Cutty Sark, Greenwich

File:Cutty Sark Frontage, Greenwich.jpg

The Cutty Sark is a British clipper ship, built in 1869, and one of the last tea clippers to be constructed. It is now preserved as a museum ship in Greenwich, London. The Cutty Sark was one of the fastest ships of its time, designed to carry tea from China to Britain.

History

The Cutty Sark was built on the River Clyde in Scotland by the shipbuilding firm of Scott & Linton, and was launched on November 22, 1869. The ship was commissioned by Jock Willis, a shipowner who wanted a fast vessel to compete in the tea trade.

Design

The ship was designed by Hercules Linton, and it was one of the last clippers to be built. The Cutty Sark was constructed with a composite design, featuring a wooden hull over an iron frame. This design allowed for a lighter and faster ship, capable of reaching high speeds.

Tea Trade

The primary purpose of the Cutty Sark was to transport tea from China to Britain. The ship was part of the "tea race," a competition among clippers to be the first to bring the new season's tea to London. Although the Cutty Sark never won the tea race, it was renowned for its speed and reliability.

Wool Trade

After the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, steamships began to dominate the tea trade. The Cutty Sark was then used in the wool trade between Australia and Britain, where it set records for the fastest passage.

Preservation

In 1954, the Cutty Sark was moved to a dry dock in Greenwich, London, where it was restored and opened to the public as a museum ship. The ship suffered a major fire in 2007, but it was restored and reopened in 2012.

Significance

The Cutty Sark is an important part of maritime history, representing the pinnacle of clipper ship design. It is one of only a few surviving examples of a clipper ship and serves as a reminder of the age of sail and the global trade routes of the 19th century.

Also see

• Greenwich
• Maritime history of the United Kingdom
• Clipper ship
• Tea trade
• Suez Canal