THE SEA SERPENT
The Sea Serpent was an extreme clipper ship
built by George Raynes at his shipyard in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Williams Howland oversaw the construction.
Owners: Grinnell, Minturn & Company.
Launched: November 20, 1850.
THE MAKING OF THE SEA SERPENT
WHO WAS GEORGE RAYNES?
George Raynes (1799-1855) was a master shipbuilder, who spent his life building ships in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on the Piscataqua River.
Raynes’ shipyard was located at modern-day Raynes Avenue near the North Cemetery and Maplewood Avenue. It was in operation for 32 years, building 61 vessels.
He was known for his wonderful sense of “line, symmetry and proportion”.
HOW BIG WAS THE SEA SERPENT?
1402 tons
Length: 212 feet
Beam: 39 feet 3 inches
Draft: 21 feet
WHAT DID IT LOOK LIKE?
The Sea Serpent was described by contemporaries as rakish,
with extremely beautiful lines, handsomely rigged
and “as perfect as perfection itself”.
The Sea Serpent had a very sharp wedge-like bow,
but a reasonable flare in her above water lines forward.
Carvings of two shiny entwined dragon-like sea monsters decorated the hull.
from: The Sea Serpent Journal, The Mariners Museum, Newport News, VA
The Sea Serpent was probably similar to this model of the Witch of the Wave
which was built by George Raynes as well.
WHAT WAS THE INTERIOR LIKE?
While there are no interior photos of the Sea Serpent,
it may have been similar to the English clipper ship the Cutty Sark,
which is the only remaining clipper ship today.
The Crew Quarters were in the bow (front) of the ship, also called the Forecastle.
It was in front of the main mast and therefore
“Before the Mast”.
WHY WHERE THE CREW’S QUARTERS IN THE BOW? WHAT MADE “BEFORE THE MAST” A POPULAR EXPRESSION? WHY IS IT CALLED A “FORECASTLE”?
The “Cabin” where the Captain and his family
slept and spent leisure time
was in the stern (back) of the ship.
WHY WAS THE CAPTAIN’S CABIN AT THE STERN?
The “Cabin” for the Captain and his family
Captain and Passenger Dining Area
WAS THE SEA SERPENT WELL CONSTRUCTED?
The Sea Serpent was not only beautiful, but very well built.
She was reputed to be a “dry and excellent sea boat in every way” for an extreme clipper.
It is said that “underwriters were never called upon to pay any claims for damages to her cargoes”,
which is evidence both of good timber, planking and fastening used in her construction
and of excellent and honest workmanship.
EXTREME CLIPPERS were built from 1845 to 1855.
WHAT IS AN EXTREME CLIPPER?Most Extreme Clippers only lasted a few years.
WHY?It is a testament to Mr. Raynes and Williams Howland
that the Sea Serpent was such a seaworthy vessel
that it remained in service for over 40 years!
WAS SHE FAST?
The Sea Serpent proved to be a fast sailer and a seaworthy ship
and “in light winds would slip through the water on her course,
while other ships nearby would not have steerage way”.
Clippers also earned public attention and lucrative merchant contracts
through contests for speed.
The Sea Serpent won numerous races
earning bonus dollars for the ship’s owners
and presumably the captain as well.
VOYAGES OF THE SEA SERPENT
Captain Williams Howland commanded the new Sea Serpent from 1850-1855,
making 4 “Around the World” voyages.
1851 –
maiden voyage
New York to San Francisco – 125 days.
Sea Serpent raced Stag Hound and John Bertram from New York City to San Francisco. Stag Hound arrived in 107 days. Sea Serpent made a 125 day passage, having had to put into Valparaiso eight days for repairs.
Whampoa to New York – 100 days.
1852
Whampoa to New York – 88 days.
This was the fastest passage of the year.
1853
New York to San Francisco – 107 days.
Whampoa to New York – 101 days.
The 29 days passage from Whampoa to Anjer was the fastest made that season.
1854
Shanghai to New York – 102 days.
Captain J.D. Whitmore
1855-1860
1855
New York to San Francisco.
Ran into trouble – lost her main topmast, split some sails and needed repairs in Rio de Janeiro, but then only took 81 days to get from Rio to San Francisco.
1856
San Francisco to Honolulu.
Sea Serpent was in a speed run from San Francisco to Honolulu, racing against 6 other clippers. She made it in 14 days and won the contest.
Whampoa to New York – 79 days.
1859
Foochow to London – 130 days.
1860
Hong Kong to New York.
Captain Whitmore died while crossing the Indian Ocean. The first mate Williams finished the voyage.
1860 – Captain Samuel W. Pike
1863 – Captain Thorndike
1864 – Captain Winsor
1868 – Captain Jeremiah D. White
1874
Grinnel, Minturn & Company sold the Sea Serpent to a Norwegian merchant Chr. Christophersen, Norwegian consul in New York, for $19,000 (about $455,000 in 2021).
1875
Sold to Th. O. Olsen et al., Tønsberg, Norway for $22.500 (about $550,000 in 2021). Renamed the Progress.
1883
Sold to Lorentz Rafen, Holmestrand, for NOK 48,000.
LOSS OF THE SHIP
On June 12, 1891,
on a voyage from Dublin to Quebec with a cargo of timber,
she was abandoned at sea at 46° N, 40°W.
The crew of 17 left the ship in boats, and were picked up by the bark Gulnare.
On October 18, 1891, the barque Ardgowan sighted her at 45°N, 24°W.
She drifted 1,120 miles in 93 days, and was sighted 19 times
before disappearing.
