Statistics concerning the transatlantic crossing
16. april 2004 - Børge Solem & Trond Austheim
The average crossing time by sail from Norway to America in the period between 1840 and 1874 was 53 days. The longest voyages lasted up till about 100 days, while the quickest voyages only lasted down to about 25 days. This number is based on figures from 589 voyages. How ever, we must take reservations as there are some voyages in the period that we have not been able to get complete details for. Those ships were therefore excluded. In the tables below you can see the 10 fastest, and the 10 slowest voyages during the period.
Average crossing time Norway - New York was 59 days
Average crossing time Bergen - America was 50 days
10 fastest voyages (1840 - 1874)
Ship
Year
Capt
Dep.
Arr.
Days
Ansgar
1866
Sparre
Bergen May 11
Quebec June 5
25
Juno
1847
Bendixen
Bergen Apr. 24
Quebec May 20
26
Hebe
1864
Olsen
Stavanger May 4
Quebec June 2
29
Iris
1864
Larsen
Stavanger May 4
Quebec June 2
29
Heros
1869
Olsen
Stavanger May 3
Quebec June 3
29
Sverre
1858
Bræchan
Trondheim June 1
Quebec June 30
29
Kong Sverre
1870
Hansen
Christiania June 8
Quebec July 8
30
Emigrant
1852
Olsen
Flekkefjord June 16
New York July 16
30
Ebenezer
1850
Clausen
Stavanger Apr. 15
New York May 15
30
Hebe
1866
Olsen
Stavanger May 1
New York May 31
30
Average crossing time 1840 - 1849 was 62 days
10 slowest voyages (1840 - 1874)
Ship
Year
Capt
Dep.
Arr.
Days
Sleipner
1864
Waage
Bergen Mar. 9
Chicago July 6
119*
Emilie
1840
Anchersen
Drammen May 18
New York Sep. 9
116**
Nordpolen
1851
Voxholt
Grimstad June 9
Quebec Oct. 10
114
Hanna Parr
1868
Larsen
Bergen Apr. 25
Quebec July 28
107***
Salvator
1845
Gasmann
Porsgrunn Apr. 7
New York July 15
99
Tricolor
1847
Martini
Christiania Apr. 27
New York July 30
94
Septentrio
1869
Torjesen
Christiania May 25
Quebec Aug. 27
94
Christiania
1866
Lange
Christiania June 20
Quebec Sep. 17
89
Nordlyset
1853
Hansen
Christiania Aug. 13
Quebec Nov 9
88
* Time of crossing all the way to Chicago, she arrived at Quebec on June 24th
** Via Gothenburg
*** Was badly damaged by storm, had to go to Limerick for repairs
Average crossing time 1850 - 1859 was 53 days
Average crossing time 1860 - 1869 was 51 days
Average crossing time 1870 - 1874 was 49 days
Average crossing time Norway - Quebec was 51 days
5 fastest voyages Norway - New York
Ship
Year
Capt
Dep.
Arr.
Days
Juno
1847
Bendixen
Bergen Apr. 24
Quebec May 20
26
Ebenezer
1850
Clausen
Stavanger Apr. 15
New York May 15
30
Emigrant
1852
Olsen
Flekkefjord June 16
New York July 16
30
Jørgen Brunchorst
1853
Nielsen
Bergen Apr. 26
New York June 2
30
Hans Holmboe
1850
Clausen
Bergen May 28
New York July 5
30
Hermes
1850
Dannevig
Lillesand Apr. 23
New York May 26
33
5 fastest voyages Norway - Quebec
Ship
Year
Capt
Dep.
Arr.
Days
Ansgar
1866
Sparre
Bergen May 11
Quebec June 5
25
Sverre
1858
Bræchan
Trondheim June 1
Quebec June 30
29
Hebe
1864
Olsen
Stavanger May 4
Quebec June 2
29
Iris
1864
Larsen
Stavanger May 4
Quebec June 2
29
Heros
1869
Olsen
Stavanger May 3
Quebec June 3
29
Average crossing time Christiania - America was 56 days
Average crossing time Stavanger - America was 46 days
Average crossing time Trondheim - America was 50 days