08/12/1875 - 29/03/1876

Every person on the station had been waiting for the GOLDEN SEA, and on Thursday afternoon she was sighted under all plain sail heading up from the south-west. As soon as practicable a boat ranged alongside, and the passengers thronged the rail and the rigging. She left London in December, and had fine weather down the Channel. On the 10th the vessel touched at Plymouth, where she received the passengers and sailed again on the 17th. South-west gales prevailed while she crossed the Bay of Biscay, but the subsequent progress towards the Line was favourable, especially during the north-east trades. On January 20 the equator was crossed in 25?41’W. There was a good prospect of a rapid passage until 70?E. was reached, but a heavy gale drove the craft back for several days. In the vicinity of St Paul’s there were continued easterly winds, and in 14 days she only made 7? of long. She made Cape Borda on Wednesday. A few days will elapse before she is moored in harbour. Register 31/3/76.