Penang – Eastwards, Eastwards, Ever Eastwards

Penang as she was prior to 1933, returning to Europe by way of Cape Horn.

This painting of the barque Penang on the Australian run was inspired by the magnificence of a sunrise at sea and some lines in the shanty ‘Rolling Home’, sung by crews of sailing ships as they walked the capstan ‘round, heaving up the anchor when homeward bound. ‘Eastwards, eastwards ever eastwards, to the rising of the sun,/ Our course is ever eastwards since our voyage has begun’

Ships sailing from Europe to Australia always travelled east to make best use of the prevailing winds. However, when working down through the Atlantic, the need to seek out fair winds meant that the sailer had some westing in its course, which took  her over towards the coast of South America. Once in the globe encircling westerlies of southern latitudes, the sailing ship could travel thousands of miles in fast time. On leaving Australia or New Zealand the sailer headed east again to return to Europe by way of Cape Horn.

Penang was  bought by Finnish shipowner Gustaf Erikson from the Laeisz Company in 1923, from which time she  was used increasingly in the grain trade with Australia. In 1941 she was torpedoed by the German U-boat, U140, with the loss of all hands. Penang is depicted here prior to 1933, when she inherited the steel charthouse from the four masted barque Hougomont after that vessel was dismasted in the Great Australian Bight on her way to Spencer Gulf.