SHIPS MAIL
A great square-rigger
Further to the great square-rigger Preussen and her loss (SM, Sept 2022), with Peking now back in her home port of Hamburg, perhaps it is opportune to mention another of the Flying P sailing ships, the great Preussen. A five-masted full-rigged ship, 482ft overall, with square sails on all masts, she was one of the fastest sailing ships, matching the clippers with speeds of up to 20 knots.
Built by Joh. C. Tecklenborg at Geestemünde in Germany, she was launched in May 1902 with her hull, masts, spars and rigging, both cable and rods, all being of steel. She proved to be a weatherly ship, sailing to, among other destinations, Chile, Japan and New York, where most of New York turned out to welcome her.…