Nearing Sundown, the 'Northern Light'

Northern Light was an American clipper ship designed by Boston-based naval architect Samuel Hartt Pook and built by the Briggs Brothers in South Boston in 1851. In 1853 she traveled from San Francisco to Boston, sailing around Cape Horn with Captain Freeman Hatch at the helm, setting a record of 76 days, 6 hours which still stands for a single hull vessel. Sailing around Cape Horn is widely regarded as one of the most challenging routes due to extreme weather, strong currents, high seas and frequent severe storms.