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The History Hit Miscellany of Facts, Figures and Fascinating Finds

How Cutty Sark Became the Fastest Sail-Powered Cargo Ship Ever Built

Kyle Hoekstra

25 jul 2024.

Standing proud on the bank of the Thames, a half-mile from the Prime Meridian, is one of Britain’s most famous ships: the Cutty Sark . She is the fastest sail-powered cargo ship ever built, nowadays poised in permanent dry dock at Greenwich, the locus of British maritime science.

It was at the height of Britain’s global, imperial power that Cutty Sark embarked on treacherous journeys across the world’s biggest oceans. Not only was she the fastest vessel of her day, but she could carry a million pounds of tea from China to Britain to quench the thirst of the Victorian public. Vessels like the Cutty Sark were a central plank in Britain’s expanding networks of trade and commerce, which drove the empire’s growth in the 19th century.

By 1901, the year Queen Victoria died, the British empire embraced 12 million square miles of the globe. British merchants also thronged the wharves of ports outside of Britain’s possession, as in China, Syria and South America.

Photographed by Green, Allan C., 1926.

Image Credit: State Library Victoria / Public Domain

The goods these ships carried introduced Victorians to new products: tea from China and India; coffee from the Middle East; spices from Southeast Asia; textiles from Egypt; timber from Canada; and frozen meats from Australia and New Zealand.

These arrived as raw commodities from Britain’s colonies, and returned as manufactured goods, protected on the high seas by the Royal Navy. Although British merchant vessels had the Navy’s protection, they could not afford complacency when it came to speed and efficiency. Key to Cutty Sark ’s fame and success was the state-of-the-art technology with which she was outfitted.

State-of-the-art

At the time, competing fleets utilised whatever technological advantages were available in order to dominate trade and commodities. Among the Cutty Sark ’s forest of sheets and halyards is evidence of significant changes in shipbuilding.

Cutty Sark ’s hull is among the sharpest among tea clippers, meaning it required ballast for stability when unladen. Constructed from teak above the waterline, rock elm below and with a keel of pitch pine, it also featured metal sheeting over its hull. This kept the hull cleaner, so it sailed faster. It also had a wrought-iron frame to which all external timbers were secured by bolts. This made it stronger and less susceptible to leaks which would occupy valuable crew time to remedy.

“To maintain their edge, shipbuilders and architects are having to pioneer and innovate new technologies and techniques of shipbuilding,” explains Max Wilson, Senior Archivist at Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a public-facing library and archive holding material concerning over 260 years of marine and engineering science and history.

which possesses one of the best archives of ships and ship-building in the world. “We see this starkly over the 19th century.”

A plan and survey report for the Cutty Sark.

Image Credit: Lloyd's Register Foundation

Designers aimed to maximise the speed of cargo delivery, harness cargo carrying capacity to bolster the safety of passengers and goods, and to increase the number of journeys ships could undertake. Ultimately, they aimed to increase their share of the merchant trade.

Victorian sensation

Cutty Sark was built by John Willis in Scotland in 1869 against a backdrop of great transformations in shipbuilding. Shipbuilding moved northwards in Britain, while motive power was shifting from wind to steam and wood construction was being replaced with iron and composite solutions.

As the ‘age of sail’ threatened to pass into memory, the Cutty Sark was a last throw of the dice. In 1840 steam ships made up about 4 percent of Britain’s merchant fleet: by around 1870, this had grown to around 20 percent. By 1890, this would be around 75 percent. The Cutty Sark was built as a way to demonstrate the power of sail and wind against steam power.

“The sailing ships were still very reliable at that time,” says Zach Schieferstein, Archivist at Lloyd’s Register Foundation. “Ships like the Cutty Sark that were built for a purpose of transporting tea were built for speed and travelling long distances, getting the first tea of the season ready to sell for those high premiums.”

The Cutty Sark ’s fastest recorded speed was 17.5 knots, considerable for a container ship, and the furthest she travelled in a 24-hour period was around 350 nautical miles. “It wasn’t uncommon to make the journey from Shanghai to ports in Britain in about 100 to 120 days. For the time, it was really setting records.”

Helping her rack up these miles were 32 sails, which could stretch over 32,000 square feet, suspended on 11 miles of rigging. She carried an average of 26 crew and was larger than clippers that had come before: with a gross tonnage of 963, a length of 212.5 feet, breadth of 36 feet and depth of 21 feet.

Cutty Sark traded between China, Australia, later to South Africa and South America, and for a while held the record for journeying between Australia and Britain. Over the course of the century, tea had emerged as the national drink and the Cutty Sark became associated with tea races. The annual tea race was a Victorian sensation. A premium or bonus was paid to the ship that arrived with the first tea of the year. Clipper ships like Cutty Sark raced from China’s tea ports to London to fetch the highest price for its cargo. In 1866’s so-called ‘great tea race’, the progress of ships was reported by telegraph and followed in the papers, with bets placed on the outcome.

In this period there was a simultaneous explosion in the service industries attached to shipping.

For example, Edward Lloyd’s Coffee House had become known as the meeting place in the City for those seeking shipping intelligence. A committee called The Register Society, made up of underwriters and brokers, ship-owners and merchants who associated through Lloyd’s coffee house, was formed in 1760. The Register Book published by the Society, later to become Lloyd’s Register, provided critical information on vessel seaworthiness which was critical for merchants and underwriters assessing the risks of any one voyage. This was the true beginning of classification and Lloyd’s Register as the first classification society which now possesses a vast archive and library.

In 1760, merchants who met at Edward Lloyd’s London coffee shop established the Society for the Registry of Shipping. From 1764, it funded surveyors to list, rate and class the condition of vessels. This was the origin of the world’s first classification society in Lloyd’s Register, which today possesses one of the best archives of ships and ship-building in the world.

“It was born out of this desire to have reliable and up-to-date information on merchant shipping,” explains Schieferstein, “and to make it safer as well, for passengers, for cargo and for the crew.”

The first mention of the Cutty Sark in the Register Book, from the supplements section of the 1869 Register Book.

Lloyd’s Register’s surveyors would assess a ship, using “A1” from 1768 to indicate a ship of the highest class. they thereby introduced the term “first rate” to denote quality. Cutty Sark was given this A1 rating.

Continuing developments in steam technology resulted in the sale of Cutty Sark , to serve first as a Portuguese cargo ship, and later as a training vessel in Cornwall and on the Thames. It was towed into its current dry dock in 1953 to become one of the nation’s most treasured heritage sites, whose story becomes richer with the documents and records collated by Lloyd’s Register Foundation.

You can find out more about the history of Lloyd’s Register Foundation and their work supporting research, innovation and education to help the global community tackle the most pressing safety and risk challenges at www.lrfoundation.org.uk

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Name Cutty Sark

Previous names

• 1895 - 1922 Ferreira
• 1922 - 1923 Maria di Amparo

Construction

Built in 1869 by Scott & Linton at Dumbarton, for the original owner John Willis, CUTTY SARK is the sole surviving extreme clipper, designed to be very fast. She was one of the last tea clippers built, but as this trade was taken over by the steamers using the Suez Canal, she turned to general trading including transporting wool from Australia. It was during this time that she made her legendary fast voyages. In 1895 she was sold to a Portuguese company and renamed FERRIERA. She was re-rigged as a barquentine following a dismasting in 1916. Captain Dowman of Falmouth decided she should be preserved and in 1922 bought the ship and made her part of a floating nautical school he was operating. In 1938, his widow presented the ship to the Thames Nautical Training School at Greenhithe. They maintained the ship until 1952 when the Cutty Sark Preservation Society was formed under the leadership of Frank Carr, Director of the National Maritime Museum, and the patronage of HRH the Duke of Edinburgh. The ship was permanently installed in a stone dry-dock at Greenwich on the Thames, and fully restored to her appearance as an active sailing vessel. In the 1990s, structural problems were first identified in her hull and plans were put in motion for a full restoration. She was awarded a grant of £13 million by the Heritage Lottery Fund and, in November 2006, her rig was dismantled prior to work commencing. On 21 May 2007, a fire broke out onboard CUTTY SARK in the early hours of the morning and was later put out by the London Fire Brigade. The Cutty Sark Conservation Project is a £25 million scheme, not only to preserve the fabric of the ship, but also to ensure that she has a sustainable future. The vessel will be lifted and suspended three metres above her current position, allowing her visitors to walk, dine or dance under her and, for the first time, be able to properly appreciate her beautiful lines. A sophisticated glass 'bubble' meeting the ship at the waterline will give year-round protection to visitors in the dry berth and to the lower hull itself. These new works will be clearly distinguishable so that each visitor knows what is historic and what is not. A new interpretation scheme will be installed to give a more atmospheric, more dramatic sense of life and times of the ship.

This vessel is a survivor from the First World War. You can read more about her wartime history by visiting our First World War: Britain's Surviving Vessels website www.ww1britainssurvivingvessels.org.uk . 

Significance

1.      What is the vessel’s ability to demonstrate history in her physical fabric?

Evidence for designs, functions, techniques, processes, styles, customs and habits or uses and associations in relation to events and people.  How early, intact or rare these features are may impact on significance.

CUTTY SARK has undergone numerous repairs during her lifetime, including conservation work in 1954-1957, and then, following a 1998 survey, a six-year project commencing in 2006. However, she retains the majority of her original wrought iron structure, which comprises 139 iron hull frames, deck beams, stringers, keel plate, box keelson, bilge keelson, side keelson, stanchions and the fore and aft collision bulkhead (openings have been made in the hull for access reasons) making her one of only two surviving composite vessels in the world.

 The iron hull frames have survived intact with only a small area of loss behind the aft bulkhead. Significantly the original markers stamp of ‘monkland’ and rating of the quality of the wrought iron as ‘Glasgow best’ (the poorest quality iron) are evident.  These frames have been preserved, using modern methods, in their current condition.  With 70% of fixing holes wasted below the bilge strake, and 90% of fixing above the bilge strake still usable, the hull planks under the bilge strake have been re-attached to ‘sister frames’ which consisted of new steels inserted in-between the original frames, attached from the bilge strake down to the keel plate. Where frame fixings had wasted away, the original muntz bolts (60:40 copper zinc ratio) fixings remained in the timber planks.  Approximately 87% of the vessel’s hull planks are original ‘as built’, being made of teak and rock elm.  Fractured planks have been repaired using like-for-like materials before being laminated and treated with epoxy resin.

Her diagonal plates, fitted in pairs at an angle of 45 degrees from her bilge strake to sheer strake, have structurally deteriorated and have been over plated with new mild steel.  The original rivets had to be removed to fix the new steels, but most of the original material remains intact. Similarly, 19% of butt plates to which the hull plank ends are attached have completely corroded and been replaced. The bilge strake has been over plated its entire port and starboard length. The floors have corroded substantially and have been treated with new steel support angles. The keel was originally constructed in rock elm, but was replaced circa 1921, with longleaf pine. The fore and aft deadwoods, stern and stem post are all made from teak, with repairs carried out in the same material. The rudder has been lost numerous times over her life and is currently made from teak.

The majority of the iron panelling in the counter and all the rivets have been replaced due to structural failure. A large proportion of the iron bulwarks and flare have been replaced. The topgallant pin rail and wooden bulwark panelling has all been restored with teak, keeping examples of rope marks from her working life.  Almost all of the deck furniture, mooring bitts, mooring pipes fairleads, cleats, hawsepipe, cable compressors, eye plates, davits, the majority of the chain plates, deck and brace winches, bilge pump, bowsprit, steering gear, are from her working life. Her windlass, catsheads, heads, anchors, nameboards, billboard, gingerbread, sheathing and majority of her yards, jiboom, stuns’l booms and mast have been replaced since she has been in dry dock. All her concrete ballast has been removed.

Her main cargo hatch still has her Lloyd’s number and tonnage marks. Damage to the ship’s decks after the fire of 2007 meant that the main deck, monkey fo’csle, and poop deck have been newly constructed using modern technology, with a teak laminate on a marine ply base. During the project the 1920s ‘tween deck was removed and replaced with a traditionally constructed deck made from Douglas fir. The forward and aft deck houses were reconstructed in the 1950s, with restoration of the Birdseye maple and teak panelling in the saloon. The Portuguese alterations to the accommodation were left in during the 1950s restoration for ease of visitor flow.  The ship has been re-rigged as a square rigged sailing ship, representing her days in the China tea trade. Her running rigging has been replaced with natural rope fibres.  A number of adaptations have been made to the hull and decks to facilitate access and interpretation in her role as a museum ship.

2.      What are the vessel’s associational links for which there is no physical evidence?

Associations with people or places.  Off-ship research.

CUTTY SARK is the sole surviving example of an extreme clipper of the late nineteenth century tea trade. She was built in 1869 on the Clyde in Dumbarton for ship owner Jock ‘white hat’ Willis and has connections to Scottish literary heritage, being named after a witch’s attire in Robert Burns poem ‘Tam O’Shanter’.  CUTTY SARK was designed by Hercules Linton and built by Scott & Linton - a relatively new firm, being only the sixth ship they had constructed.  

CUTTY SARK was originally built for speed, bringing back the freshest tea from China, which helped to make the beverage popular in the British consciousness.  Tea clippers would race to be the first vessel back in London and CUTTY SARK is remembered for a race with her rival, the THERMOPYLAE , in 1872, which saw her lose her rudder off the Cape of Good Hope, arriving home a week later.  CUTTY SARK is also associated with the Australian wool trade and, under her famous master Captain Richard Woodget (Master 1885-1895), she had her most successful years setting a record passage of 73 days from Sydney to London. In 1889 she was spotted overhauling the P&O steamship BRITANNIA, noted in the BRITANNIA'S log simply as “sailing ship overhauled and passed us”! CUTTY SARK has clear international links, not only because of her history with the tea and wool trade, but also because of 25 years of operating under the Portuguese flag. In 1895, she was sold to the firm J. Ferreira & Co. and re-named FERREIRA, sailing to ports around the globe with a variety of cargoes, rigged, after 1916, as a barquentine.

Returning to the UK in 1922, CUTTY SARK was restored to her appearance as a tea clipper, she was opened to the public in Falmouth and served as a sail training vessel. In 1938, she was transferred to the Incorporated Thames Nautical Training College at Greenhithe.  She participated in the festival of Britain in 1951, which year also marked the founding of the Cutty Sark Preservation Society by National Maritime Museum director Frank Carr, with HRH Duke of Edinburgh becoming patron (a role he remains active in). CUTTY SARK is now on permanent display, as a memorial to the men of the merchant navy who lost their lives in two world wars and is the only vessel in England to have been awarded Grade I listed status.

3.      How does the vessel’s shape or form combine and contribute to her function?

Overall aesthetic impact of the vessel, her lines, material she was built from and her setting.  Does she remain in her working environment?

CUTTY SARK‘s lines were influenced by past designs, notably the ‘Tweed’, another ship in the Willis fleet. He instructed designer Hercules Linton to build ‘into the midship, attributes of Firth of Forth fishing boats, creating a beautiful new hull shape that was stronger, could take more sail and be driven harder than any other’.  She was designed in response to a need for fast ships to compete in the China tea trade and her 963 tonne hull, with its composite construction, gave her the necessary strength and speed to fulfil this demand. 

CUTTY SARK has a sharp bow with fine lines, a large sail area and a relatively small cargo carrying capacity.  She was built from high quality teak and rock elm attached to a wrought iron frame and her square rig carried 32,000 feet of canvas. Relative to her size, this was a greater sail area than that carried by any other clipper, achieving a top speed of 17.5 knots.  CUTTY SARK was built to carry cargo and, on her first voyage, she returned with 1.3 million pounds of tea in her lower hold and ’tween deck, accessed by three cargo hatches for loading.

Her crew quarters originally consisted of senior officers in the Liverpool house, petty officers in the forward deck house, with bunks to accommodate 22 seamen in the foc’sle of the ship, with only one companion way for entry and exit.  However, this was altered in 1872, adding the aft deckhouse on the main deck for the petty officers and apprentices, with the ABs and OS’s moved into the forward deckhouse, offering easier access for the able seamen.

Although no longer operational, CUTTY SARK has been displayed in an appropriate heritage setting since 1954, set in a purpose built dry berth in the world heritage site of maritime Greenwich, in the city she was registered in, with her bow overlooking the river she used to serve.  For 50 years, she was held in position by wooden and steel dock shores along her hull, but this caused the hull to sag. In addition, the degeneration of her iron framework put her in danger of collapse. During the 2006-2012 conservation project, a decision was taken to lift her 3.3 metres above her original position, supported by a triangular steel cradle, thus taking the stress off the original structure.  The ship was also enclosed below the waterline in a modernist glass structure protecting the lower hull from the elements.

Source: NHS-UK team, 5 August 2015. 

This statement was developed as part of the Heritage Lottery funded First World War project. http://www.ww1britainssurvivingvessels.org.uk/

Built by Scott & Linton of Dumbarton for London ship owner John Willis

Sailed mainly as a tea clipper, the first voyage took 98 days to Shanghai, returning with 1.3 million pounds of tea 

 In the first and only race with THERMOPYLAE from Shanghai CUTTY SARK was 400 miles ahead in the Indian Ocean when she lost her rudder and the race

Last tea cargo carried which ended the decade transporting jute from Manila to New York

Vessel used as a wool clipper and, in her first voyage, she made the passage from Newcastle NSW to London in 83 days beating her nearest rival by 25 days

Sold to Portuguese company and renamed FERREIRA  Carried general cargo between Lisbon and Brazil, East Africa and New Orleans

Dismasted in a gale off theCapeand due to the difficulty of replacing large spars in wartime, she was re-rigged as a barquentine

Returned to London with a cargo of timber and word spread that she was for sale, but an offer was refused

 Falmouthtraining ship for boys entering the Royal Navy and Mercantile Marine

Restored to her former glory as a clipper

Presented to the Incorporated Nautical Training College TSS WORCESTER and berthed alongside WORCESTER as part of the college at Greenhithe

Used as a Thames training ship

Moored at Greenwich for the Festival of Britain

Handed over to the Cutty Sark Preservation Society  Received on their behalf by the Duke of Edinburgh

Permanently installed in purpose built dock at Greenwich

Restored to 1870 condition and opened to the public by HM the Queen in 1957

Structural problems were identified in her hull and plans were put in motion for a further full restoration

Having been awarded a grant of £13 million by the Heritage Lottery Fund, her rig was dismantled prior to work commencing

Fire broke out onboard and was put out by the London Fire Brigade

The Heritage Lottery Fund increased its award to the vessel by £10 million

April 25, Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, officially re-opened CUTTY SARK to the public

HLF increased their award to the CUTTY SARK by £10 million. Source: Cutty Sark website, May 2008

A grant of  £40,000 was given towards a technical skills apprenticeship by The Headley Trust

The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded £25,001,000 for the Conservation Project

The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded £50,000 for Phase One project planning

The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded £198,000 for removal and restoration of the Mizzen mast

The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded £96,432 for conservation plan

The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded £160,000 for restoration

Classic Boat: 150 years of the Cutty Sark, May 2015 Kentley, Eric, Cutty Sark: The Last of the Tea Clippers, 2014 Brouwer, Norman J, International Register of Historic Ships, Anthony Nelson, p145, Edition 2, 1993     Sullivan, Dick, Old Ships, Boats and Maritime Museums, Coracle Books, 1978 Classic Boat: chief executive replies, February 2010 Morgan Barnicoat, Daphne, Classic Boat: Last Chance for Cutty Sark , pp11, June 2004 Classic Boat: Cutty Sark skills, November, 1997 Classic Boat: Cutty Sark trust needs 8m to 'stay afloat', pp10, February 2003   Crosse, John, Mariner's Mirror Thermopylae v Cutty Sark - the 1872 official logs, pp62-72, Volumer 60, Edition 60, 1974   Scott, JL, Mariner's Mirror A Survey of the Cutty Sark in 1937, 1941 Carr, Frank GG, Royal Institute of Naval Architects 1965, The Restoration of Cutty Sark, Quarterly Transaction, pp199, 1966  Sea Breezes: Condition of the Cutty Sark causes concern, pp846-7, November 1993  Sea Breezes: Preservation of the Cutty Sark, pp260, October 1952  van Griethuysen, Ships Monthly: Lines of the Cutty Sark: New Reconstruction, pp93-6, March 1972    van Griethuysen, Ships Monthly: Too much 'ship' , pp131-3, April Volume 7, 1972   G G Carr, Frank, Yachting World: Cutty Sark - Last of the Clippers, December 1994

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Cutty Sark: The last Tea Clipper -1869 – Victory over Tragedy

• March 27, 2019
• No Comments

In the mid-19th century, tea was a valuable commodity that was in high demand in Britain. To meet this demand, a new type of sailing ship was created: the tea clipper. These ships were designed to be fast and nimble, capable of making the long journey from China to Britain in the shortest possible time. Of all the tea clippers built, the Cutty Sark is perhaps the most famous, and more importantly, still survives today.

Built in 1869 in Scotland, the Cutty Sark was designed by Hercules Linton and constructed by the shipbuilder Scott & Linton. The ship was named after a character in the Scottish poem “Tam o’ Shanter” by Robert Burns, and its figurehead depicted the character wearing a short chemise, or “cutty sark.”

The Cutty Sark was 212 feet long and weighed 963 tons. It was constructed using the latest shipbuilding techniques of the time, including an iron frame and a composite deck made from teak and greenheart. The ship was also equipped with a large amount of canvas sail, giving it the ability to reach high speeds.

In 1870, the Cutty Sark made its maiden voyage, traveling from London to Shanghai to pick up a cargo of tea. The ship made the journey in just 107 days, setting a record for the fastest time by a sailing ship. Over the next few years, the Cutty Sark continued to make regular trips between China and Britain, carrying tea and other cargo.

The Cutty Sark continued to sail for many years, but by the early 20th century, steam-powered ships had begun to replace sailing ships. In 1922, the Cutty Sark retired from service and became a training ship for the British Merchant Navy. In 1954, the ship was acquired by the Cutty Sark Preservation Society and moved to Greenwich, London, where it was restored and turned into a museum.

Today, the Cutty Sark is one of the most popular tourist attractions in London, attracting visitors from all over the world. The ship is a testament to the ingenuity and skill of the shipbuilders of the 19th century and the brave men who sailed these magnificent vessels across the seas.

“Where there's a Willis away” Company Motto attached to the rear of the Cutty Sark Tweet

1869 Dumbarton

£50 million pound Renovation

Cutty Sark Conservation

The project to renovate the Cutty Sark lasted 5 years and was the first complete overhaul and renovation of the ship since the ship was dry docked in Greenwich in 1954

"Goodbye, my Lads!" John Willis Tweet

John ‘Jock’ Willis (1791-1862) founded John Willis & Sons of London ship-owning company married Janet Dunbar, and had 9 children. The eldest son also called John Willis, also known as ‘White Hat Willis’. It was during John Willis junior time the firm owned and ran tea clipper ships like the Cutty Sark, the Tweed, and the Lammermuir. 

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How John Willis put the Cutty Sark’s ship builder, out of business

Dunbarton 1869 by Scott & Linton Built on the Leven and River Clyde Jock Willis Shipping Line. John Willis hired Hercules Linton to build the ship and believed one of his other ships the tweed had a design structure that gave it its speed. Oliver Lang had designed that ship called Punjab and was a frigate ship. He had other clipper ships built with Iron based on designs of the Halloween and Blackadder. That he also had an interest in because of their performance. Both Willis and Linton realised that the shape of the hull was the secret to speed and they compromised in what they thought would work. They streamlined it, broader stern gave it better buoyancy. It had a squarer stern and was less fat and barrel shape.

The contract said it was to be built in 6 months there were fines if this was late £5 per day. The builders would get their money in stages. Captain George Moodie supervised the construction for Willis. He would be the Captain of the Cutty Sark on completion. Delays it needed strengthening. Scott and Linton went bankrupt building the ship.

Denny took over and completed 22 Nov 1869.

They based Cutty Sark on the Tweed which originally was a paddle steamer. Lengthened, removal of the engines, therefore turning into a sailing ship, called, Punjaub. The West India company had built it. It had made record trips and paid off. Willis suggested Hercules Linton look at the Tweed ship, before designing  Cutty Sark. It’s shape unlike any other. Sailing ships that built for speed had to make sure the rough seas would not literally wash over the top and take with it the helmsmen or watch officers wheel and compass. The Ship had 2 very distinctive carved figureheads . 

When did it first sail?

1869 22 nd November. They towed the ship to Greenock on the Clyde, Scotland.

Towards the last week of  Dec 1869 to have its rigging installed.

They moored it at the Robert Steele shipyard near there at Cartsdyke before sailing to London.

1st Voyage 16th Feb 1870

From London to Shanghai China.

2 nd  Voyage 1871

South China Sea Bangkok rice was delivered to Hong Kong. Before fetching Tea.

£3 per 50 Cubic Feet of Tea

The Victorians loved tea and the Cutty Sark was one of the best of getting the valuable cargo back to Britain quickly. The first to land yielded the highest profits.  

1 shipment carried £270,000 Chinese Tea which in today’s money is around £18 Million.  Ships competed to be the first back to England with the new Seasons import of tea. Thousands of pounds would be at stake depending on who bought the first batch in.

The Tea race advertised in papers and regarded as a sporting event. The Tea Races had lots of public interest speculation as to who would be the first back, the ships having a well-known status about them.

In the first few years, 5.5 thousand tons of tea was delivered some 144 million pounds in today’s money.

The Time of year changed the price too. For example, Villiers in his book mentions,  Lloyds the underwriters charged more when the ships had sailed through a trickier season i.e monsoon weather than if they had gone out during plain sailing type weather. The Cutty Sark could fetch £4 per 50 cubic feet compared to £2.10 at another time for another ship.

After Tea, they carried Wool, past 1878, Coal, jute, castor oil, paraffin.

When was the Last Tea Cargo trip of the Cutty Sark

They completed the last Commercial cargo trip in 1877

Cutty Sark and the Tramping Years

When a ship has no dedicated cargo, resulting in it sailing from port to port looking for cargo, we know this as Tramping. Cutty Sark was tramping for around 5 years. During this time John Willis started to make drastic cost cuts, starting with the masts/sails. They took the Skysail on the mainmast away; they removed the stunsails, just under 3 meters cut from lower masts and just over 2 meters from the lower yards. Changes to the ship’s configuration meant they needed fewer sailors which meant 4 sailors were then out of a job.

Back to Anjer to telegram the boss

Willis instructed the crew to sail to Singapore, an enquiry was held over the incident and cargo they were mean to delivery to Japan of Coal never reached these shores. It was emptied in Singapore whilst they awaited a new Captain. Another mistake in the journey of captains.

Kerosene and Wool Cargo of the Cutty Sark

The New Freight being cases of Kerosene oil,  also known as Case Oil. Ships were meant to be ventilated and adapted to transport this cargo, but the Cutty Sark had not been designed for this and expenses were being kept low. The destination Samarang. Onto Madras with less stinking cargo Myro-bolanes, jaggery. In 1882 the ship made one of the best record trips and Wool passages. Cutty Sark was showing unrealised promise as a Wool racer and suited the nuances of this trade. The timing for its auction and cut-price sale season demanded an adaptable racing craft team that could meet these deadlines. For the first two Wool Runs Moore managed splendidly and set destiny as the next captain made ten more Wool passages.

1883- 1895 Australian Wool Years

July 1883 departure Gravesend  UK to Arrive Newcastle New South Wales Australia Oct 1883

Departure Australia Dec 1883 – Arrival London Uk March 1884 – return record of 83 days.

Qualities of a Fine Sailing Ships Captain

Fearless navigator and good with men, he earned their respect; he had energy and discipline. Master at rigging, sails and navigation. He had a good record of turning another failing sailing ship of Willis’s, the “Coldstream” around too.

Woodget was a photographer and documented journeys. He had a fondness for Dogs he took them on board. He pushed boundaries and took the ship towards icebergs, around the Cape Horn and further than other commanders had gone. There was a  young crew under his command some as young as 12-13. Woodget trained them up made fine sailors/ men out of them and many worked in good positions for the P&O line but never left Woodget till that period for the Cutty Sark was over. The reputation of the Cutty Sark and Woodget enabled one of the younger crew in later life to be selected by P&O for just this reason, the experience was worth investing in. Captain C.E Irving had served as a teenager under Woodget, he went on to navigate well with P& O and served on the Maloja in WW1 and even was doing some sailing in old age for WW2!

Revival its second win Wool Cargo

just over around 4000 bales at a time Merino wool. Worth some £12 million by today’s values.

1st Voyage 1885 London to Sydney in 77 days and its return journey in just 73 days. 300 miles a day

1886 The last tea run

The good record of swift passages Woodget had earned, was enticing Willis to think about taking one last shot at the China Tea Race again.  They think it is during this Voyage that Willis gave the ship its “short shirt” mascot metal emblem to fly on its high mast. Going out with Scrap Iron cargo earned it some money. It could secure no Tea. It sailed onto other commissions and in some ways outdid the Thermopylae on some occasions.

1893 ICEBERGS! 

iceberg 1000 feet high. Captain Woodget also wrote how the icebergs would make sounds like the crack of a rifle or cannons as they moved. 28/6/1891 log said, “immense sea dropped on board smashing the doors and poop, water up to waist height.” In 31 years of sailing, the captain had seen “nothing the same size or steepness.”

1889 25th  July  Cutty Sark overhauled and passed steamer ship Britania

1895 the age of Sail ending

1895 sold to a Portuguese company and renamed “Ferreira”, a cargo ship til 1922.

1895-1922 Portuguese era

The roaring 20s returns cutty sark to its original name and  home shores.

During 1922 another storm leads to more damages, so the ship was in repairs at Falmouth. Captain Wilfred Dowman spotted the Cutty Sark and set about to purchase her. It took Dowman and his wife a while to raised funds by selling things from their estate. Meanwhile, the ship returned to Spain and renamed   Maria do Amparo. 

Enter the Courtaulds and a Suffragette

The wealthy Courtauld Family have a connection in the Salvation of the ship since Bowman’s wife Catherine was a Courtauld.  Catherine had been part of the Suffragette movement and her financial assets had enabled the couple to set about buying the Cutty Sark. They sold off a training ship “Lady Avenal”, hoping they could use Cutty Sark for the same purposes as a training ship for cadets entering the Merchant Navy.  The Dowman’s paid more than it was worth approx £3750 and they bought it back home to the Uk.  By 1923 it was officially renamed her original title Cutty Sark. The restoration was completed it was moored and used in Falmouth by 1924 again because of the efforts and finance that the Dowman’s had put into this cause.

The 1930s, why did the Cutty Sark return to Greenwich

When Wilfred Dowman died in 1936, Mrs. Dowman practically gave the ship away from 10 shillings, to the Thames Nautical Training College in 1938. Training ship Greenhithe Kent. The Thames Nautical Training College then passed the ship onto the Cutty Sark Preservation Society. They moved it to Greenhithe and moored alongside training resource HMS Worcester. During WW2 they ran some nautical lectures on the Cutty Sark. Widow Dowman gave a grant of five thousand pounds at the time when she handed over the ship for its restoration and upkeep, she kept an interest in its welfare for the rest of her life. Coincidentally, one of the major forces behind promoting business ventures, expanding trade and industry in England at the time was Gladstone. Gladstone was MP for Greenwich prior to in years in office from 1868 to 1894.

Threats to the Cutty Sarks business model, the beginning of the end, The Suez Canal opened in 1869

1869 Cutty Sark was completed as was the Suez Canal. A Sailing ship could not use the Suez canal as there was no wind and it was narrow and so would need towing which would cost too much money. The Canal shortened the sailing time to China it was a shortcut. Sailing ships previously had to go all the way around Africa to get to China.

The Short cut enabled a direct route from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea.

Some may have thought what’s the point. People did not give up with sailing ships just because of the arrival of the Suez canal. It was uncertain when that would be taken over, and or if it would suffer a natural disaster. The other expectation is that the owners would bar certain people from using it or charge too much.

However, other Clippers were released at this time too. Duke of Abercorn, Blackadder, Caliph, Norman Court, Ambassador, Oberon, Doune Castle City of Hankow Glory of the Seas and Great Admiral.

The Sailing ship Thermopylae was about a year older, known for its marvel voyage of just taking 60 days to get to  Melbourne Australia.

White Star Lines –Aberdeen were just starting their first iron clipper ship. The Loch Line was building ships too. The Australian emigration demanded ships as did transatlantic passenger trips.

Documentary Dr  Helen Doe Maritime Historian, stated that 3000, 300 miles could be shaved off the Shanghai to London trip. It took 12 days extra to go around as Sailing ships had had to do before the shortcut of the Suez Canal.

Steam paddle ships

Replaced sailing ships slowly but there were pluses and minuses to using costly bulky coal which was its fuel. At the time  A steamship was not able to outdo the record journey that the Thermopylae set to Melbourne. Steamships were noisy and needed a certain amount of crew to tend to its engines and issues. Rumours had started that delicate cargo like tea would be affected by the fumes and inferior. Despite not much evidence to support this, as people continued to drink the deliveries from steamships. The other risk was that crew who worked by the coal fire engines would perish in hot climates like the Red Sea. The Firemen as they were called, with the most stamina were Liverpool Irishmen.

Steamers could make two trips a year and we’re starting to do more. Sailing ships did one.

Ships of Steam were also challenged in some areas, like the trip to Austalia and if they went too far they would need more coal than the ship could carry without it compromising space which is needed for cargo. Some weather conditions like monsoons would delay sailing ships, that did not affect the steamers.

Documentary mentioned that in 1870  Cutty Sark was one of about 50 Clipper sailing ships. Some 7 years later about 9 left.

They were doing Tea Hauls in 6 weeks.

Other Faster Clipper ships Other downfalls of sailing ships

They had to earn more from cargo delivery than what its running costs to sail her.

Small uncomfortable bunks, that required men to curl up on one’s side and narrow so that they would not then fall out. The Watchers system where men would be on watch 4hrs then rests for 4 Hrs. many were tired and drowsy but there were punishments for those falling asleep on the job. “Riding the high mare”, being sent upon the highest rigging mast and dealing with the seas/weather. Or having unpleasant items dropped on them.

Problems the Gold Rush fever hard to get crew as soon as they ported men would dissert in search of gold and not return as crew.

The China Sea was not that well chartered, reefs, currents winds, seasons shallows all varied and were challenging. During storms bad weather when ships had to be moored or hang around for long periods of time waiting for cargo or the weather to change, ships could crash into each other and cause damage

Capacity, Cutty Sark being able to carry 1,200 tons of coal but ships carrying more than double this was, in the end, having problems in this paying off.

having to wait about in port for months for cargo to be ready, idle time wasting and costing money.

Standing in port empty for a fine sailing ship built for streamline speed meant it needed stability to stand strong, so Ballast ( material put on ships to provide stability) needed to be bought and then discarded.

How to get to the Cutty Sark

The Cutty Sark is housed in a permanent dry dock in Greenwich, London. 

Cutty Sark Station

Via Public Transport, one of the quickest ways to get to the Cutty Sark is via the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), stopping at the station called ‘Cutty Sark’ The train would have to say Lewisham if traveling south or if traveling form Lewisham all trains pass through the cutty sark station.

Some videos on You tube about the Cutty Sark

The best cutty sark links on the internet.

• Royal Museums Greenwich
• Cutty Sark Wikipedia
• Maritime Quest
• Historic Naval Ships Association
• Google Map Location
• cutty sark coins
• Visit Cutty Sark
• Trip Advisor - Cutty Sark
• History Cutty Sark
• Time Out Cutty Sark
• Thames River Service - Cutty Sark
• National Historic Ships

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Saving Cutty Sark – The Legacy of Wilfred and Catharine Dowman

By Linda Batchelor

‘She was the fastest ship of her day, a grand ship, a ship that will last for ever’ – Captain George Moodie, the first Master of  Cutty Sark .

In 1894 Wilfred Dowman was an apprentice seaman on the Hawksdale when the ship, owned by Iredale & Porter of Liverpool, was passed by the Cutty Sark , leaving them to windward in a few seconds and in ‘a manner which could not fail to impress’. Wilfred was at the start of his career at sea in which he became a commander in the mercantile marine, served in the Royal Navy Reserve in the First World War, owned a boatyard and ran a sea training school for boys.

However, he never forgot his first impressive sight of the Cutty Sark , and when in January 1922 the ageing ship, now called the Ferreira in Portuguese ownership, took shelter in Falmouth in need of repair, Captain Dowman was once again captivated. Despite her sorry state he resolved to purchase her, restore her to some of her past glory and use her as a training ship. The purchase was completed in October of 1922 and, now renamed Cutty Sark, the ship became a training ship moored in Falmouth until 1938.

Cutty Sark in Falmouth Harbour, September 1936. The Weller Collection © NMMC.

Wilfred and Catharine Dowman

Captain Dowman had retired from life at sea and he and his wife Catharine had come to live in Cornwall at Trevissome House in Flushing in the early years of the 1920s. He had an interest in the Ponsharden Shipyard in Falmouth and he and Catharine had also set up a sea training scheme for ‘poor boys of good character’ in a 163-ton schooner named  Lady of Avenel. The schooner had been built in 1874 in Falmouth by H. S. Trethowan for the owner Edward Dixon Anderton of Falmouth, and employed as a freighter especially in the granite trade from Cornwall.  Sold out of Cornwall in 1900 she returned in 1921 owned by the Dowmans, who installed an auxiliary engine and refitted her as a training ship. The concept of training ships was close to the Dowmans’ hearts as they had met on a voyage from London to Sydney in 1912 on board the Port Jackson, a cadet training ship on which Wilfred was First Mate and Catharine was one of the three additional passengers.

Wilfred Harry Dowman was born in Birmingham in 1879 but his father died when he was young and he grew up with his mother in Birkenhead. At 13 he went to sea and was apprenticed on Hawksdale , where he had his momentous first sight of the Cutty Sark . By 1904 he had achieved his Master’s Certificate and remained with Iredale and Porter until 1912 having two commands for the Liverpool shipping firm during that time. Unfortunately the firm had to reduce their fleet and crew complements and it was then that Wilfred took the position of mate on the Port Jackson and met Catharine. Although he was married at the time Wilfred and Catharine became a couple. At the outbreak of war in 1914 Wilfred joined the Royal Naval Reserve and served at Gallipoli and on the White Sea Convoys before he was demobilised in 1919. He and Catharine eventually married in 1920 and made their home in Falmouth.

Captain Wilfred Harry Dowman 1879 – 1936 – Owner of Cutty Sark 1922 -1936.

Catharine was born in 1878 at Bocking near Braintree in Essex and was part of the Courtauld family. The family had come to England as Huguenot refugees at the end of the seventeenth century and had established themselves as silversmiths. In the nineteenth century Catharine’s uncle set up a successful silk weaving business in Essex and she and her siblings – three brothers and a sister – as a result had each inherited considerable wealth from the textile business. As Unitarians they were committed to using their wealth to promote social reform, which included extending suffrage, and were involved in trusts which supported education, hospitals and a variety of other charitable organisations.

They were also involved with the arts and the artistic community. Catharine established herself as an artist in early 1900 and joined the Central Society for Women’s Suffrage, becoming a founding member of the Artists’ Suffrage Atelier in 1909. By the following year Catharine was living with her elder sister Sydney Renee Courtauld at Bocken, a house designed for them by their architect brother John, near Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire. Sydney Renee was accompanying Catharine on the voyage to Australia on the Port Jackson when Catharine met Wilfred Dowman.

Catharine Courtauld/Dowman, 1878 – 1972.

Cadet Training Ships

The Port Jackson was part of Devitt and Moore’s Ocean Training Ships scheme. Devitt and Moore were a shipping line, originally with sailing ships engaged in the passenger and cargo trade with Australia. However, as the use of sailing ships began to decline they turned to using them for naval cadet training. In 1890 Lord Brassey had established a scheme to provide training for boys destined for service in the merchant navy and in 1906 Devitt and Moore had joined the scheme and purchased the Port Jackson , a wool clipper built in Aberdeen in 1882, and refitted her for training purposes whilst continuing in the Australian cargo trade carrying wool, tallow and government stores.

The first voyage to Sydney began in London in June 1906 and arrived in Australia in early November. The ship had a crew of 36 with a chaplain and a doctor, and the boys were taught by four nautical instructors and assisted in working the ship and handling the sails. The scheme was successful and in 1909 Devitt and Moore set up their Ocean Training Ships with shareholders from other shipping lines such as Cunard, Union Castle and Royal Mail Lines to train cadets for a career as officers in the merchant service. They also purchased a second ship named the Medway and before the First World War the two training ships were frequent and popular visitors to Sydney with cadets participating in regattas, rowing competitions and cricket matches.

It was the training voyage to Sydney in 1912 which had first brought Wilfred and Catharine together. When they married in 1920 Wilfred retired from active service at sea and they set up their own training scheme using the Lady of Avenel. On seeing Ferreira in Falmouth in 1922 and remembering the previous glory of Cutty Sark , Captain Dowman saw the potential for restoration and for the provision of a larger training ship. His initial attempts to buy her whilst in Falmouth were unsuccessful and she returned to Lisbon, was sold to other Portuguese owners and renamed Maria do Amparo . Captain Dowman persisted with his purchase negotiations despite many difficulties put in his way, particularly with the price which the owners put well above the commercial worth of the vessel.

Cutty Sark was built for the Scottish shipowner John (Jock) Willis, known as White Hat Willis, as a tea clipper at a cost of £16,150. The ship was designed by Hercules Linton of the shipbuilding firm of Scott & Linton of Dumbarton and built by the firm as a state-of-the-art clipper with a composite hull of iron and timber. At a gross tonnage of 963 tons the ship had an overall length of 280 feet, with 32 sails, 11 miles of rigging and a main mast that was 152 feet tall. Launched on 22 November 1869, the ship was registered in London to carry a crew of up to 28 under the command of Captain George Moodie, a senior captain of the Willis line.

John (Jock) Willis, White Hat Willis 1817 – 1899. Royal Museums Greenwich.

The name of the ship was chosen to reflect the speed of her passage through the water and was taken from the poem Tam O’Shanter by Robert Burns. In the poem, Tam – a farmer – is pursued in a furious chase by Nannie, a witch, who snatches at his horse’s tail and who wears a short undergarment known as a ‘cutty sark’. The figurehead on the bow, added at the time of the build and originally carved by Frederick Hellyer of Blackwall, represents Nannie grasping a tail of horsehair in one outstretched hand and wearing her ‘cutty sark’. Apprentices on the ship’s voyages were often required to replace the tail whilst in port with strands of unpicked rope. The figurehead adds to the ship’s streamlined profile and conveys a sense of speed through the waves which made Cutty Sark , with a maximum recorded speed 17.05 knots, one of the fastest of sailing ships.

Figurehead of Cutty Sark in Falmouth Harbour, September 1936. The Weller Collection © NMMC.

Cutty Sark ‘s sailing life began in the highly competitive tea trade where the speed of the clipper’s voyage to China and the return to home port in London with a cargo of tea was paramount in meeting market demands and making profit. The ship’s maiden voyage left London in February 1870 bound for Shanghai and proved her sailing qualities and speed, but her time in the tea trade was limited. The opening of the Suez Canal at the same time as the launch of Cutty Sark reduced the time of the voyage to the east making the clipper tea trade less profitable. There were to be only 8 such voyages and in 1883 the ship entered the wool trade with Australia which proved to be the most successful period of her career setting record voyage times and adding to her fame.

By the 1890s however steam was taking over from sail and Cutty Sark became increasingly less profitable and in 1892 was sold by Jock Willis to Portuguese owners, Ferreira & Co. As Ferreira , the ship was used in general cargo trade from her home port of Lisbon. The ship had a hard working and demanding life for the subsequent years and was in poor condition when she was seen in Falmouth by Captain Dowman in 1922.

In Falmouth and beyond

Despite his initial failure to buy the ship and after the difficulties put in his way, finally in October 1922, with the wholehearted support of Catharine, the Dowmans were able to complete the purchase for £3,750. The ship was brought back to Falmouth by Captain Edward Rooney, a Falmouth pilot, and towed into the harbour by the Falmouth tug Triton.

Captain Dowman was determined to restore the re-named Cutty Sark to her original appearance and the work was undertaken by the Ponsharden shipyard. The ship was re-rigged to the original plans by the workers of R. S. Burt of the Little Falmouth Yacht Yard. Cutty Sark was then opened as a training ship by the Dowmans and moored off Trefusis Fields, Flushing. Numerous boys were trained over the years for careers in the Royal Navy or the Merchant Marine. Cadets were instructed in nautical skills and given practical, hands-on training in seamanship. Cutty Sark became a well known and loved sight in Falmouth and a subject for artists such as Henry Scott Tuke and photographers. The ship was also open to the public as a visitor attraction.

Cadets on board Cutty Sark in Falmouth Harbour, September 1936. The Weller Collection © NMMC.

Captain Dowman died in 1936 on a homeward voyage from the West Indies and was buried at sea. Following Wilfred’s death Catharine gave Cutty Sark to the Thames Nautical Training College with a gift of £5,000 to be used for maintenance. She was to be used as an auxiliary ship alongside the cadet ship HMS Worcester , moored at Greenhithe on the Thames. Cutty Sark left Falmouth in 1938 amidst many fond farewells and was sailed under tow by 12 cadets to the Thames. She remained as a cadet ship until the end of the Second World War.

In 1951 Cutty Sark was on display at the Festival of Britain and in 1954 the Cutty Sark Preservation Society and its President, the Duke of Edinburgh, were responsible for preserving the ship for the nation with the construction of a special dry dock at Greenwich. The ship was opened to the public by Queen Elizabeth II in 1957 and closed in 2006 for a conservation project during which there was a fire. Fortunately the ship was ‘saved’ and after restoration reopened in 2012.

Once again Cutty Sark, the last survivor of the clippers, renowned for her grace and speed, is opened to the public, a tribute to her designer and builders and a memorial to the men who sailed her and to the merchant navy. It is also a fitting tribute to the foresight and determination of Wilfred and Catharine Dowman in rescuing the ship in 1922. By doing so they ensured her survival and now once again she is restored in ‘a manner which could not fail to impress’.

The Bartlett Blog

The Bartlett Blog  is written and produced by the volunteers who staff The Bartlett Maritime Research Centre and Library of National Maritime Museum Cornwall.  Saving Cutty Sark – The Legacy of Wilfred and Catharine Dowman  was written by Linda Batchelor.

The Bartlett Library  holds a Collection of over 20,000 volumes and offers access to one of the finest collections of maritime reference books, periodicals and archival material. The Bartlett Blog reflects the diversity of material available in The Bartlett Library.

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This Clipper boat was used to transport tea between London and China in the 19th century . Since 1954 it has been moored in Greenwich as a museum.

A historic boat

In 1869 the boat was built in Scotland, being in its day one of the fastest and most stable boats ever made. This 900-tonne boat was used to transport tea from China to London , a popular commercial route, although at a sped much faster than its competitors.

The name comes from the name of the witch in Robert Burns' poem, Tam o' Shanter.

Visiting the Cutty Sark

Today the Cutty Sark has been turned into a museum in Greenwich and is open to the public, keeping alive its history . On board the Cutty Sark it's possible to wander the deck, take the wheel, and go below deck.

The boat also has a wide range of panels, audiovisual material and more , explaining the construction of the boat and the importance of its technology at the time.

King William Walk, Greenwich.

Daily from 10 am to 5 pm (from June 29 to August 30: closed at 6 pm)

Adults: £ 20 ( US$ 25.70) Students and youth under 25: £ 14 ( US$ 18) Children from 4 to 15: £ 10 ( US$ 12.90) Children under 4: Free admission

Bus : lines 129, 177, 180 and 188

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The Cutty Sark - the fastest wool clipper to have sailed

Once one of the fastest sailing boats in the world, taking an incredible 110 days to sail from Shanghai fully laden with tea to London, the Cutty Sark was at the pinnacle of marine engineering in its day.

Initially built to transport tea

Commissioned by the Scotsman John Willis to transport tea from China to London, a little known fact is that the Cutty Sark only completed eight tea voyages. Over its active lifetime, the ship transported many goods, actually spending 12 years shipping wool from Australia to London, which is one of the reasons why we are taking an interest: most of the wool in our blankets and picnic rugs is shipped from Australia.

The opening of the Suez Canal transformed the tea trade

The reasons for the Cutty Sark's owners swapping cargos was down to a number of factors ranging from improvements in engineering, economics and trade between countries.

Such was the pace of change even in those days that the Cutty Sark's days as a tea clipper were numbered just five days after it launched. On the 17th November 1869, the Suez Canal opened, cutting 3,300 miles off the journey from Shanghai to London and ten to twelve days off the journey times, which tipped the balance in favour of the steamer ships which had a much larger cargo capacity.

Cutty Sark became the fastest wool clipper

Failing to find enough tea to fill the ship's hold, John Willis repurposed the Cutty Sark to carry Merino wool from Australia to London. The speed of the cutter's was a significant advantage, allowing their owners to ship wool from the Newcastle New South Wales, Sydney and Brisbane in time for the London sales in the first three months of the new year.

On her first voyage the Cutty Sark made it back to London in 84 days, notching up the fastest trip by any ship that year and arriving 25 days ahead of any of the other ships. Over the next twelve years between 1883 and 1895, she established herself as the fastest of the wool clippers, putting in trips of 70 days or less. In fact she spent more of her life shipping wool than the seven years she shipped tea, arguably the cargo that she is best known for carrying.

The cargo hold of the Cutty Sark was able to carry an impressive 5,000 bales of wool, which, by our calculation, is enough wool to weave around 555,000 of our pure new wool picnic blankets .

Some facts about the Cutty Sark and the Australian wool trade

We've put together a few facts about the Cutty Sark and its links to the Australian wool trade.

• Wool bales weighed between 110 to 204 kg
• Each bale contained the wool from about 60 sheep
• First sheep were brought to Australia in 1788
• 1797 - date the first Merino sheep was imported
• 1805 - date Merino sheep from the flock of George III are imported
• 1807 - date Australian wool is sold in England for the first time
• 1821 - The first auction of Australian wool in London takes place at Garraway's Coffee House in London
• 1830 - date the Australian sheep population reaches two million and the value of exports is £2 million, which starts to challenge Spain and Germany as the main suppliers of wool to the English market.
• 1838 -date wool becomes Australia's largest export
• 1850 - date the value of Australia's wool exports reaches £41 million
• 1870 - date the sheep population reaches 41.6 million and Australia surpasses England as the world's number one wool producer.
• 1883 - date the Cutty Sark loads her first cargo of wool
• 1892 - date the Australia sheep population passes 100 million
• Cutty Sarks' wool cargo would make more than 1,250,000 jumpers
• Merino is the most common breed of sheep in Australia and it is the softest and finest of the sheep wools.
• One Australian Merino Fleece makes 18 jumpers
• Cutty Sark could carry more than 5,000 bales of wool

This is not the first time we've written about a humble bale of wool. Indeed, there is a scarlet bale of wool in the House of Lords, called the wool sack , and in Tetbury every year, competitors compete in the Tetbury woolsack race , carrying sacks of wool between pubs along a 240 yard course.

If the history of the Cutty Sark has caught your imagination, you may also be interested in our blog about how wool has played an integral part in Britain's history: British wool: a tale of war, taxes and trade with Europe .

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Friday 20 July 2018

Cutty sark (1869) | timeline.

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When it was built 150 years ago, the Cutty Sark was at the cutting edge of shipbuilding. It was a tea clipper built to take goods to Shanghai to trade for tea to bring back to the UK – it had the capacity to carry 1,305,812 lbs of tea, which would probably have ended up making nearly 300 million cups of tea! The Cutty Sark worked as a trading ship for a number of years but the advent of steam ships made it less useful and it ended up in Portugal. In the early 1920s, it was bought by a retired captain who converted it for use as a training ship. It wasn’t until 1954 that it was towed to Greenwich where it was fully restored and opened to the public.

In 2007 a fire caused extensive damage to three decks, but thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund, it was restored once more and reopened to the public in 2012.

If you’re planning a trip to Greenwich, it’s not to be missed!

What to see and do

Explore the ship

See every aspect of the ship above and below deck, including what it looks like underneath the hull. There are films and interactive games as well as being able to see – and smell – the type of cargo that would have been carried onboard. You can even take the wheel on deck to try and imagine what it would have been like to be in charge of this ship as it sailed the high seas.

Meet the crew

At weekends and school holidays, you can find out more about life onboard by chatting to the characters who lived onboard. They’ll tell you what daily life was like, describe what was on the menu for dinner, and how they entertained themselves during their voyages.

Explorer trails

For younger children, there are free explorer trails that will take them around the ship at their own pace. It’s a hands-on museum, so they can touch things without being told off, and also take part in activities. For the under 5s, you can borrow a special backpack of toys, sensory objects and stories to keep them entertained.

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Cutty Sark and the era of sail

Essential information.

14 Aug 2015

Join our team to make the dream a reality

We invite you to become a member of our volunteer team, building a true copy of the tea clipper, sailing the new ship around the world.

We would like to invite you to join our project of constructing and sailing an exact replica of one of the most famous and perfect sailing ships in the history of the world – the tea clipper “ Cutty Sark ”. We have an ambitious plan – to build and then sail a replica of the clipper with the help and participation of the public.

Become part of the enthusiastic team that lives out the dream to revive the art of traditional sailing, a group that believes in adventure, team spirit and supports this magnificent project.

• To create interest and educate the public in the traditional skills of composite/wooden shipbuilding. And preserve our maritime heritage for future generations by building a replica of the clipper “Cutty Sark” as a sea going vessel.
• To promote education in the art of operating and maintaining ships under sail by providing training in seamanship to young people of all nations.
• To promote sail-powered shipping as an environmentally friendly alternative form of transport.

Why the Cutty Sark?

To promote sail training and tall ship racing. Just as before, when the speed and the rivalry of the clipper ships quickly caught the public’s imagination, we believe that a replica of the Cutty Sark will bring back the glory and media attention to the world of Tall Ship Racing.

To promote environmentally friendly transport on the seas. Delivering her cargo under sail, she was as beautiful as she was fast, the perfect sailing ship of her era. Now she will promote environmentally friendly transport by sea.

To save traditional skills and knowledge for future generations. Cutty Sark is a composite-build ( wood planked on iron frames ) sailing ship and building the replica is a unique way to restore and save traditional skills and knowledge for future generations.

International trade and friendship. The Cutty Sark was a ship of international trade; she has significance in worldwide maritime history, especially in the UK, Portugal, China, Australia and Brazil.

Anniversary of the launching of the original Cutty Sark. The 150th Anniversary of the launching of the original Cutty Sark will occur on 22nd November 2019.

Startup phase 2015-2019

Start of work with volunteer team; Crowdfunding campaign; Developing preliminary draft of ship’s construction; Searching for a construction site; Initial promoting the project to the media and public, creation of project’s website;

Fundraising and planning 2019-2020

Shipyard setting 2020

Keel-laying ceremony.

Construction process 2020-2023

Operating 2023 onwards, an interactive museum ​.

The process of building the Cutty Sark 2 will be open to the public.

Where possible, construction processes will be organised as a “performance” with interactive elements; a venue where everyone can see and touch “living“ history and take part; an excellent forum to arouse the attention of the media to international maritime history. ​

Ship’s design ​

The ship must not only function as an interactive display but also be suitable for different operational roles – sail-training and cargo transportation.

We’ll create an environment where people will enjoy the teamwork, learning and socializing. ​

Media Coverage ​

From the start, including identifying the sponsors and patrons, throughout the construction process and up to the launching of the vessel, we want this project to be permanently covered by the media. ​

We aim to interest various international TV channels to follow us throughout the process. The media will follow us to the rainforests in South Asia to cut the teak for the decks, and to northern America or Canada for oak for the hull. They will be able to see the ship taking shape and follow her launching and first adventures on the high seas! ​

Schooner “St Peter” (80 feet, 1991)

Frigate “Shtandart” (110 feet, 1999)

Clipper “Cutty Sark 2” (212 feet, 2019)

The initiators of the project are a group of highly motivated people, knowledgable in building traditional square-rigged ships. Our team has the expertise required when operating in the world of Tall Ships. Specifically in marketing, public relations and logistics.

Cutty Sark is an international project.

As the original Cutty Sark was constructed from materials that came from various countries and during her active life she sailed the seven seas, we want this project to be international in all its different aspects. It should also be accessible to people of all nations and all walks of life, and when finished sail the world as an ambassador not of just one country, but as a living proof of unity between people with heart and soul for traditional ships and the seas .

Vladimir Martus, Team Leader

Vladimir Martus started his sailing career at 14. He has raced for his country’s National Sailing Team for 12 years (Olympic classes). Graduated from the St Petersburg University of shipbuilding as a naval architect in 1990. Built two large wooden replica sailing ships: Schooner “St Peter” (80 feet, 1991) and frigate “Shtandart” (110 feet, 1999). As captain of the Shtandart, he has taken part in Tall Ship Racing since 2001. Vladimir has directed several large maritime events and festivals. He was Chief Liaison officer in St Petersburg TSR 2009. He is also a qualified RYA Yachtmaster/Instructor  and President of the non-profit sail-training organisation “Shtandart Project” .

David T Morgan, Esq, MBE, TD

CUTTY SARK 2SAIL Foundation Chairman

David is Chairman of the Maritime Heritage Trust and previously of Heritage Afloat, and Vice Chairman of the Cutty Sark Trust. He is Deputy President of the Transport Trust and a Committee Member of Europa Nostra Industrial and Engineering Heritage Committee.

David is also Founder President of the European Federation of Museum and Tourist Railways and the World Association of Tourist Trams and Trains.  He served as Chairman of Heritage Railway Association  until 1st June 2014, and is also Chairman of Great Central Railway Plc and Vice President of the West Somerset Railway and President of the North Norfolk Railway. His initial involvement with preserved railways was as legal advisor, since he is a solicitor.

David retired from practice at the end of Ferbuary 2013.  He served for 32 years in the Territorial Army, ending up with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He was decorated with the MBE by the Queen in 2003 for his services “to transport preservation in the UK and Europe”.

Mr John Robinson

Captain Chris Blake OBE

Captain Blake joined the Merchant Navy in 1962 and 13 years later moved to sail training. He has been captain of the Sir Winston Churchill and Malcolm Miller (Great Britain), STS Ji Fung (Hong Kong), STS Leeuwin (Western Australia), STS Kaisei (Japan) and delivery master of STS Young Endeavour, Britain’s bicentennial gift to Australia.

In 1993 Captain Blake took command of the replica vessel Endeavour and sailed her around the world twice, rounding both Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope during her travels to Europe and the Americas from Australia.

He holds the International Master Class I certificates with a square rig endorsement.

Captain Blake has been awarded the Freeman of the City of London, and Freeman of the City of Newark, USA. In 1996 he was awarded the Cutty Sark Medal for outstanding seamanship and leadership, and in 2001 received the OBE for services to Sail Training and Youth Development.

Perry Joiner

I just moved to Scotland from the San Francisco area, where I lived with my family on a 50 foot Ketch, after living on and maintaining a 105 year old Dutch Clipper in France for two years.

I’ve spent a lot of time at Maritime Museums in San Diego onboard the Star of India and San Francisco on the Balaclutha dreaming of seeing them under a full press of sail. The ship I served on in the U.S. Navy, in Public Affairs, is now a museum in San Diego, and the difference between a living ship and a museum piece is tangible and dramatic.

I’m a volunteer public relations officer for the United States Coast Guard as well as an Instructor and Vessel Safety Inspector. I am excited to see this project come to reality.

Charles Hardy

A keen sailor at the center of the south coat of England who’s sailing routes travel back many generations. Originally a boat builder by trade and passionate to help realize this project and doing what I can to help make it happen.

Kseniya Aksenovskikh

In love with color and line, Kseniya delivers visual sensation. Her beautiful images and drawings help pull the project together.

She is working incredibly hard to create and maintain a corporate identity which is giving the project a beautiful profile across the media.

Pete Sedgwick, UK

A designer and boat builder with marketing experience, Pete offers us his wisdom and broad knowledge in marketing and strategy. For the last 15 years he has been building replica traditional wooden boats. Now he is moving on to ships! He is up to his neck in this BIG dream – helping to create the next famous British tea clipper.

PM von Kaenel (Michele Stephens), UK

Michele von Kaenel is a veteran broadcaster and media consultant who helps our team stay active and move forward. Tall ships have always been a fascination of hers, so when this project surfaced she immediately applied to join the Team.

Bo Forsström, FI

Liaison officer for the Tall Ship Races and business development manager, Bo gets great satisfaction from how sail training challenges young people and makes them grow.

Lina Radova

Lookout Watch

A natural sales executive, Lina is happy to help with searching for construction sites and generating creative crowdfunding ideas. She is the engine that keeps us going and she never stops thinking out of the box. She speaks fluent Spanish, Portuguese, and links the project with many countries.

Roman Abylkhatov

Roman Abylkhatov is an IT engineer at Microsoft UK. For the Cutty Sark Replica project he is responsible for establishing the IT infrastructure to help coordinate the team work and volunteers activities online.

Maria Savelieva

Maria Savelieva is a Logistics manager in consumer electronics production. She is experienced in international trade management, launching new sites, growing required supply chains. Focused and flexible, her job is to drive government relations, negotiations with officials and suppliers, and to develop the project structure and income opportunities.

Istvan Bordacs

Istvan Bordacs was a leader of the support department and also a project manager in the Hungarian Telecom company, he now runs his own business in IT, 3D printing and UAV areas building from the ground up. He has managing, marketing, electronic, programming and strong development skills. He has a degrees in IT engineering and an MBA. He saw Cutty Sark in a magazine when he was a child and he always wanted to build her in his dreams. Now the dream has started to become reality…

Dmitry Ryabchikov

Started to sail on board of Shtandart at age of 12. Since then he became a professional seafarer and spent 14 years on sailing ships all types and sizes – from smallest yahts to giants like Kryzenshtern and Star Flyer. Last 5 years works on Shtandart as a sail trainer and a ship’s officer. In Cutty Sark project looking for the ways to integrate classic sailing ship in modern reality. RYA Yachtmaster Offshore. Second captain of frigate Shtandart.

Mr Thomas Hoppe, Trustee

Thomas Hoppe is Vice-chairman of Gemeinsame Kommission für Historische Wasserfahrzeuge (GSHW).

Thomas is a qualified lawyer and runs his own Legal Consultancy Firm. He is also a keen sailor.

Non-governmental organization for private owners of traditional ships, as well as for maritime museums and other interested bodies.

Sail-loft established in 1987, continues the tradition of Konrad Korzeniowski’s sail-loft (1945-1987)

A sailing freight transport company that offers a concrete and alternative solution both to climate warming and to the energy challenge.

Bringing the tall ships community together.

Download our official documents

     press pack,      project vision,       booklet, cutty sark 2sail newsletter.

Want to receive the latest news about the development of the project? Subscribe for our newsletter!

Southampton Boat Show

12th september 2019.

Potential construction place – VIila do Conde, Portugal

4th march 2017.

Daily Record and Mail, Thursday, June 4, 1914

23rd september 2016.

Support the building this beautiful tall ship, so you can visit her and sail with her over the endless oceans. Your donation can be money or anything that you think would be helpful. At the moment we accept donations via PayPal, the safest way to donate online.

Donation by Paypal

Donating something else

If you feel you want to contribute to the project in a different way please feel free to contact us  or join us with your ideas.

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Contact details

Interested in becoming a partner? Do you have questions? Please use the form on the left to join the team or contact us using the details below.

Team Leader Captain Vladimir Martus [email protected], +442037691492

Local contacts

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--> | | | | • Flames consume London's historic clipper ship Cutty Sark • Vessel was undergoing $50 million restoration at time of blaze • Cause of fire under investigation (CNN) -- The Cutty Sark, thought to be the world's only surviving 19th century tea clipper and a prime relic of the golden age of sail, was engulfed by flames Monday, causing extensive damage to one of London's most popular tourist attractions. Police say the blaze, which began before dawn and took 40 firefighters several hours to extinguish, is being treated as "suspicious." The fire is expected to drastically increase the cost of a $50 million three-year restoration that began in 2006. Witnesses described flames leaping 20 feet (six meters) in the air, fanned by strong winds. Nearby residents were temporarily evacuated. ( ) The clipper -- a very fast multi-masted sailing ship used for transporting high value goods such as tea and wool -- was once regarded as the pinnacle of merchant sail vessel development. Standing by the smoldering hull of the vessel, Chris Livett, chairman of Cutty Sark Enterprises, told CNN that although the ship's decks were "unsalvageable", he believed the vessel could be fully restored. He said half of the timbers and all historic artifacts on board had been removed for the conservation project. "I do not think we can give a figure on how much this damage has cost," he told CNN. "We're in dire straits now." He added: "This ship has been through many things in its life, it's sailed through the oceans and been through many natural disasters and survived. "We're devastated. Lots of people on this project worked very hard and to see that effort go up in smoke is very hard." More than 15 million people have visited the ship in its dry dock at Greenwich, a World Heritage Site on the southern bank of the River Thames. The vessel has been on display since the 1950s. Cutty Sark rose to prominence after leaving London on its first voyage on February 16, 1870, and sailing to Shanghai. Capable of reaching speeds of up to 17.5 knots and covering more than 360 miles a day, it outstripped most other vessels. ( ) In 1885, the 85-meter (280 feet) ship achieved a record-breaking wind-powered voyage from Australia to England, completing the distance in 72 days. But its glory days were short-lived as steam ships quickly came to replace sail. Chief executive of the Cutty Sark Trust, Richard Doughty, described the damage as extensive, but said he was hopeful that crucial infrastructure had survived the fire. "At the moment we are going to try to assess what damage has been done to the metal frame. A cursory glance indicates that may have survived the fire," he told CNN. Doughty paid tribute to the vessel's status and expressed sorrow over the blaze. "It is the epitome of speed under sail. She was a legend in her working lifetime, she set all sorts of records. Above all, for Londoners, she's an icon. "Personally, I'm gutted. The smell of the ship, which is pervading over the whole area, the tar of the rope and timbers, usually you can only smell that on the ship, but to smell that all around brings sadness." | | | | CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more. Ebola toll rises in 'unprecedented' outbreak Report: MH370 a criminal investigation Life inside the densest place on earth Ocean Shield's mission of hope, uncertainty Cosmetics queen fights skin bleaching Irish PM to quit over payments scandal NATO chief: Afghan troop increase likely Militants hunted as calm retuns to Basra Pressure on Bush to skip Olympics BA sending misplaced T5 baggage to Milan Browse/Search   (1:50) Profile:   A London landmark Gallery:   Blaze consumes legend E-mail us: Send your pictures of Cutty Sark Should the Cutty Sark be completely restored? A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. under which this service is provided to you. Read our . . . SERVICES » Search forums Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen. Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers. Ships of Scale Build Logs SOS Build Logs from Kits - Wood Sergal Cutty Sark scale 1:78 Robertd [COMPLETED BUILD] Thread starter Robertd Start date Jun 11, 2021 Watchers 30 Tags completed build cutty sark sergal Jun 11, 2021 Administrator Great choice - this will be very interesting to follow HAPPY MODELING   Oh WOW! I am as well on the watchers' list! I Will follow along as you build advances   116 IMAGES Cutty Sark Cutty Sark / Sailing ship, Greenwich, London ⋆ The Passenger The Cutty Sark at Greenwich once the speediest sailboat in the world The Cutty Sark at Greenwich once the speediest sailboat in the world Die Cutty Sark, der berühmteste der Clipper Segelschiffe bringen Tee The Cutty Sark at Greenwich once the speediest sailboat in the world COMMENTS Cutty Sark Cutty Sark is a British clipper ship. Built on the River Leven, Dumbarton, Scotland in 1869 for the Jock Willis Shipping Line, she was one of the last tea clippers to be built and one of the fastest, at the end of a long period of design development for this type of vessel, which ended as steamships took over their routes. She was named after the short shirt of the fictional witch in Robert ... Cutty Sark Visit Cutty Sark, the celebrated historic sailing ship and fastest of its time. Now an award-winning visitor attraction in Greenwich, London. Ship highlights Check out the top things to do. From the dizzy height of the main mast to the surprises below deck, step aboard and discover the best Cutty Sark has to offer How Cutty Sark Became the Fastest Sail-Powered Cargo Ship Ever Built The Cutty Sark 's fastest recorded speed was 17.5 knots, considerable for a container ship, and the furthest she travelled in a 24-hour period was around 350 nautical miles. "It wasn't uncommon to make the journey from Shanghai to ports in Britain in about 100 to 120 days. For the time, it was really setting records.". Cutty Sark History Cutty Sark's tea career was cut short by the Suez Canal. Opened in the same week as Cutty Sark was launched, the canal cut the voyage out to China by over 3,000 miles. Instead of sailing all the way around the continent of Africa, ships could now simply sail through the Mediterranean Sea and the canal to reach the Indian Ocean. Cutty Sark Cutty Sark, three-masted British clipper ship, launched at Dumbarton, Dunbartonshire, Scotland, in 1869. The Cutty Sark was 212 feet 5 inches (64.7 metres) long and 36 feet (11 metres) wide, and it had a net tonnage of 921. ... the Cutty Sark left London on its maiden voyage, sailing to Shanghai by way of the Cape of Good Hope. The vessel ... The Cutty Sark: Inside The Fastest Ship Of The Victorian Era 'Aboard the Fastest Clipper Ship of the Victorian Era: The Cutty Sark'Alice Loxton heads to Royal Museums Greenwich to visit the Cutty Sark, one of the most ... 10 things you should know about Cutty Sark 5. Why was Cutty Sark built? Cutty Sark was built for the China tea trade but would carry a vast array of cargoes during its career. Cutty Sark carried almost 10 million lbs of tea between 1870 and 1877. The opening of the Suez Canal marked the end for sailing ships in the tea trade and so Cutty Sark had to find new employ. It transported a ... Cutty Sark Classic Boat: 150 years of the Cutty Sark, May 2015 Kentley, Eric, Cutty Sark: The Last of the Tea Clippers, 2014 Brouwer, Norman J, International Register of Historic Ships, Anthony Nelson, p145, Edition 2, 1993 Sullivan, Dick, Old Ships, Boats and Maritime Museums, Coracle Books, 1978 Classic Boat: chief executive replies, February 2010 Morgan Barnicoat, Daphne, Classic Boat: Last Chance for ... Cutty Sark: The last Tea Clipper -1869 In 1870, the Cutty Sark made its maiden voyage, traveling from London to Shanghai to pick up a cargo of tea. The ship made the journey in just 107 days, setting a record for the fastest time by a sailing ship. Over the next few years, the Cutty Sark continued to make regular trips between China and Britain, carrying tea and other cargo. Long John Silver Figurehead Collection The collection is housed beneath the Cutty Sark which is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nearest transport is Greenwich Station, Cutty Sark DLR or Greenwich Pier boat. maritime history woodwork boats ... Great Tea Race of 1872 This episode in the history of "Cutty Sark" was considered a heroic deed of the whole team - instead of abandoning the race and embarking on repairs, they continued sailing. [failed verification] Second stage racing Clipper "Cutty Sark". After 10 years, the Cutty Sark took revenge, confidently beating its old rival on the way to Australia. Saving Cutty Sark Cutty Sark's sailing life began in the highly competitive tea trade where the speed of the clipper's voyage to China and the return to home port in London with a cargo of tea was paramount in meeting market demands and making profit. The ship's maiden voyage left London in February 1870 bound for Shanghai and proved her sailing qualities ... Sail Freighter Friday In 1870, the year of Cutty Sark 's maiden voyage, there were over fifty other sailing ships heading out to China and back. By 1878, there were just nine. By 1878, there were just nine. Unable to compete, Cutty Sark was forced from the trade for which it had been built after just eight voyages, a tea clipper without any tea. Why is the ship called Cutty Sark? The ship was called Cutty Sark between 1869 and 1895, throughout its period registered as a British ship.The name changed to Ferreira when, in 1895, the ship was sold to a Portuguese company. Although officially registered as Ferreira, the Portuguese crew often referred to it as 'pequina camisola', which translates as 'short nightie' - thereby keeping the original meaning of 'cutty sark ... Cutty Sark The Cutty Sark is a 19th century English boat, which once did the route between London and China. Discover the history of this famous boat. ... Today the Cutty Sark has been turned into a museum in Greenwich and is open to the public, keeping alive its history. On board the Cutty Sark it's possible to wander the deck, take the wheel, and go ... The Cutty Sark Once one of the fastest sailing boats in the world, taking an incredible 110 days to sail from Shanghai fully laden with tea to London, the Cutty Sark was at the pinnacle of marine engineering in its day. Initially built to transport tea Commissioned by the Scotsman John Willis to transport tea from China to London, a little known fact is that the Cutty Sark only completed eight tea voyages ... Timelines and Soundtracks: Cutty Sark (1869) Cutty Sark is a British clipper ship. Built on the River Clyde in 1869 for the Jock Willis Shipping Line, she was one of the last tea clippers to be built and one of the fastest, coming at the end of a long period of design development, which halted as sailing ships gave way to steam propulsion. Cutty Sark Packages: Cutty Sark. When it was built 150 years ago, the Cutty Sark was at the cutting edge of shipbuilding. It was a tea clipper built to take goods to Shanghai to trade for tea to bring back to the UK - it had the capacity to carry 1,305,812 lbs of tea, which would probably have ended up making nearly 300 million cups of tea! SV Cutty Sark The Cutty Sark was built of teak by American Marine in Hong Kong in 1957. The first of ten sister ships of the Mayflower class designed by Hugh Angleman and Charlie Davies, she wears the number 1 proudly on her mains'l. She is broad of beam, providing stable sailing and plenty of room for comfortable deck lounging. Her pilot house offers an ... Cutty Sark and the era of sail 14 Aug 2015. Cutty Sark is one of the last remaining examples of an extreme clipper- a ship of elegant and beautiful design, with a refined hull shape, raked masts and a huge sail area. She represents the pinnacle of sailing ship design, carrying a remarkable amount of canvas for her size, nearly 3000 m 2 of canvas with all her sails flying. Cutty Sark #Reborn2Sail Cutty Sark is a composite-build (wood planked on iron frames) sailing ship and building the replica is a unique way to restore and save traditional skills and knowledge for future generations. International trade and friendship. Fire consumes historic London ship Cutty Sark rose to prominence after leaving London on its first voyage on February 16, 1870, and sailing to Shanghai. Capable of reaching speeds of up to 17.5 knots and covering more than 360 ... Sergal Cutty Sark scale 1:78 Robertd [COMPLETED BUILD] 698. Points. 403. Location. Church Point (Sydney) NSW. Jun 11, 2021. #6. Made an jig and dry fit the keel and Bulkheads and sub deck , nothing glued so far , I will add the top deck as well for a dry fit before glueing , the laser items supplied by Sergal is superb , just a bit of sanding to get rid of the 'Charcoal' and the bulkheads slide ... catamaran gulet motorboat riverboat sailboat trimaran yacht