CENTURION
The second Centurion was launched in the spring of 1869, and measured: length
208 ft; beam 35 ft; and depth 21 ft. Captain Mitchell overlooked her building
and was her first commander. She was a very fast ship and he always hoped to
beat the Thermopylae with her, but never succeeded.
On her first voyage she went out to Sydney in 69 days. It was a light weather
passage and she never started the sheets of her main top gallant sail the whole
way. She stated to have made 360, 348, and 356 miles in three successive days
running down her casting, but I have been unable to verify these runs. Captain
Mitchell died on her second voyage just before reaching the Channel homeward
bound. She also made some creditable tea passages, but was mostly kept in the
Sydney trade. In 1871 she went out in 77 days and in 1872 in 78 days.
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