The RED JACKET was a famous clipper ship with the following dimensions: Length, 251.2 feet; Breadth, 44 feet; Depth, 31 feet and a tonnage of 2,305. She was a composite built wooden hulled ship with a compliment of 98 crew and could carry 650 passengers. She was built in 1853 by George Thomas of Rockland, Me.
 
The RED JACKET was named for the Indian Seneca Chief Sagoyewatha, know as Red Jacket for the British Army officer’s coat he wore. She was originally built for Seacombe and Taylor of Boston, who intended to put her in the California trade. For some reason, this never happened.

She first sailed, under Captain Asa Eldridge, from New York to Liverpool. She made this passage in 13 days, 1 hour and 25 minutes, dock to dock. This still stands today as a record for a sailing ship and has never been equaled. Thus, she was immediately known as a very fast ship. She was then chartered by Pilkington & Wilson’s White Star Line – their chief rival being James Baines’s Black Ball Line – for service to Melbourne. She then sailed to Melbourne with Captain Samuel Reid as her master. She again made a record run of 69 days, 11hours, and 15 minutes. Upon her return voyage of 73 days, the White Star Line immediately purchased her. At the time, she was considered the smartest looking ship in the British merchant fleet as well as being one of the fastest and safest. The White Star line used her to make runs between England and India, after which she was sold to Wilson & Chambers, Liverpool. She was then sold to H. Milvain, Newcastle, for the timber trade between Quebec and London. Finally, in 1883, she was sold to Turner & Company of London.

By this time she was 30 years old. Three years later she was hulked in the Cape Verde Islands. Thus, for the bulk of her career, although she was an American built clipper ship, she served most of her active life under the Red Duster.

There will soon be (to be released sometime in November) a new ship kit model available of the RED JACKET. The model is to 1:96 scale, is solid hull, and has all the necessary fittings and items required to build a beautiful model. Check out the Bluejacket Shipcrafters web site for all the details. As far as I am aware, there are no other kit models of this particular ship available.