Sea Witch (1848 barque)

For other ships with the same name, see Sea Witch (disambiguation).

History
Name	Sea Witch
Owner	Taylor & Co, London
Port of registry	United Kingdom
Launched	1848
Fate	Sold to Capt. R. McCully for the South America trade
General characteristics
Class and type	Opium clipper
Tons burthen	401 tons
Length	121.5 ft
Beam	26.7 ft.
Draught	16 ft.
Sail plan	Barque

The barque Sea Witch was an 1848 British Opium clipper and tea clipper. She sailed in the First Tea Race in 1850.

Voyages and speed

Sea Witch sailed from Gravesend to Shanghai in 95 days.

First Tea Race, 1850

The First Tea Race from China to England took place in 1850. The first ship to load tea was "the barque Sea Witch, commanded by Captain Reynell of Waterwitch fame."

Astarte, an 1846 brig of 328 tons finished close behind the Oriental, which made a passage from Anjer to West India docks in 97 days. Reindeer, and Countess of Seafield both finished in less than 110 days, John Bunyan arrived in 99 days, from Shanghai.

"This the first of the international tea races, over-shadowed every other event in China in 1850. ; at the end of the sixties Taylor & Co sold the Sea Witch to Captain R. Mc Cully, who took her into the South American trade."