Cimba

An iron full-rigged ship built in 1878 by A. Hood, Aberdeen. Dimensions: 223'0"×34'6"×21'7" and tonnage: 1174 GRT, 1117 NRT and 1022 tons under deck. Rigged with royals and with double topgallant sails on the fore and main masts.

1878 April: Launched at the shipyard of A. Hood, Aberdeen, for A. Nicol & Co., Aberdeen. Assigned the official British Reg. No. 77444 and signal RKJS. Employed in the Australian wool trade.
1878-1895: Captain J. Fimister.
1878 June 27 - September 29: Sailed from London to Sydney in 89 days.
1878 November 16 - February 17: Sailed from Sydney to London in 93 days.
1879 November 6 - March 4: Sailed from Sydney to the English Channel in 119 days.
1880 June 11 - August 21: Sailed from the English Channel to Sydney in 72 days.
1880 October 23 - February 2: Sailed from Sydney to London in 102 days.
1881 May 10 - July 24: Sailed from the English Channel to Sydney in 75 days.
1882: Sailed from the English Channel to Sydney in 82 days.
1883 January 7 - April 22: Sailed from Sydney to the English Channel in 114 days.
1883 December 29 - April 22: Sailed from Sydney to London in 114 days where she arrived one day after the Dharwar which had left Sydney at the same time.
1884 May 30 - August 17: Sailed from the English Channel to Sydney in 79 days.
1884 December 12 - March 27: Sailed from Sydney to London in 105 days. The Dharwar once more left Sydney in company with the Cimba and this season they arrived in London on the same day.
1885 October 24 - January 28: Sailed from Sydney to London in 97 days. The Cimba left Sydney on the same day as the Samuel Plimsoll but was beaten to London by 5 days.
1886: Sailed from the English Channel to Sydney in 97 days.
1886 November 27 - February 24: Sailed from Sydney to London in 90 days.
1887: Sailed from the English Channel to Sydney in 84 days.
1887 October 24 - January 22: Sailed from Sydney to London in 90 days. The Samuel Plimsoll which left Sydney the following was beaten by four days to London.
1888: Sailed from the English Channel to Sydney in 88 days.
1888 October 18 - January 15: Sailed from Sydney to London in 89 days.
1889: Sailed from the English Channel to Sydney in 85 days.
1889 October 22 - January 5: Sailed from Sydney to London in 75 days. This was the best passage for the season.
1890: Sailed from the English Channel to Sydney in 89 days.
1891: Sailed from the English Channel to Sydney in 93 days.
1891: Sailed from Sydney to the English Channel in 84 days.
1892: Sailed from the English Channel to Sydney in 83 days.
1893: Sailed from the English Channel to Sydney in 93 days.
1893: Sailed from Sydney to the English Channel in 86 days.
1894: Sailed from the English Channel to Sydney in 80 days. [Lubbock also has 88 days]
1895-1906: Captain J.W. Holmes.
1895: Sailed from Lizard Point to Sydney in 82 days.
1896 October 17 - December 31: Sailed from Sydney in company with Thessalus and Argonaut. Reported at Lizard Point 75 days out at the same time as Thessalus reported at Start Point. Arrived in London 78 days out.
1898: Sailed from Sydney to London in 81 days. The Cape Horn was passed 25 days out after having logged 3422 miles in 14 days.
1905 July 2 - July 17: Sailed from Callao to Iquique in 14 days. This is the sailing ship record for the passage.
1905: Sailed from Caleta Buena to Falmouth f.o. in 85 days.
1906 March: Sold to Norwegian owners.

References:

Square-rigged ships, general references.
Lubbock, Basil: The Colonial Clippers.
Brown, Ferguson & Son, Glasgow, 1948 (2nd).

Updated 1997-05-06 by Lars Bruzelius

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