Taitsing (clipper) facts for kids

The British clipper Taitsing (Great Arrow) off Hong Kong
Quick facts for kids History
United Kingdom
Name	Taitsing
Owner	*list error: empty list item (help) Findlay & Longmuir, Greenock; 1865-1876 James Findlay, Greenock; 1876-1880 Robert D Willis, London; 1880-1883

Taitsing was a famous British tea clipper.

Tea Clipper Taitsing

Taitsing was a full-rigged, composite-built clipper ship, measuring 192 feet (59 meters) in length, with a beam of 31.5 feet (9.6 meters) and a draught of 20.15 feet (6.14 meters). She was built in 1865 by Charles Connell & Co, Glasgow, Scotland, for Findlay & Longmuir, Greenock, Scotland.

The ship sailed from London to Chinese ports like Amoy, Hong Kong, Wusong, Fuzhou, and Shanghai. She also travelled from Fuzhou to New York in 1874. In 1876 the ship was sold to James Findlay of Greenock. She was sold to John Willis & Son [Robert D. Willis] of London in 1879.

The Great Tea Race of 1866

The Pagoda Anchorage, Fuzhou, in 1866. The Tea Clippers lined up awaiting their cargo. Pictured from Left to Right - The 'Black Prince', 'Fiery Cross', 'Taitsing', 'Taeping', and 'Flying Spur'

Laden with just over a million pounds (453,600 kg) of tea, Taitsing, under the command of Captain Nutsford, raced nine other ships from China to England in The Great Tea Race of 1866. The first five ships – Taiping, Ariel, Serica, Fiery Cross, and Taitsing – finished the 14,000-nautical-mile (25,930-km) race within three days of each other. Taitsing arrived fifth, in "the closest run ever recorded." Taitsing′s best 24-hour run during the race was on 2 July 1866, when she traveled 318 nautical miles (589 kilometres), averaging 13.25 knots (24.54 km/h)).

Sinking

Taitsing, carrying a load of patent fuel from Swansea, Wales, sank in the Indian Ocean off Nyuni Island, Zanzibar, on 20 September 1883.

In culture

A painting of Taitsing signed by the Chinese painter Hingqua, along with a painting of the clipper brig Venus, sold at auction at Sotheby's in New York City in 2009.