Who was Eleanor Prentiss?
Eleanor Prentiss, also known as Ellen, was a pioneering female navigator in the 19th century. Her record-breaking voyage aboard the clipper ship Flying Cloud is a significant historical event. Ellen learned the art of navigation from her father, a trading ship captain, who taught her how to use a sextant and chronometer to navigate the seas. This was an unusual skill for women at the time, as navigation was predominantly a male domain.
Ellen married Captain Perkins Creesy, and together they sailed the Flying Cloud, an extreme clipper known for its speed. In a remarkable feat, Ellen navigated the ship from New York to San Francisco around Cape Horn in just 89 days and 21 hours, setting a world record by beating the previous time by over 30 days. This record stood for three years until Ellen herself broke it with a time of 89 days and 8 hours.
The voyage was not without its challenges, as the journey involved navigating through stormy waters and other adversities. However, Ellen's exceptional skills and the innate speed of the Flying Cloud enabled them to achieve this extraordinary accomplishment. The story of Ellen Prentiss and the Flying Cloud is captured in the children's book "Dare the Wind," written by Tracey Fern and illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully. The book highlights Ellen's determination and skill, making her an inspiring figure for young readers.
