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The Sloop
Lady Washington was a trim little vessel of ninety tons with a sloop rig of one mainmast. Originally she was chosen as an afterthought in order to provide a tender, which is the smaller boat that handles any excess cargo, small outings while in port and ship to shore communication. At that time, it was usual to have a smaller vessel accompanying a larger ship. They might have chosen this style "in accordance with the plan outlined in Cook's account" (Howay vi).
We know very little about her other than she was ninety tons. She had an extra long jib in order to carry more sail, but this was also a liablility as it was often the first thing damaged in storms or difficult sailing conditions.
Sloops were very popular sailing vessels for the time, because they were relatively cheap to construct and were excellent voyagers over shorter distances. A well-made sloop also made a fine ocean going vessel, but by the time of Lady Washington's trip around the Horn she was an older sloop and probably no longer in the best shape for that kind of strain.
There are many conflicting accounts as to the number of guns the Lady carried, as well as when more gun ports were installed. Some historians wish her to look like a venerable merchant vessel rather than the heavily armed former privateer that she was.
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 Medallion from Oregon Historical Society OrHi 44320
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