OFF TO THE TEA RACES
Her first voyage was on the famous "Tea to Silk Course" between Shanghai and London, which at the time had the fastest ships afloat. A race was arranged between her and a British clipper, Challenger. The course was from Shanghai to London with stakes of 2,000 pounds being placed by their respective owners. The Nightingale lost, and her commander, chagrined at the result, resigned, leaving the Nightingale in London Docks and took a Cunarder home.
The Nightingale's owners made light of the loss but immediately set out on arranging another race for similar stakes between the two ships along the same course. On the return from Shanghai, the Challenger beat the Nightingale by more than a week.
That ended the Nightingale's efforts to be No. 1.
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PASSENGER TRADE TO AUSTRALIA
In the spring of 1853, the Nightingale was chartered to carry mail, passengers and freight to Melbourne, Australia, from London. From there she was to proceed to China where she would load tea and silk for London. At the time, the Gold Fever was rampant in Australia and it didn't take long to sell the accommodations.
--Old B-Runner
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