Serica (clipper) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name | Serica |
| Owner | James Findlay |
| Builder | Robert Steele & Company, Greenock |
| Launched | 1863 |
| Fate | Wrecked on the Paracels, 1872 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 708 NRT |
| Length | 185.9 ft (56.7 m) |
| Beam | 31.1 ft (9.5 m) |
| Depth | 19.6 ft (6.0 m) |
| Complement | Crew of 23 |
The Serica was a very fast sailing ship called a clipper. It was built in 1863 by Robert Steele & Co. in Greenock, Scotland. This shipyard was located on the Clyde River. The ship was made for James Findlay. Serica was one of the last wooden clippers built by Steele before they started making ships from both wood and iron.
Contents
The Great Tea Races
The name Serica means "China" in Latin. This ship was specially built for the tea trade with China. Clippers like Serica were famous for their speed. They raced to bring the first fresh tea of the season from China to London. Getting the tea there first meant more money for the ship owners.
Winning the 1864 Race
Serica took part in these exciting annual "tea races." In 1864, she won the race, arriving in London first. This was a big achievement for the ship and its crew.
Close Calls in Later Races
In 1865, Serica was once again leading the race. She was the first ship to reach Beachy Head in England. However, she could not get a tugboat to pull her up the river to London. Because of this delay, another ship, the Fiery Cross, beat her by 12 hours. In The Great Tea Race of 1866, Serica finished in third place. She was only a few hours behind the winners.
How Serica Sailed
The Serica was known for sailing very well in light winds. Other famous tea clippers like Fiery Cross, Lahloo, and Taeping were similar. These ships had a special type of sail setup with single topsails. This design helped them move quickly even when the wind was not very strong.
The Ship's Final Journey
Serica's last voyage began on November 2, 1872. Captain George Innes was in charge. The ship left Hong Kong and was sailing towards Montevideo. The very next day, on November 3, 1872, disaster struck. The Serica was wrecked on the Paracels. These islands are located in the South China Sea. There were 23 crew members on board. Sadly, only one person survived the shipwreck.
See also
- List of clipper ships
