sight of each other for 70 days, found themselves on Sept 5 off the Lizard running neck and neck up the Channel under every stitch of canvas that could be set (TAEPING just ahead). The distance, 14060 miles, was run in 99 days. [No ref. in this report to FLYING SPUR'S time, but quotes her 1865 time as 131 days (placed 5th - winning time 109 days, FIERY CROSS].
(Perth Gazette and West Australian Times)
26/12/1867:
1867 Tea Race: FLYING SPUR 4th (116 days with 49,710 lbs tea). First was ARIEL (102 days, 1,283,000 lbs tea).
(Brisbane Courier)
13/01/1869:
Run home from Foochow with new season teas in invariably regarded as the Great Race, the crucial test of a ship's capability [...] clipper SPINDRIFT was the winner last year having been out 15 1/2 hours less than her competitors, though amongst these were ARIEL, the TAEPING, the BLACK PRINCE, the FLYING SPUR and others equally famous.
(Melbourne Argus)
19/02/1881:
TOTAL LOSS OF THE BARQUE FLYING SPUR. Lloyd's agent at Cape Town telegraphs under yesterday's date that the barque FLYING SPUR, from Liverpool, bound for Negapatam, has been totally wrecked on Martinvas Rock. The crew and passengers were taken off the French barque CHATEAU LAFLITTE and landed at Cape Town. The FLYING SPUR was a vessel of 735 tons, built at Aberdeen in 1860, and owned Messrs Robertson and Co., Neyman's Court, London.
(Shields Daily Gazette)
Note: Contract cost, £13,786 (Builder's list in the Lloyd's Library of the Aberdeen Maritime Museum)
Re-rigged as a barque 1874
