Helena (packet sailboat)

Helena was a China packet built by William H. Webb in 1841. Helena is often called a "pre-clipper"^[2] or "early clipper ship",^[3] type of the fast ships that were a precursor to the fast clippers that dominated the China trade routes for years to follow.^[4]

Helena

Spars & sails of Helena
History
United States
Name	Helena
Owner	N. L. and G. Griswold [1]
Builder	William H. Webb
Launched	1841
Fate	Lost at sea in 1857
General characteristics
Type	Packet[1]
Tonnage	598 OM
Length	134 ft 6 in (41.00 m)
Beam	31 ft 4 in (9.55 m)
Draft	20 ft (6.1 m)
Propulsion	Sails

History

Helena was owned by N. L. and G. Griswold and sailed in the China trade under the command of Captain Deliverance P. Benjamin.^[3]

Passages

In 1841, Helena commanded by Captain Deliverance P. Benjamin made an 83-day passage from New York to Valparaiso, Chile in 83 days. Helena made two long stop in Chile and then in Lima, Peru, before sailing to China. She docked at Macao on June 15, 1842 after 68 at sea. She rested in Macao until September 2, 1842, when she sailed to New York in less than 106 days, arriving there on December 21, 1842.^[5]

In 1843, Helena made a record by sailing from Valparaiso, Chile to Canton, China in 51 days.^[6] She returned to New York the following year from Canton in 90 days.^[1]

In 1846, Helena sailed from New York to Java in just 73 days and 20 hours, averaging 183 miles a day.^[7]

Final Fate

She was lost at sea in 1857 under command of Captain Thompson on her passage from China to Havana.^[2][6]

References

1. La Grange, Helen (1936). "Clipper ships of America and Great Britain, 1833-1869". G. P. Putnam's sons, New York. Retrieved Apr 10, 2019.
2. Dunbaugh, Edwin (1989). William H. Webb, shipbuilder. Webb Institute of Naval Architecture. ISBN 0962263109. OCLC 20983419.
3. Clark, Arthur H. (1911). The clipper ship era: An Epitome of Famous American and British Clipper Ships, Their Owners, Builders, Commanders, and Crews. G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York and London; The Knickerbocker Press. pp. 62, 387.
4. Knoblock, Glenn A. (2014). The American clipper ship, 1845-1920 : a comprehensive history, with a listing of builders and their ships. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. pp. 12, 31. ISBN 9780786471126. OCLC 861966452.
5. King, Thomas Worthington. Diaries of Thomas Worthington King. OCLC 57632262.
6. King, Thomas Worthington (2003). Journal of a voyage around the world: a year on the ship Helena (1842-1842). Jopling, Carol F., Kagle, Steven E. Columbus: Ohio State University Press. pp. XIX. ISBN 0814209114. OCLC 49853379.
7. Armstrong, William (1945–1955). Merchant sail. Ten pound island Book Co. pp. Vol 3: 1819. OCLC 41471742.