The first of the Aberdeen White Star fleet to make a reputation for speed was the celebrated Phoenician, under the command of one of the best known passage makers of the day, Captain Sproat.
Her dimensions were:
Length of cut keel 122 feet. Rake of stem 25 feet. Rake of sternpost 7 feet. Extreme breadth 27 feet 5 inches. Depth of hold 19 feet 1 inch. Registered tonnage (old) 526 tons. Registered tonnage (new) 478 tons. Deadweight capacity 780 tons.Her first three voyages were considered extraordinarily good for those days.
1849-1850 London to Sydney 90 days Sydney to London - 88 days. 1850-1851 London to Sydney 96 days Sydney to London - 103 days. 1851-1852 London to Sydney 90 days Sydney to London - 83 days.