A trip to Greenwich and the weather is playing games with us. A cloudy, showery day in May for our first visit to this borough and the famous ship the Cutty Stark. Just as you say "Maybe I don't need this umbrella after all", a sneaky cloud break decides to test how quickly you can open it! The rain isn't a downpour, just enough to make everything damp. But the best part? Five minutes later the sun comes out again like nothing happened.
We had often planned a visit to Greenwich but somehow we had not fulfilled the promise until this day. We were very glad that we had finally made the trip and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an interesting day out in London..
The Story of the Cutty Sark, a ship built for speed
Built in 1869, the Cutty Sark was designed to be the Formula 1 car of the seas, a ship built for speed, zooming through the waves faster than the rumors at a Victorian tea party. Her name came from a witch in Robert Burns' poem, who wore a cutty sark, which, for non-Scottish speakers, means "short nightie." So yes, this elegant ship was named after an underdressed witch.
Now, back in the day, shipping tea was very big business. In the mid-19th century, the tea trade was booming. The first ship to deliver fresh tea to London from China would often get a premium on its cargo, as tea was highly prized for its freshness.
When the Cutty Sark launched in 1869, she was a marvel of her time, 212 feet long with sleek lines designed to slice through the water. She could reach speeds of up to 17 knots, an impressive feat for a ship under sail. Her owner, John Willis, had big hopes for her, expecting her to dominate the tea trade with China. Unfortunately, her tea-delivery career lasted about as long as a New Year’s resolution. Why? Because the Suez Canal opened and steamships came along.
So, what’s a speedy ship to do? Pivot, of course! the Cutty Sark found a second life as a wool transporter from Australia, where her speed made her a favourite. She became one of the fastest ships to make the journey from Sydney to London, breaking numerous records.
The Infamous Race of 1872
One of *Cutty Sark’s* most dramatic moments came during the 1872 tea race against Thermopylae, her arch-nemesis. Picture it: two ships leaving China, neck and neck. It was going great until the Cutty Sark lost her rudder in a storm. Most ships would’ve thrown in the towel (or, in this case, the sail), but not the Cutty Sark. Her crew did what any of us would do when we’re about to lose a game – they MacGyvered a solution. They made a makeshift rudder out of whatever was lying around and kept going. Sure, they lost the race, but the legend of her resilience and the skill of her crew were cemented in maritime history.
Decline and Revival
As steamships dominated global trade routes, the Cutty Sark was sold in 1895 and used as a cargo ship in Portuguese ownership for several decades. She transported everything from coal to sugar, eventually falling into disrepair.
In the early 20th century, recognizing the ship’s historical significance, maritime enthusiasts rallied to save her. By the 1920s, the Cutty Sark was brought back to Britain, where she was restored and eventually placed in dry dock in Greenwich, then in 1954 she became a museum ship.
Tragedy and Legacy
In 2007, a devastating fire broke out aboard the Cutty Sark, during ongoing restoration work. Much of the ship was severely damaged, but luckily, many parts, including the masts and a large portion of the hull, had been removed for preservation at the time. After extensive restoration efforts, she again reopened to the public in 2012.
Today, Cutty Sark is a proud testament to the age of sail, a symbol of Britain’s maritime heritage, and a reminder of the fierce competition that once defined global trade.
And there she is today, standing proud, reminding everyone that no matter how many fires or rudder mishaps life throws your way, you can always bounce back – as long as you have a crew with some great DIY skills.
This original image was taken in Apple ProRaw which is editable as a DNG (Digital Negative) file. After edits with the Snapseed application, I have posted here a much smaller jpeg image that loads faster on the web.
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