Stitchers: Sheila Williams, Pamela Cheung, Rose Hickox, Judy Hsu (Hong Kong)
The clippers which brought the first tea shipments of the year into Britain were handsomely rewarded, and the run home from China became highly competitive and speed meant greater profit. In 1866 an unofficial “Great Tea Race” occurred between the Ariel, Serica, Fiery Cross and the Taipeng. All but the Fiery Cross were built at Greenock. The Taipeng and Ariel were virtually neck and neck when they entered the Thames after an astonishingly fast voyage, and although the Taipeng was technically docked first and received the reward, it was later decided that the prize money would be split between them.
CN06 Rèis Mhòr na Teatha ann an1866
Bha na cliopairean a thug a’ chiad luchdan teatha a Bhreatainn air an deagh phàigheadh, agus thàinig an turas dhachaigh à Sìona gu bhith glè fharpaiseach agus bha astar a’ ciallachadh barrachd prothaid. Ann an 1866, ghabh “Rèis Mhòr Teatha” neo-oifigeil àite eadar an Ariel, Serica, Fiery Cross agus an Taipeng. Bha gach aon dhiubh ach am Fiery Cross air an togail ann an Grianaig. Bha an Taipeng agus an Ariel cha mhòr taobh ri taobh nuair a thàinig iad a-steach tro bheul Abhainn Thames, an dèidh bhòidse a bha air leth luath agus ged a bha an Taipeng air a ceangal suas san doca an toiseach agus air an duais fhaighinn, chaidh co-dhùnadh às dèidh làimhe gun deidheadh an t-airgead a roinn eatarra.