Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
of Liverpool on 14 May. Much to his anger and frustration this excel-
lent ship was delayed in the Doldrums and arrived at her destination
in 77 days; not nearly good enough for the hero of the
Marco Polo.
Forbes was determined to make up for lost time on the return run.
He kept maximum canvas up on the crossing to the Horn. As the ship
bounded along at eighteen and nineteen knots with her lee rail dip-
ping below the water, Forbes prowled the deck, swearing at his men
and threatening to shoot the first one who let go the royal or topgal-
lant halliards. Once again, he pushed his ship too hard. A violent gust
of wind snapped the foretopmast clean off and the fore royal, topgal-
lant and topsail followed it overboard. Forbes was forced to reduce
sail for four days while the repairs were carried out but, amazingly,
he still established a new record for the Melbourne to Cape Horn
leg. But the best was yet to come:
Lightning
accomplished the whole
homeward voyage in 64 days, 3 hours, 10 minutes, a feat which has
never been surpassed by a vessel under sail. Forbes had knocked
spots off his own circumnavigation record. He was back on the quay-
side at Liverpool 162 days after going aboard.
To shipowners and merchants alike this wiry, ferocious little
Scot seemed to have the Midas touch. He was a mercantile genius
who could do no wrong. When the Black Ball Line's latest ship, the
Schomberg,
came into commission the following year Forbes was
given command of her. He set sail on 6 October, making even more
flamboyant promises than usual. A flag signal, hoisted as he left
port, declared '60 days to Melbourne'. He soon discovered that the
Schomberg
was a much poorer sailer than his previous commands,
and the discovery made him angry and sullen. After 82 days the ship
was near Cape Otway, still about 150 miles short of Melbourne and
battling with head winds. Forbes was so disgusted with his 'sluggish'
craft that he spent hours below playing cards with some of the first-
class passengers and left his officers in command. At 10.30 p.m. the
mate went down and reported that the ship was drifting onto a lee
