The
Flying Cloud was a 19th century American
clipper ship -- perhaps the fastest ever built. She was designed and built by
Donald McKay -- the most noted of the clipper ship builders. She had an overall length of 235 feet with a breadth of 41 feet.
The Flying Cloud was launched on April 15, 1851 at McKay's shipyard in East Boston. She was purchased that same month by Grinell, Minturn & Co. of New York, for $90.000. On her maiden voyage the Flying Cloud sailed from New York to San Francisco in 89 days and 21 hours (June 2 - August 31) -- at a time when 200 days for the passage was not uncommon. In 1854 she set the record for the New York to San Francisco trip -- 89 days and 8 hours. This record would stand for nearly 150 years!!!
On June 19, 1874 she ran aground on the Beacon Island bar and was condemned and sold. In June of 1875 she was burned for her copper and metal fastenings.