THE TEA SHIP RACE.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 619, 6 January 1870, Page 3

THE TEA SHIP RACE.

TheClyde-builtclippersArielandLahloo were both reported in the Channel from JFoo Chow Foo on the 9th October — the one being off Plymouth, and the other off the Eddystone. The Ariel (Courtney) was first to leave China this season, as she started on 30th June, with 798,4001 bof tea. The Leander left on the following day, and the Lahloo (Smith) 2nd July. It is believed that the above ships came home by what is known as the " outside passage," neither of them having been reported as having passed through the Straits. The Ariel and Lahloo were both built by Messrs Robert Steele and Co., Greenock. The former is owned in London by Messrs Shaw, Lowther and Maxton, and the latter by Mr A. Rodger, Glasgow. The Ariel, until this year, has occupied a most prominent position in connection with the race home. The clipper ship Leander, 833 tons (Peterwich), from Foo Chow Foo for London, was reported off Scilly, 7th October. The Leander left Foo Chow Foo on 30th June, three days before the Thermopylae, which arrived 4th October, after a remarkable passage of 88 days. The Leander i 3 a composite ship, built by Mr J. G, Lawrie, Glasgow, in 1867, and is owned in London by the Merchant Shipping Company. The Sir Lancelot arrived in the Downs 14th October, at 2 p.m., from Foo Chow Foo, after a passage of 88 days, the fastest on record. The Sir Lancelot left China at noon on the 17th July, and reached St. Helena on the 11th September, 56 days out. The new Aberdeen clipper Thermopylje, which arrived 4th October, reached the Lizard from Foo Chow Foo in 88 days, but the sailing distance from the Lizard to London docks occupied upwards of two days ; while the time occupied from the Downs to the docks being only one day, the Sir Lancelot thus beats the Thermopylae by fully twenty-four hours. The latter ship was 90 days from Foo Chow Foo to London docks. Under these circumstaices, the "blue ribbon" of this justly celebrated race is yet retained by a Clyde-built ship, and that after the performance of the most remarkable voyage that has ever taken place in the history of the China clippers,