The Sun.
London, England, 1868-09-07 00:00:00

TIM GREAT SHIP RACE FROM CHINA

The 16,000 mile race among the large fleet of
the finest clipper ships in the world, with the new
spring teas from China, has this year been watched
with more than ordinary interest. _

In all about 40 sailing ships were engaged in the
contest. Their departure from Foo-chow-foo and
its neighbouring ports ranged over a space of 25
days. Of these ships were those which accom-
plished such extraordinary quick passages in last
year's and the year before races—viz., the Ariel
and the Taeping, as well as others which have ob-
tained considerable notoriety fir their quick-sailing
qualities, the Serica and Fiery Cross.
This year's contest has at least displayed most
splendid seamanship on the part of the officers and
crews of the different clippers, and though there was
no prize held out, as in former years (a handsome
premium), there was no lack of the determined
courage and perseierance which characterised
their seamanship in former contests.
The leading ships in the race, with the days of
sailing, tonnage, and cargo, will be found detailed
in the following list :

May 27.—Sailed the Belted Will, 812 tons re-
gister, owned by 'Messrs. Busby and Co., classed
at Lloyd's A 1 for 14 years, with 934,4961 b. of
tea.

May 27.—Sailed, the Undine, 769 tons, a new
ship, built last year, owned by Messrs. J. Kelso,
with 1,088,3981 b. of tea.
May 28.—Sailed, the Ariel, 853 tons, owned by
Messrs. Shaw, Lowther, and Co., Royal Exchange-
buildings, built in 1863, and classed A 1 for 16
years, 1,221,0561 b. of tea.

Captain Robinson, built in 1865, owned by
—Sailed, the Sir Lancelot, 886 tons,
MeAsslarys. J22B.—Sailed,
classed A 1 for 16 years, with
1,257,0761 b. of tea.
May 28. —Sailed, the Taeping, 767 tons, owned
by Messrs. Rodgers and Co., Glasgow, built in
1863, classed A 1 for 14 years, with 1,165,4591 b.
of tea.

May 29.—Sailed, the Spindrift, 899 tons, a new
ship, built last year, owned by Messrs. Findlay and
Co., of Glasgow, classed A 1 for 16 years, with
1,306,8361 b of tea.
May 30.—Sailed the Lahloo, 799 tons, a new
ship, built last year, owned byMessrs. Rodgers and
Co., of Glasgow, classed A 1 for 16 years, cargo
1,231,3971 b of tea. Her first voyage, and consi-
dered the favourite.

caig1°713,01.5.-1
,3Soaoillebde,f the Black Prince, 750 tons,
built in 1863, owned by Messrs. Baring Brothers ;
June I.—Sailed, the Serica, 709 tons, owned by
Messrs. Findlay and Co., Glasgow, built in 1863,
cargo 957,5001 b of tea.
June 2.—Sailed the Fiery Cross, 830 tons, built
in 1863, owned by Messrs. J. Campbell and Co.,
of Liverpool ; cargo, 867,6001 b of tea.
It will be seen by the above that three of the
ships—the Ariel, Lancelot, and Taeping—left on
one day, May 28, and that the Spindrift sailed on
May 29, and the Lahloo on May 30. The next
beard of them was from Anjer, showing that these
vessels passed the Straits about June 22 and 23,
and from subsequent accounts most of the other
vessels passed down the China seas altogether.
The Ariel was the first ship to reach the Chan-
nel, She passed through the Downs at two o'clock
on Wednesday morning, and was hauled into the
East India Dock at noon that day.

The Spindrift was the next ship. She passed
through the Downs at thirty minutes past twelve
o'clock on Wednesday forenoon, and got into the
East India Dock at twelve o'clock that night.
The Ariel was undoubtedly the first ship in dock,
but the Spindrift was the winning ship according
to nautical time by fifteen hours and a half, the
Spindrift having, it is said, accomplished the run in
little more thr.n 91 days; the Atiel, which left China
the day before the Spindrift, took about 95 days
12 hours. The repo: is made by the captains of
these two ships of their run are interesting.
The captain of the Ariel states : " We sailed from
Foochow on the 28th May. Passed Anjer on the
22d June. Rounded the Cape of Good Hope on the

19th July. Passed Ascension on the 2d August.
Crossed the line on the Gth of August, and reached
soundings on the 29th August. We passed the Sir
Lancelot for London on the 30th May; she had been

out two days ; in lat. 23.40 N., long. 118.26 E. On
10th June we passed the Undiue ship for London.
On the 14th June we passed the Lahloo, when she
was 14 days out, in lat. 4.5 N., long. 113.3 E. On
the 18th of June we passed the Spindrift, 18 days
out, in lat 2.9 N., long. 109.33 E. On the 19th of
June we passed the ship Belt; d Will, and on the