Taitsing (clipper)

Taitsing was a famous British tea clipper.

The British clipper Taitsing (Great Arrow) off Hong Kong
History
United Kingdom
NameTaitsing
Owner
  • Findlay & Longmuir, Greenock; 1865-1876
  • James Findlay, Greenock; 1876-1880
  • Robert D Willis, London; 1880-1883
  • [1]: 166 
BuilderCharles Connell & Co, Glasgow
Launched1865
FateSank 20 September 1883
NotesArrived fifth in The Great Tea Race of 1866
General characteristics
Class and typeClipper
Tonnage815 NRT[1]: 166 
Length192 ft[1]: 166 
Beam31.5 ft[1]: 166 
Depth20.1 ft[1]: 166 
Sail planFull-rigged ship

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.[1]: 166 

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.[1]: 235–243 

The Great Tea Race of 1866
Main article: 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."[2] 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)).[3]

Sinking

Taitsing, carrying a load of patent fuel from Swansea, Wales, sank in the Indian Ocean off Nyuni Island, Zanzibar, on 20 September 1883.[1]: 169 

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.[4]

References
  1. MacGregor, David R. (1983). The Tea Clippers, Their History and Development 1833-1875. Conway Maritime Press Limited. ISBN 0 85177 256 0.
  2. Lars Bruzelius (12 September 1866). "The Great Tea Race, 1866". The Shipping and Mercantile Gazette. p. 5. Retrieved 18 February 2010. The Taeping took in 1,108,700 lbs. of tea, the Ariel 1,230,900 lbs., the Serica 954,236 lbs., the Fiery Cross 854,236 lbs., and the Taitsing 1,093,130 lbs.
  3. Arthur H. Clark (1911). "The clipper ship era; an epitome of famous American and British clipper ships, their owners, builders, commanders, and crews, 1843-1869". G. P. Putnam's Sons. p. 330. Retrieved 18 February 2010. The best twenty -four hours' runs were as follows : Average, Ariel June 25 317 miles 13.2 knots, ... Taitsing July 2 318 13.25
  4. Sotheby's (24 January 2009). "Important Americana, Sale: N08512, Location: New York". Retrieved 18 February 2010. PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF FRED F. AND LOIS K. ROGERS CHINESE SCHOOL, 19TH CENTURY, THE CLIPPER SHIP VENUS AND THE CLIPPER SHIP TAITSING: TWO CHINA TRADE SHIP PORTRAITS

Further reading

David R. MacGregor (1988). "Fast Sailing Ships: Their Design and Construction, 1775-1875". Naval Institute Press. pp. 239–40. Retrieved 18 February 2010. Taitsing, ship, compared with Serica, 240 ... compared with other clippers, 239-40

Paintings

Scale model

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