Her measurements were:
Registered tonnage 2131 tons. Burthen 3500 tons. Length over all 317 feet. Length between perpendiculars 272 feet. Beam 40 feet. Depth of hold 27 feet.Her lower masts were of wrought iron, and her topmasts and lower yards on each mast of steel. On her first two voyages she carried topsails, but these were found to make her rather crank and so were done away with. In the eighties she followed the fashion and was fitted with double topgallant yards on her fore and main masts. With all sail set, she had a spread of just 2 acres of canvas.
Mr. A.G. Elmslie, who serrved in her for 11 years under his father, from apprentice to chief officer, gave me the following account of her sailing qualities:
A glance at the perfect lines of the ship in dry dock would be quite sufficient to show there was nothing to stop her going through the water, and I can honestly say that during my 11 years I never saw any other sailing ship pass her in a breeze either on a wind or before it.
The fact of the Sabraon being first intended for an auxiliary steamer and having the two stern posts, the space between which was filled up with solid timber, gave her a perfect run, and her bows were as fine as any yacht's. Runs of over 300 knots were covered in three days and over 2000 in a week. 340 knots in the 24 hours was the best run made. I have seen over 16 knots reeled off by the log. This was with the wind some 2 or 3 points on the quarter, which was her best sailing point. On a wind and sailing within 5 1/2 points, she could do her 7 or 8 knots good.