The Pereire was a French screw steamer launched on November 4, 1865, by Robert Napier & Sons in Govan, Scotland. It was commissioned by Compagnie Générale Transatlantique (CGT) as part of its efforts to modernize transatlantic travel, replacing older paddle steamers with more efficient screw-driven vessels.

The Pereire measured 113 meters in length, with a beam of 13.36 meters and a depth of 11.8 meters. Its gross tonnage was 3,014 tons, and it was powered by a two-cylinder compound steam engine producing 1,250 horsepower. During sea trials, the vessel reached speeds of up to 15.3 knots and maintained an average transatlantic crossing speed of 13 knots, completing voyages across the Atlantic in just over nine days. The ship was rigged as a three-masted bark and could carry 418 passengers: 284 in first class, 104 in second, and 30 in third. It featured graceful lines and was widely admired for its elegance, often referred to as one of the most beautiful mail steamers on the North Atlantic. After completion, the Péreire arrived in Le Havre from Greenock on March 5, making the 622 miles long run in 48 hours. Following sea trials at Le Havre, the Péreire was subsequently assigned to the Brest–Le Havre–New York route, beginning her first voyage on April 5 and arriving in New York on April 15.

On January 15, 1869, the Péreire, (Capt. Duchêsne), departed Le Havre for New York, carrying 83 passengers and approximately 500 tons of cargo. She made a scheduled stop in Brest on January 16 before heading across the Atlantic. On January 20, the ship encountered severe weather, which escalated into a major storm by the following day. At around 2:00 PM on January 21, the Péreire was struck by an enormous wave, estimated to contain around 700 tons of water. The wave caused significant structural damage: it collapsed the roof of the second-class saloon, tore away sections of the bulwarks, and swept two lifeboats from their davits. The bridge also collapsed, along with the officers’ watch-house. The water flooded large parts of the ship’s interior, including passenger areas and the engine room, extinguishing 24 of the vessel’s 36 furnaces, which severely limited propulsion and maneuverability. Four people were confirmed dead, and 21 others were injured, including both passengers and crew. Two additional crew members were washed overboard and presumed lost at sea. Due to the extensive damage and ongoing risk to safety, Captain Duchesne made the decision to abort the voyage and return to Le Havre.

On June 2, 1872, the Péreire arrived on the Clyde for a major overhaul, which included the installation of new boilers and machinery. A third cylinder was added to the steam engine to improve fuel efficiency, resulting in a 21% reduction in coal consumption. During this refit, the ship’s single funnel was replaced with two narrower funnels, improving both the vessel’s engineering design and visual profile. However, on June 22, while off Greenock, the Péreire collided with another steamship, sustaining significant damage to her hull and rigging. Later that year, on November 29, 1872, she ran aground in the Clyde, at the mouth of the River Kelvin, while approaching Messrs. Tod and McGregor’s graving dock. After completin her reconstruction, on February 2, 1873, while en route from the Clyde to Le Havre, the Péreire struck the stern of the German bark Laura, which was carrying a cargo of timber. The Péreire sustained no damage and resumed her service on the Le Havre–New York route, arriving in New York on April 23 from Le Havre.

In 1887 she ran aground at Saint-Nazaire, at the mouth of the Loire River, and the wreck was surrendered to the insurers, who sold it to a shipowner in London. This owner attempted to salvage the vessel. The engine was first removed, and the hull was raised until it floated and was towed to Blyth to be converted into a sailing ship.

The conversion from steamship to sailing ship was carried out by The Blyth Drydock Co. Ltd. in Blyth, UK. The project, which nearly bankrupted the shipyard, took seven months to complete. The Péreire had arrived at Blyth on July 7, 1888, and departed the yard as the four-masted sailing vessel Lancing on February 5, 1889. According to veteran workers at the yard, approximately “3 miles of canvas, 3 feet wide,” were used to make the ship’s sails—an impressive testament to the scale of the transformation.

The former steamship continued a remarkable second life under British and eventually Norwegian flags. Astonishingly, Lancing achieved even higher speeds as a sailing vessel than it had under steam. During one voyage from Noumea to Buenos Aires, the ship maintained a speed of 18 knots for 72 consecutive hours, a remarkable feat for any vessel of the era. The Lancing served for decades under various flags and was active during World War I. It was finally decommissioned and dismantled in Genoa and Savona in 1925.