MBT Tea Clipper "Ariel" (1865 - 1872) - Construction Drawing Scale 1 : 100 (10.00.030)

The "Ariel" was a famous tea clipper, built in 1865 and active until 1872. Tea clippers were fast, elegant ships specifically designed for the tea trade, especially during the heyday of the British tea trade from China in the 19th century. The "Ariel" was one of the most notable ships in this category.

Important facts about the "Ariel":

Construction and design:

Built by J. S. White & Co. in Cowes, Isle of Wight, England, in 1865.

The "Ariel" was a clipper ship known for its sleek, fast design. The ship had long, narrow hulls and was equipped with a full rig of sails, which gave it speed at sea. This made it ideally suited for the tea trade, where time was crucial for delivering the valuable cargo.

Purpose:

The ship was primarily designed for the tea trade between China and London. Clipper ships like the "Ariel" were used to transport tea from China to London as quickly as possible, because the faster the tea arrived, the fresher it was, which commanded higher prices on the market.

Career and tea races:

The "Ariel" was part of the fierce competition between clipper ships during the "tea races" of the 19th century. These races were informal but very important, with rival tea clippers trying to beat each other to port to be the first to deliver the new season's tea.

The "Ariel" participated in these races and was very successful, known for its remarkable speed. It was one of the fastest ships of its time.

Owner and operations:

The ship was owned by John Willis, a prominent figure in the tea trade. He owned several clipper ships, including the "Ariel," and used them to dominate trade routes.

Fate and end of service:

The "Ariel" had a relatively short operational lifespan, from 1865 until it was sold in 1872.

After its service in the tea trade, the "Ariel" was repurposed and used for other forms of trade, including cargo transport. However, in the early 1870s, the rise of steamships—faster, more reliable vessels—began to displace clipper ships.

Ultimately, the "Ariel" was taken out of active service, and like many other clippers, it was sold and scrapped.