Great Tea Race of 1866 (1866)

The Great Tea Race of 1866 was an informal competition among clipper ships to be the first to dock in London with the new tea crop. Taeping narrowly won, docking 28 minutes ahead of Ariel after a passage of over 14,000 miles. The close finish resulted in the prize being shared, marking the last time such a premium was written into a bill of lading.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. In the mid-19th century, clippers carrying tea from China to Britain competed informally to be the first ship to dock in London with the new crop. The 1866 race was keenly followed in the press, with newspaper interest at its height. Ariel, built in 1865, was a composite-built clipper famous for fast voyages between China and England.

Race Start. In May 1866, 16 of the best clippers assembled at the Pagoda Anchorage on the Min River, downriver from Fuzhou. Taeping was one of these ships waiting to load tea. The five leading ships headed for the Sunda Strait, sailing past the Paracels, down the coast of Annam, and south to Borneo, bound for Anjer.

Finish and Premium. Taeping docked 28 minutes before Ariel after a passage of more than 14,000 miles. Ariel logged about 15,800 nautical miles. Given the close finish, the premium was claimed by Taeping but shared with Ariel by agreement. This was the last time a premium was written into a bill of lading for docking in London with the first new crop.

People involved

Sources

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