Rainbow (clipper)

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Rainbow (clipper ship)

Rainbow was a United States clipper ship built in New York in 1845 for Howland & Aspinwall and launched that year. It was designed to be extremely fast, trading cargo space for speed, and became one of the earliest influential clipper ships. Rainbow carried about 757 tons, was about 159 feet long, 31 feet 10 inches wide, and drew about 18 feet 4 inches. It sailed under sail and had a notable, record-setting career before disappearing in 1848.

Design and ideas
Rainbow’s design followed the ideas of John W. Griffiths. It lengthened the bow above the water, sharpened and extended the forward body, and moved the greatest breadth farther aft. These changes reduced water resistance and made the ship faster. The unusual hollow forward lines drew a lot of discussion and some criticism when the ship was on the stocks, with many wondering if it could actually sail well. Over time, Rainbow came to symbolize a shift toward speed in shipbuilding.

Construction and masts
Aspinwall sought expert opinion from Europe on masting, but Rainbow was completed according to the original plans. The ship proved to be extremely fast, though it briefly faced masting problems on its first voyage.

Maiden voyage and early speed
On Rainbow’s maiden voyage, the ship was pushed very hard and suffered a mast failure soon after leaving New York. After repairs, Captain John Land reduced the topmasts by three feet to improve safety, and the ship’s performance continued to impress.

Record passages and later service
Rainbow made a strong showing on its first round trip to China, returning to New York in 7 months 17 days. On the second voyage to China, Rainbow sailed out against the northeast monsoon in 92 days and returned in 88 days, demonstrating exceptional windward ability.

Fate
Rainbow made five voyages, including trips between New York and Hong Kong and back from Whampoa. Its fastest known passage was the 88-day run from Whampoa to New York in 1846. On March 17, 1848, Sea Witch set a new Canton-to-New York record of 77 days. On the same day Rainbow left New York for its fifth voyage to Valparaíso and China and was never heard from again; it is believed to have founder ed off Cape Horn.

Legacy
Rainbow helped popularize the clipper style in the United States and Britain, influencing ship design for years to come.