Fiery Cross (clipper) facts for kids
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Fiery Cross, in later years, with the rig reduced to barque
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Owner | John Campbell, Glasgow |
| Builder | Shipyard at Chaloner, Liverpool |
| Launched | 1860 |
| Notes | First tea clipper home in 1861,1862, 1863 and 1865. |
| History | |
 Norway |
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| Name | Ellen Lines |
| Acquired | 1887 |
| Out of service | 1889 or 1893 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Clipper ship |
| Tonnage | 695 NRT |
| Length | 185 ft (56 m) |
| Beam | 31.7 ft (9.7 m) |
| Depth | 19.2 ft (5.9 m) |
| Notes | Designed by William Rennie. Equipped with Cunningham's roller-reefing top-sails and steel masts. |
The Fiery Cross was a very famous British clipper ship. Clippers were fast sailing ships designed to carry goods quickly across oceans. This ship was especially known for carrying tea.
She was the first ship to arrive home with tea in 1861, 1862, 1863, and 1865. This made her a real champion in the tea trade!
Interestingly, this Fiery Cross was actually the second ship to have this name. The first Fiery Cross was built in 1855. It had the same owner and designer. Sadly, that first ship was lost at sea in 1860. Since the new ship was already being built, it took on the famous name of its predecessor.
The Exciting Tea Trade Journeys
From 1860 to 1875, the Fiery Cross spent her time sailing in the important tea trade. This meant she traveled between London, England, and various ports in China.
Ships like the Fiery Cross were crucial for bringing tea from China to eager customers in Britain. The faster the tea arrived, the fresher it was, and the more money the ship owners could make!
The Great Tea Race of 1866
One of the most exciting events in the history of tea clippers was The Great Tea Race of 1866. The Fiery Cross was a big part of this thrilling competition.
- What was the race?
The race involved ten ships, including Fiery Cross. They all loaded up with huge amounts of tea in China. Fiery Cross carried nearly a million pounds of tea! Then, they raced all the way to England. It was a journey of about 14,000 miles!
- How did Fiery Cross do?
Fiery Cross finished fourth in this famous race. It was one of the closest races ever recorded. The top five ships arrived in England within just three days of each other!
- The top five ships were:
- Taiping
- Ariel
- Serica
- Fiery Cross
- Taitsing
Fiery Cross also had the best single day of sailing during the race. On June 24, she traveled an amazing 318 miles. This means she averaged about 13.7 knots, which is very fast for a sailing ship!
How Fiery Cross Sailed So Well
The Fiery Cross was known for its excellent sailing performance. Experts say that she, along with other famous tea clippers like Taeping, Serica, and Lahloo, were best in light winds.
This was because these ships were designed with single topsails. This type of sail setup helped them move quickly even when the wind wasn't very strong.
