* Launched: November 1851
* Built by: Donald McKay
* Length: 207 ft
* Beam: 41 ft
* Draught: 21 ft 6 in
* Tonnage: 2002 MT
* Rigging: Full-rigged ship
Appearance
The _Guiding Star_ had a long and sleek hull with a sharp bow and a raked stern. Her sides were straight, and her sheer was slightly concave. She had three tall masts and a bowsprit, and her sails were made of canvas. Her hull was painted black, and her sails were white. She had a figurehead of a woman holding a star, and her name was painted on the stern in gold letters.
Interior
The _Guiding Star_ had three decks: the main deck, the upper deck, and the poop deck. The main deck was the largest and most open deck, and it was where the crew worked and lived. The upper deck was smaller, and it was where the officers lived. The poop deck was the smallest deck, and it was where the captain lived.
The _Guiding Star_ had a variety of cabins and rooms below decks, including a galley, a dining room, a sail loft, and a carpenter's shop. The cabins were small and cramped, but they were well-equipped for the time. The crew slept in hammocks, and the officers had bunk beds.
Speed
The _Guiding Star_ was one of the fastest ships of her time. She could sail at speeds of up to 18 knots, and she once made a passage to Hawaii in just 89 days.
Use
The _Guiding Star_ was used to transport cargo and passengers around the world. She made several voyages to China, India, and Australia, and she also sailed around South America and the Cape of Good Hope. She was also used to transport gold and silver during the California Gold Rush.
End
The _Guiding Star_ was wrecked on a reef in the South Pacific Ocean in 1872. There were no survivors.