The _Flying Cloud_, on this, her second voyage from New York, arrived at San Francisco September 6, 1852, 113 days from New York. She had, for her, a long run of 30 days to the equator; and when she was off the coast of Brazil, running before a light northerly wind under skysails and royal studdingsails, with the weather clew of her mainsail hauled up: as Captain Creesy was taking his noon observation, a large clipper ship was reported about six miles ahead, under the same canvas but almost becalmed. She was soon recognized by Captain Creesy and his officers as the _N. B. Palmer_. The _Flying Cloud_ carried the breeze until about two o’clock, when she also ran into the calm, and signals were exchanged. Captain Low, of the _N. B. Palmer_, reported with pardonable pride, that he had sailed from New York eight days after the _Flying Cloud_, and had found good winds to the equator; indeed, a few days after sailing he had made 396 miles in twenty-four hours. As may be imagined, Captain Creesy was somewhat chagrined, but at all events, here at last were the ships about whose speed there had been so much discussion, side by side on blue water, and soon there would be a chance to find out which was the faster of the two. As there was every indication of a southerly breeze, both ships took in their studdingsails, rigged in the booms, and got ready for the new wind, with a pull on sheets and halliards fore and aft. The _Flying Cloud_ had a fine crew, and in after years Captain Creesy in describing this race said that, “They worked like one man, and that man a hero.” At about four o’clock there was a faint southerly air with a few cat’s-paws, and soon the breeze came up from the south in a dark-blue line across the horizon. Both ships felt it at the same moment, and braced their yards on the starboard tack sharp by the wind, which soon freshened to a fine whole-sail breeze. The _Flying Cloud_ now began to draw away. At daylight the next morning, the _N. B. Palmer_ was hull down to leeward, and by four o’clock in the afternoon was no longer in sight. Both ships had strong westerly gales off Cape Horn, and the _Flying Cloud_ led her rival into San Francisco by twenty-three days.