Passat
The Passat was a steel four-masted barque built by Blohm & Voss in Hamburg in 1911. She achieved lasting fame by winning the final grain race from Australia in 1949, marking the end of an era in commercial sailing ship operations.
Construction and Specifications
The Passat was constructed as a large cargo-carrying sailing vessel, typical of the final generation of commercial sailing ships.
Key Facts
| Specification | Imperial | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Tonnage | 3,130 tons | |
| Length | 322 feet | 98.1 meters |
| Beam | 47 feet 2 inches | 14.4 meters |
| Depth | 26 feet 5 inches | 8.1 meters |
The Final Grain Race of 1949
The Passat's last major commercial voyage began with a ballast passage from Port Talbot, Wales, to Port Victoria, Australia, taking 102 days. Under the command of Captain Ivar Hagerstand, she loaded 56,691 bags of wheat, totaling 4,555 tons.
Departing Port Victoria at 2000 hours on June 1, 1949, the voyage would become historic as the final grain race. On June 23, while in the Southern Ocean, the crew faced dangerous conditions when ice forming in the rigging caused a large piece to fall, nearly striking the helmsman and damaging the compass.
On July 9, 1949, at 1:15 p.m., the vessel rounded Cape Horn during a snow storm. In an unusual occurrence, a break in the weather allowed the crew to sight the famous landmark. This marked Captain Hagerstrand's 39th rounding of Cape Horn.
During the voyage, the crew demonstrated exceptional seamanship in several challenges:
- The main upper topgallant yard became damaged and was repaired using metal splints measuring 6 feet long and 2 inches by three-eighths of an inch
- The ship survived hurricane-force winds near 35°57'N, 40°20'W without damage
- A U.S. weather vessel caused concern by circling the ship in the Mid-North Atlantic
Captain Hagerstrand was noted for his distinctive command style, largely delegating running of the ship to his mates and appearing mainly for navigation sights near land. When approaching coast, he slept in the chartroom out of concern for the vessel's safety.
The Passat completed this historic voyage by arriving at Queenstown 110 days after departure, winning the last grain race. Notably, it was in the same area where the Passat survived hurricane winds that her sister ship Pamir would be lost in September 1957, when her cargo of bulk barley shifted in similar conditions.