"Cutty Sark" by carolmw

"Cutty Sark"

Cutty Sark is a British clipper ship. Built on the 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.

The opening of the Suez Canal (also in 1869) meant that steamships now enjoyed a much shorter route to China, so Cutty Sark spent only a few years on the tea trade before turning to the trade in wool from Australia, where she held the record time to Britain for ten years.Improvements in steam technology meant that gradually steamships also came to dominate the longer sailing route to Australia, and the ship was sold to the Portuguese company Ferreira and Co. in 1895 and renamed Ferreira. She continued as a cargo ship until purchased in 1922 by retired sea captain Wilfred Dowman, who used her as a training ship operating from Falmouth, Cornwall. After his death, Cutty Sark was transferred to the Thames Nautical Training College, Greenhithe in 1938 where she became an auxiliary cadet training ship alongside HMS Worcester. By 1954, she had ceased to be useful as a cadet ship and was transferred to permanent dry dock at Greenwich, London, for public display.

Cutty Sark is listed by National Historic Ships as part of the National Historic Fleet (the nautical equivalent of a Grade 1 Listed Building). She is one of only three remaining original composite construction (wooden hull on an iron frame) clipper ships from the nineteenth century in part or whole, the others being the City of Adelaide, which arrived in Port Adelaide, South Australia on 3 February 2014 for preservation, and the beached skeleton of Ambassador of 1869 near Punta Arenas, Chile.

The ship has been damaged by fire twice in recent years, first on 21 May 2007 while undergoing conservation. She was restored and was reopened to the public on 25 April 2012. On 19 October 2014 she was damaged in a smaller fire.
Had a lovely day in London,yesterday,but very tiring.Enjoyed "Motown" very much.
Many thanks for all your views,comments and favs,always much appreciated.
Such a pretty historical ship. Thanks for the history.
April 19th, 2017  
Those were stunning ships and very hard work for the sailors. Beautiful shot and narrative.
April 19th, 2017  
Bep
Interesting story. I love these tall ships. Fav.
April 19th, 2017  
Great pov and love that blue sky and also the flags on the boat.
April 19th, 2017  
Great composition and story!
April 19th, 2017  
Great photo. I tried building a model of that ship when I was about 11 years old. I failed utterly when I got to the rigging.
April 19th, 2017  
Would love to see this one out on the water with full sails.
April 19th, 2017  
@sarasotab. It does look very complicated
April 19th, 2017  
Magnificent rigging!
April 19th, 2017  
lovely shot of her. Great history info.
April 19th, 2017  
I have seen it and taken many pictures of it. Last time we went it was still being remodelled or ... well covered up. Wonderful image against the blue sky
April 19th, 2017  
Grand capture, and angle...Fav
April 19th, 2017  
Fabulous POV!
April 19th, 2017  
A lovely POV and it looks as though it was a beautiful day. I haven't seen the Cutty Sark since before the first fire, the restoration looks amazing.
April 19th, 2017  
Nice angle of capture. Fav
April 19th, 2017  
Love your pov and focus, fav
April 19th, 2017  
What a brilliant blue sky! Great shot!
April 19th, 2017  
Great shot
April 19th, 2017  
Love your POV. Interesting history to go with the beautiful Cutty Sark.
April 19th, 2017  
Wonderful and all info to thank you Carol
April 19th, 2017  
Very impressive and really interesting history.
April 20th, 2017  
Excellent photograph.
April 20th, 2017  
Great shot and commentary.
April 20th, 2017  
Like your pov and commentary
April 20th, 2017  
Love the pov and the subject.
April 20th, 2017  
Wonderful capture!
April 20th, 2017  
Majestic ship!
April 23rd, 2017  
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