The _Torrens_, with the exception of the Lochs, was the last sailing ship to carry passengers. As a composite ship, built specially for passengers, she had no rival except Devitt & Moore’s celebrated _Sobraon_.
The _Sobraon_ was built by Messrs. Hall, of Aberdeen, to the order of Lowther, Maxton & Co., the tea clipper owners, and launched in November, 1866. She was the largest composite ship ever built, being constructed of solid teak with iron beams and frames; she was copper fastened and classed 16 years A1.
Registered tonnage 2131 tons. Burthen 3500 „ Length over all 317 feet. Length between perpendiculars 272 „ Beam 40 „ Depth of hold 27 „
Her lower masts were of wrought iron, and her topmasts and lower yards on each mast of steel. On her first two voyages she carried skysails, but these were found to make her rather crank and so were done away with. In the eighties she followed the fashion and was fitted with double topgallant yards on her fore and main masts. With all sail set, she had a spread of just 2 acres of canvas.
Mr. A. G. Elmslie, who served in her for 11 years under his father, from apprentice to chief officer, gave me the following account of her sailing qualities:—
A glance at the perfect lines of the ship in dry dock would be quite sufficient to show there was nothing to stop her going through the water, and I can honestly say that during my 11 years I never saw any other sailing ship pass her in a breeze either on a wind or before it. The fact of the _Sobraon_ being first intended for an auxiliary steamer and having the two stern posts, the space between which was filled up with solid timber, gave her a perfect run, and her bows were as fine as any yacht’s. Runs of over 300 knots when running down the easting were frequent. On one occasion over 1000 knots were covered in three days and over 2000 in a week. 340 knots in the 24 hours was the best run made. I have seen over 16 knots reeled off by the log. This was with the wind some 2 or 3 points on the quarter, which was her best sailing point. On a wind and sailing within 5½ points, she could do her 7 to 8 knots good.
On her first five voyages from 1866 to 1871, _Sobraon_ sailed to Sydney, and after that, from 1872 to 1891, to Melbourne, always returning _via_ the Cape of Good Hope instead of the Horn.