Great Tea Race of 1866

The Great Tea Race of 1866 was a competitive event between two British steamships, the Thermopylae and the Cutty Sark, aiming to be the fastest to transport tea from China to England. Both ships carried valuable cargoes and left China around the same time, racing across the globe. The Thermopylae, a large clipper ship, initially took the lead, but the faster, more agile Cutty Sark eventually arrived in London nearly a day earlier, securing bragging rights. The race highlighted advances in maritime speed, driven by the high demand for fresh tea in Britain and the desire for economic advantage.