This article details the Great Tea Race of 1866, a competitive event where clippers racing to deliver tea from China to Britain captured public attention. The race featured close finishes, with the ship Taeping narrowly winning by 28 minutes over Ariel after a 14,000-mile journey. Factors like steam tug assistance and tidal conditions at Gravesend played a crucial role in the outcome. The top three ships arrived within 99 days, with Serica finishing an hour later.