HMS Racehorse

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Racehorse, 1806
Type: Brig / Sloop ; Armament 18
Launched : 1806 ; Disposal date or year : 14 Dec 1822
Disposal Details : Wrecked on a reef after a navigation error by the pilot, on Langness, Castletown, Isle of Man Com. Wm Benj. Suckling.
Notes:

1805 Building

2 Mar 1808 captured the French privateer Amiral Gantheaume on the Home station.

Cape of Good Hope 21 Feb 1809 departed with the Nereide and Harrier to cruise off the islands of Mauritius and Bourbon.

13 - 19 March 1809 extract from the log in the Indian Ocean, when overtaken by a hurricane, and probably records the last sighting of HMS Harrier, thought to have been lost in the same storm.

7-9 May 1811 the frigates Phoebe and Galatea, and brig-sloop Racehorse, have distant sighting with the French 40-gun frigates Renomm�e, Clorinde and N�r�ide, off the Isle de France, whilst the Astrea, was lying in Port-Louis.

14 May 1811 the Astrea, Phoebe, Galatea, and Racehorse, departed from Port-Louis for Tamatave, Madagascar, arriving on the 20th, and, sighting the French squadron, made chase ; a severe action ensued resulting in the capture of the Renomm�e, and the subsequent surrender of the N�r�ide on the 25th at Tamatave. The N�r�ide, as the Madagascar, and Renomm�e, as the Java, were added to the Navy List.

11 Feb 1811 Reported to have arrived at the Cape of Good Hope.

5-6 Mar 1811 extract from log when she experienced another hurricane in the Indian Ocean, when she is thought to have passed through the centre of the storm.

20 - 21 Mar 1811 extract from log when she experienced the effects of a hurricane at Port Louis, Mauritius.

Plymouth 29 Apr 1811 Is reported to have taken a French brig, letter of marque, with dispatches.

Plymouth 5 Oct 1812 Is reported to have been in chase of a French privateer captured yesterday off Scilly, by the Dotterel.

Portsmouth 21 Jul 1818 Dropped down to St. Helen's.

Malta 21 Jun 1819 Reported to be on the Smyrna station.

17 Sep 1821 at Smyrna.

23 Oct 1821 departed Smyrna.

30 Oct 1821 departed Zante.

26 Nov 1821 departed Malta and experienced 3 weeks of gales on the passage.

22 Dec 1821 some 50 vessels were reported to have gone ashore in the late gales, 7 of which were lost. Departed Gibraltar for England.

21 Jan 1822 arrived Spithead from the Mediterranean with a number of invalids.

27 Jan 1822 departed Spithead for Plymouth to be paid off.

30 Jan 1822 arrived Plymouth Sound from Portsmouth.

Extract from the log of HMS Racehorse, Wm. Fisher, Esq., Commander.- Kept by R. Nellson, Master.
Hour K. F. Courses Winds Remarks
Monday 13 Mar 1809
A.M. - - - - -
1 6 4 E WNW Fresh breeze and cloudy weather ; down main-staysail.
2 6 0 - - -
3 6 0 - - -
4 6 2 - - 4. Moderate and fine weather.
5 6 0 - - Altered course to E by N.
6 6 0 - - Made signal 89 to [HMS] Harrier
7 6 0 - - -
8 4 0 - - -
9 3 4 - - -
10 4 4 - - -
11 4 4 - - -
12 3 4 E by N WNW Light breeze and fine weather ; Harrier in company.
Course N 62� E, distance 158.
Lat 36� 59� S, long 56� 30� D.R.
Island of Roderique, N 19� E, 1100 miles.
P.M. - - - - -
1 3 0 E by N W by S Light breeze and fine weather.
2 3 2 - - -
3 4 0 - - -
4 2 4 - WSW -
5 5 4 - - 5. Light airs and clear weather.
6 5 4 - - -
7 5 0 - - -
8 5 4 - SW Moderate and clear weather.
9 5 4 - - -
10 4 0 - - -
11 3 4 - - -
12 4 2 - - Ditto weather ; Harrier in company.
Tues 14 Mar 1809
A.M. - - - - -
1 4 4 E by N SW by S Light breezes and fine weather.
2 4 0 - - -
3 3 6 - - -
4 3 0 - - -
5 3 2 - - At daylight ditto weather ; saw the Harrier.
6 3 0 - - -
7 2 0 - - -
8 2 0 - - 8. Light airs and fine weather ; Harrier astern.
9 2 4 - - -
10 2 2 - - -
11 2 0 - - -
12 2 0 - - Light airs and cloudy weather.
Course N 51� E, distance 96.
Lat 35� 58� S, long 58� 28� 30", chro. 58� 3�, D.R.
Roderique, N 16� E, 983 miles.
P.M. - - - - -
1 1 2 W by N SW Light breezes, inclinable to calm.
2 1 2 - - -
3 1 0 - - -
4 1 0 - - 4. Ditto weather ; Harrier a long way astern. [Possibly the last sighting of this vessel by another ship.]
5
6		 0
0		 0
0		 Head fr. SE to ENE - Calm and cloudy weather ; shortened sail.
7
8		 0
0		 0
0		 Head fr. E to SE - 7.30 A light breeze from NNW
9 4-3 4 - - -
10 3 4 - - -
11 3 4 - - -
12 3 4 - - 12. Light breeze and cloudy ; Harrier not in sight.
Wed 15 Mar 1809
A.M. - - - - -
1 3 4 E by N NW b W Light breeze and clear weather.
2 4 2 - - -
3 5 4 - - -
4 5 4 - W -
5 6 0 - - 5. Harrier not in sight.
6 6 2 - - -
7 5 4 - - -
8 6 0 - - Ditto weather.
9 3-2 0 - - -
10 3 6 ENE SW -
11 4 2 - - -
12 4 4 - - 12. Harrier not in sight.
Course N 49� E, distance 83.
Lat 35� 2� S, long 59� 22� E, D.R.
Roderique, N 12� 23� E, 954 miles.
P.M. - - - - -
1 4 4 NE by E � E SSW Fresh breeze and fine weather.
2 6 4 ENE - -
3 7 2 NE by E SSE -
4 7 0 - - 4. Ditto weather.
5 8 4 NE ESE -
6 9 0 - - 6. Fresh breeze and cloudy weather.
7 8 0 - - -
8 8 0 - - 8. Strong breeze ; furled main-top-gallant-sail ; close reefed fore-topsail ; took third reef in main-topsail ; struck fore-top-gallant-mast.
9 6 0 - -
10 7 0 - -
11 6 0 - - 11. Close-reefed main-topsail, and reefed the courses.
12 5 0 - - 12. Fresh gale.
Thurs Mar 16 1809
A.M. - - - - -
1 6 0 NE ESE Strong breeze and cloudy weather.
2 6 0 - - -
3 6 0 - - -
4 6 4 - - -
5 6 4 - - -
6 5 0 - - 6. Fresh breeze, with rain.
7 4 6 NE by N E by S -
8 6 0 NNE - 8. Ditto weather.
9 6 4 - - -
10 7 4 N by E E by N -
11 6 0 N ENE -
12 6 0 SE - Noon. Ditto ditto.
Course N to E, distance 144 miles.
Lat 32� 40� S, long 61� 14� E, ch. 59� 52� D.R.
Port Louis, Isle of France, N 9� 40� W, 761 miles.
P.M. - - - - -
1 4 0 SE ENE Fresh breeze and cloudy weather.
2 5 0 SE � E - -
3 6 0 SE by S - -
4 6 2 - - -
5 7 0 - - -
6 6 4 - - -
7 5 2 SE � S ENE -
8 4 6 - - 8. Ditto weather.
9 5 0 SE - -
10 5 0 - - -
11 5 2 SE by S - -
12 5 2 - ENE Midnight. Strong breeze and cloudy.
Fri 17 Mar 1809
A.M. - - - - -
1 3 6 SE by S E by N Strong breeze and cloudy weather.
2 4 0 - - -
3 2 4 - - -
4 2 1 - - 4. Ditto weather.
5 1 4 ESE - -
6 2 0 - - -
7 6 0 SE by E - -
8 6 6 - - 8. Fresh breeze ditto.
9 6 2 - - -
10 7 0 - - -
11 5
3		 0
0		 SE
SE by E		 E by N -
12 8 0 - - Noon. Ditto ditto.
Course S 57� E, distance 121 miles.
Lat 33� 44� S, long 62� 30� E, chro. 61� 49� D.R.
Roderique, N 0� 40� E, 844 miles.
P.M. - - - - -
1 8 0 SE by E E by N Fresh breeze and cloudy, with rain at times.
2 7 0 - - -
3 6 4 - - -
4 3 4 - - Ditto weather.
5 1
1		 2
2		 E by S
NE		 NE by N
SE by E		 -
6 2 0 - - 6. Light breezes and cloudy, with rain.
7 2 4 - - -
8 2 4 - - 8. Thick rainy weather.
9 3 0 - - -
10 6 4 - - -
11 6 4 - - -
12 8 0 - S Fresh breeze and rainy weather.
Sat 18 Mar 1809
A.M. - - - - -
1 8 0 NE S Strong breeze and squally, with rain.
2 8 0 - - -
3 8 0 - - 3. Strong gales, with heavy rain.
4 7 0 - - -
5 6 0 - - -
6 3
3		 4
4		 NE by N
N by E		 - 6 Ditto, ditto.
6.30 A heavy swell ; down try and fore-sails ; kept before the sea.
7 7 0 N -
8 7 0 N by E - 8. Heavy gale, with rain ; got in the spritsail-yard.
9 8 0 - - -
10 9 0 N by W SE by S -
11 9 0 NW by N - -
12 9 6 NW SE by E 12. The sea running very high ; brought her to on the starboard tack under try and foresails.
Course N 26� E, distance 135 miles.
Lat 31� 42� D.R., long 63� 41�. No observation D.R.
Roderique, N, distance 722 miles.
Port Louis, N 25� 45� W, 692 miles.
P.M. - - - - -
1 - - ESE
off NE		 S Strong gales, with heavy squalls and rain.
2 - - - -
3 - - - -
4 - - - 4. Ditto, ditto.
5 - - - 5. The small cutter was carried away (by a sea) from the stern.
6 - - - - -
7
8		 - - up ESE
off ENE		 - -
9 - - up E by N
off NE
 - -
10 - - - -
11 - - - -
12 - - SSE 12. Ditto weather.
Sun 19 Mar 1809
A.M. - - - - -
1 - - Up E by N
Off NE		 SSE Strong gale and squally, with rain.
2 - - - - -
3 - - up ENE
off NE by N		 - -
4 - - - -
5 - - up NE
off N by E		 - 5. More moderate weather.
6 - - - 6. Moderate and cloudy.
7 - - - -
8 - - - Fresh Breeze and cloudy.
9 2 4 N by E E by S -
10 4 4 - - -
11 4 4 - - -
12 3 4 N � E - 12. Moderate and clear weather.
Course N 34� W, distance 22 miles.
Lat 31� 26� S., long 62� 48�. chro. 66� 26� D.R.
Roderique, N 1� W, distance 706 miles.
P.M. - - - - -
1 2 0 N ENE Moderate breeze and cloudy weather.
2 2 4 - - -
3 3 0 - - -
4 3 2 - - 4. Light breeze and rainy weather.
5 2 0 N by W - Ditto, ditto.
6 3 0 - Variable -
7 1 0 N by E - -
8 1 0 N - -
9 2 0 N by E - -
10 3 4 - - -
11 3 0 N � W - 11. Squally with rain.
12 0 0 head tr. N to NW - 12 Ditto, ditto.
Extract from the log of HMS Racehorse, Captain William Fisher, kept by Lieut. J. B. Tatnall
Hour K. F. Courses Winds Remarks
5 Mar 1811
A.M. - - - - -
1 2 6 - - A.M. Moderate and fine.
2 3 0 E by N SE by S -
3 2 2 - - -
4 1 6 - - -
5 2 0 - - -
6 4 0 - - -
7 4 2 SW by S - At 7, fresh breezes and squally weather.
8 3 6 - - 8.30, in main top-gallant-sail and third reef of the topsails ; got the royal masts on deck and flying jib-boom in ; squally, with rain ; in third reef of boom-mainsail.
9 3 2 SW by S SE by S -
10 3 4 S by E - -
11 3 4 E by S - -
12 3 4 - - Noon. Ditto weather.
Course, N 75� E, distance 44 miles.
Lat 19� 39� S, long 58� 28� E
Round Island, S 73� W, 44 miles.
P.M. - - - - P.M. Fresh gales and squally weather, with heavy rain
1 4 2 - - At 1, down main top-gallant-yard and got main-topmast on deck ; got the sprit-sail-yard and jib-boom in ; sent the studding-sail-booms on deck.
2 2
1		 0
0		 E � S S by E At 2, increasing gales ; in fore-topsail ; set the fore- staysail and furled the square-mainsail ; reefed the trysail.
3 3 3 E by N � N - -
4 3 0 E - At 4, strong gales ; up foresail and furled it.
5 11 0 - - At 5, the wind shifted suddenly round to the NE, which caused the ship to labour very much.
5.10, in main-topsail ; got the main boom and gaff on deck.
6 1 0 up SE off ESE - At 6, ditto weather, strong gales ; lying-to under the reef-trysail and fore staysail
7 0 0 ENE SSW -
8 0 0 - - -
9 0 0 up E by S
of SE		 - -
10 0 0 - -
11 0 0 - NW by N -
12 0 0 - - Midnight. Strong gales, with sudden squalls.
6 Mar 1811
A.M. - - - - -
1
2		 0 0 up SE by S off S NW by N A.M. Strong gales, with heavy rain at times.
3 0 0 - - -
4 0 0 - - At 4, ditto, ditto.
5 0 0 - - -
6 0 0 - - More moderate ; set the main-trysail.
7 0 6 - - At 7, set the foresail ; heavy squalls, with rain ; observed that three parts of the gammoning of the bowsprit were gone.
7.50, squally, up foresail.
8 1 0 - - At 8, ditto weather ; fresh gales, with heavy rain.
9 2 2 SE by S - 9.30, set the foresail.
10 2 0 - - -
11 2 3 - - -
12 2 6 SSE - Noon. More moderate, with drizzling rain.
Course, S 7� 42� E, distance 18 miles.
Lat 19� 52� S, long 58� 42� E
Round Island, N 83� W, 53 miles.
P.M. - - - - -
1 3 0 SSE E by N P.M. Fresh breezes, with squalls and heavy rain.
1.30. Set the square-mainsail ; got the main-boom and gaff shifted.
2 3 0 - - -
3 3 4 - - -
4 2 2 - - At 4, moderate and clear weather.
5 3 2 - - -
6 3 2 - - At 6, fresh breezes and clear weather.
7 2 6 - - At 7, up mainsail, and furled it ; squally, with heavy showers of rain
8 2 3 - - At 8, ditto weather.
9 2 4 - - -
10 2 2 - - -
11 2 2 SE � E E -
12 3 2 - - Midnight. Fresh breezes and cloudy weather.
- - - - - -
Extract from the log of HMS Racehorse, Captain W. Fisher, kept by Lieutenant J. B. Tatnall, in Port Louis, Mauritius. In Civil Time.
Hour K F Courses Winds Remarks
20 Mar 1811
A.M. - - - SE A.M. Strong breezes and clear.
4 - - - - Ditto weather
Noon - - - Variable Strong breezes with heavy squalls.
P.M. - - - - P.M. Strong breezes with heavy squalls of wind and rain.
6 - - - - Ditto weather
11 - - - - Hard gales and continued heavy rain.
Midn. - - - - Midnight. Heavy weather ; brought home the stern anchor, and slightly touched.
21 Mar 1811
A.M. - - - W A.M. Hard gales, with heavy rain.
1 - - - - Got the lower yards down ; still lightly touching.
9 - - - W by N
Noon - - - - Noon. More moderate and cloudy.
P.M. - - - W P.M. Fresh breezes and cloudy.
1 - - - - Moderate ; a cable and anchor received from the dockyard, and laid it out to the westward, for the purpose of heaving the ship off.
11 - - - Variable Hove her off and secured her.
Midn. - - - - Midnight. Light airs and cloudy weather.