Donald McKay achieved several notable voyages during her active years. One of her most significant accomplishments was setting a record for the fastest voyage from Liverpool, England, to Melbourne, Australia, completing the journey in just 63 days.
Unfortunately, like many other clipper ships, her commercial success was relatively short-lived. The advent of steam-powered ships and changes in maritime transportation gradually rendered all sailing vessels less economically viable, especially the fast but limited hull displacement clippers.
Donald McKay was launched on Donald McKay's shipyard in East Boston, USA, in January 1855. Newspapers reported that she had "all the airy beauty of a clipper combined with the stately outline of a ship of war and, though not sharp, yet her great length, buoyancy, and stability, indicate[d] that she [would] sail very fast, and be an excellent sea boat".[2] Her passenger capacity was reported at 591 plus crew.[3]
Voyages
In 1855, on her maiden voyage, she sailed from Boston to Liverpool under command of Captain Henry Warner in 17 days.
In 1855, from 2 October[5] to 28 December she sailed from Melbourne to Liverpool, in 86 days.
In 1856, from 4 October to 1(?) January 1857 she sailed from Liverpool to Melbourne.[6]
In 1857, in February, she cleared out 365.25 ounces of gold through Melbourne customs for Liverpool.[7]
In 1857, from 8 July to 29 September, she sailed from Liverpool to Port Phillip, Melbourne, in 83 days.
In 1857, in November, she cleared out 205 ounces of gold through Melbourne customs [8] and sailed to Liverpool from 5 December to 1 March 1858.[9]
In 1858, on 8 August, she arrived in Melbourne from Liverpool.[10]
In 1858, in November, she cleared out 34,390 ounces of gold through Melbourne customs for Liverpool.[11]
In 1859, on 4 July, she arrived to Melbourne from Liverpool, in 87 days.[12]
In 1859, on 8 November, she departed Port of Melbourne for Liverpool,[13] carrying 4 ounces of gold.[14]
In March 1861, upon arrival in Melbourne from Liverpool, Donald McKay was placed in quarantine due to cases of smallpox on board.[15]
In 1862, on 9 October, arrived in Melbourne.
In 1863, on 30 July, arrived in Melbourne.
In March 1864, Donald McKay bound for London collided with the barque Albina in the English Channel.[16]Donald McKay was at fault and fined the full amount of the damage of £15,000 to Albina.[17]
In 1865, on 4 December, she arrived in Melbourne.
In 1866, she was sold to Thomas Harrison and was chartered back to the Black Ball Line under the new ownership.
Her arrivals of the last three voyages to Melbourne were on 22 December 1866, 21 November 1867 and 19 November 1868.
In 1874, after arriving in Melbourne on her 13th voyage, she was sold for £8,750. She was placed on the Pacific trade.
In 1879, she was sold to the German company Bertus Bartlin' of Bremerhaven, reportedly becoming old and leaking water.
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