McKay, Donald (1810-1880), was a Canadian master craftsman who designed and built more than 90 clipper ships. Famed for grace and seaworthiness, they were the fastest sailing vessels ever built. The Flying Cloud, launched in 1851, sailed around Cape Horn from New York to San Francisco in 89 days. It covered 374 nautical miles (693 kilometers) in one day. Both the speed of the cruise and the length of the day’s run set world records for sailing ships. McKay launched the Great Republic, the largest wooden sailing ship ever built, in 1853. The vessel measured 335 feet (102 meters) in length. McKay built most of his ships in Boston. He was born on Sept. 4, 1810, in Shelbourne County, Nova Scotia. He died on Sept. 20, 1880. See also Ship (Clipper ships) .
