The Flying Cloud was a clipper ship known for its record-breaking speed during the mid-19th century. Built in 1851 by Donald McKay in Boston, the ship was designed for the booming trade of the California Gold Rush. Flying Cloud was famed for its sleek design and innovative rigging, setting a record for the fastest passage from New York to San Francisco in 1851. The ship's speed and performance made it a symbol of American maritime prowess during the era of clipper ships. Flying Cloud continued to break speed records on various routes, solidifying its reputation as one of the fastest and most successful clipper ships of its time. Despite being eventually surpassed by steamships, the Flying Cloud remains a legendary vessel in the history of maritime transportation and represents the pinnacle of clipper ship design and performance.

This description has been generated using GPT-3.5-TURBO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.