A portrait of the highest quality, the China Clipper HIGH FLYER was designed originally to be a screw-steam war sloop for a South American government. When construction funds ran out, R. & H. Green of Blackwall purchased the incomplete ship and converted the design to that of a pure sailing ship. Their investment proved wise.
Initially sailed under the command of famous captain Anthony Enright, who earned his greatest acclaim at the helm of the clipper LIGHTNING, HIGH FLYER measured 192½ feet in length, 35½ feet of beam and drew 20 feet with her hull depth. Weighing 1012 tons, she was Britain's first 1000 ton clipper, one of only two built from 1850 to 1870. Her three China tea runs were completed in 1862, 1863 & 1864. She was the second and last clipper build by the Greens of Blackwall, whose importance remained from the days of the East Indiamen.
Scott, a sailing man's artist if there ever was one, completes his historic portrait of the grace of the English ship with a luminous sunset and the driving emotion of a ship performing to her maximum capabilities. Her speed was of importance, as she served out her later days running passengers and freight to Australia for Norwegian ownership until 1900.
