The following morning she towed the Herald out of Margate Roads and they then anchored at Plymouth where the Torch was converted to a schooner to improve her sailing qualities.

[4] Soon after leaving England the Torch found it impossible to unship her paddles making sailing difficult and for most of the first leg to Madeira they were unable to travel together.

[2] Being low in the water she was mounted with a long 32 pound pivot gun and nets around the sides of the vessel to ward off any pirates trying to board the ship.

On her way back to Sydney she faced a series of squalls, one of which blew off her paddle box, the captain's pantry, the signal locker and the men's round house.

Chimmo hoped to be able to steer the Torch back to Fiji to continue her duties with HMS Herald but a lack of coal forced her to return to Sydney.

[10][11] In August 1855 the New South Wales Legislative Council argued about the continued funding of the Torch and its role as a gunship to protect Sydney Harbour.