Eleanor Prentiss Creesy had a goal of sailing the world as a navigator.  She was student of navigation and studied the writings of U.S. Naval Officer Matthew F. Maury, a prolific oceanographer who wrote about ocean currents, meteorology, winds and navigation. Maury studied ship’s logs to understand how to use ocean currents to shorten voyages and take advantage of wind patterns. Creesy used Maury’s published works, including “Sailing Directions” and “Physical Geography of the Seas and its Meteorology.”

Creesy married Captain Josiah Perkins Creesy in 1841.  In 1851, the same year the crew on the schooner America made big news winning a race in England, Captain Creesy had a goal of sailing Flying Cloud – a 235 foot long, three-masted schooner – from New York City to San Francisco, California.  Eleanor was the navigator.  She learned the art of navigation from her stepfather and uncle, John Prentiss.  Very few women had the opportunity to go to sea, but Creesy was enthused about the prospect. Serving as a skilled navigator would be her ticket to be an essential member of the crew.

Author Dave W. Shaw published a book about Eleanor and Josiah Perkins Prentiss, titled “Flying Cloud: The True Story of America’s Most Famous Clipper Ship and the Woman Who Guided Her.” (William Morrow, 2000). Shaw’s narrative is a study in the meticulous logbooks kept by Creesy.  She had to deal with powerful storms, the doldrums near the equator and ocean currents during a time when navigation was done without satellites, weather forecasts, communications or computers.  Mariners had to take the weather as it arrived. Navigators had a good “feel” for the weather and what might be coming over the horizon. Life was tough at sea. Eleanor Creesy was a master at keeping track of the ship’s position and guiding the vessel around storms and light wind areas.

Flying Cloud was a marvel of naval architecture and engineering.  The vessel was fast.  In 1851 on her first trip around Cape Horn from New York to San Francisco, Flying Cloud set an astounding record of 89 days and 21 hours.   Three years later, Flying Cloud broke its own record in 89 days and 8 hours.  It was a dangerous voyage, and the crew pushed the vessel as hard as they could to set the record.

Shaw reports in his book, “Eleanor Creesy is said to be kind, sensitive, and fond of socializing. She is said to have acted as the ship’s nurse, to have benevolent to the crew, and to have helped plan the provisions for the voyage.” He continues, “Her insights and talent as a navigator contributed much to the ultimate success Flying Cloud and her husband, enjoyed after the record-setting voyage of 1851.  Her accomplishments showed that wit and courage could leave a lasting mark on history.  It reveals that the Creesys together made a remarkable couple.”

~ Gary Jobson