In April, 1878, Hood launched the beautiful little _Cimba_ for A. Nicol, and with her green hull, gold scrolls and lion figure-head she was a familiar visitor to Port Jackson for close on 30 years.
An out and out wool clipper, she was very heavily rigged, her chief measurements being:—
Main lower mast 60 feet. Fore and main yards 82 feet. Fore and main lower topsail yards 76 feet. Fore and main upper topsail yards 69 feet. Fore and main lower topgallant yard 58 feet. Fore and main upper topgallant yards 52 feet. Fore and main royal yards 41 feet.
Her lower masts were short compared to some clippers, but her lower yards were very heavy, her fore and main yards weighing over 4 tons each.
Her first master was J. Fimister, who had her until 1895, when Captain J. W. Holmes took her over until she was sold abroad in 1906.
Under Captain Fimister her best passages were:—
1880 Channel to Sydney 71 days 1882 Channel to Sydney 82 days 1884 Channel to Sydney 79 days 1889 Sydney to London 75 days 1891 Sydney to Channel 84 days 1892 Channel to Sydney 83 days 1893 Sydney to Channel 86 days 1894 Channel to Sydney 80 days
On her maiden trip she left London 27th June—left Channel 2nd July, 5 days out—crossed the line 28th July. 26 days from departure—crossed Cape meridian 20th August, 49 days from departure—arrived Sydney 29th September, 89 days from departure.
A curious notoriety came upon the new clipper in Sydney owing to Captain Fimister, in his eagerness to get loaded and away in good time for the wool sales, jumping _Patriarch’s_ loading berth at Circular Quay.
The berth was vacated by _Nineveh_ on a Saturday.
The port arrangements in those days allowed ships to go alongside in the order in which they had booked the berth. On this occasion _Patriarch_ had booked the berth on 18th August, _Smyrna_ on 20th August, _Cairnbulg_ on 9th September, _St. Lawrence_ on 13th September, _Centurion_ on 26th September and _Cimba_ on 30th September—the day after she arrived.
On _Nineveh_ sailing, _Patriarch_ should have hauled alongside, but her captain had been told that as it was Saturday he need not come alongside until Monday. The _Patriarch_, being in no particular hurry as a good deal of her wool was still up country, therefore remained where she was. Hearing of this, the enterprising Captain Fimister proceeded to hire a tug and move his ship from Smith’s Wharf where she was lying to the vacant berth at Circular Quay, all ready to load the wool which was waiting for him. He took the precaution, however, to take his shorefasts through the quay rings and aboard again. This defiance of the harbour authorities was allowed to go unnoticed until Monday morning. Then Captain Fimister received an order to remove his ship. Of this he took no notice. His action, as may be supposed, was the talk of the port, especially amongst the captains of the wool clippers. One of these skippers threatened to moor his ship in Sydney Cove, ready to be the next to jump the berth. Others complained in person to the Colonial Secretary.