Cutty Sark

Delve into the adventures of the Cutty Sark and her crew in an immersive experience that brings her fascinating history to life. Follow in the footsteps of those who sailed her, explore interactive displays that evoke the sights, smells, and sounds of life at sea, enjoy sweeping views of the Thames, and walk right underneath the ship’s gleaming hull to touch a piece of world history.

Cutty Sark history

Clipper Ships were first introduced to the seas in the 1840s by American shipbuilders in response to booming commerce and the need for faster transportation of cargo to meet its demands. Commissioned by the British shipping magnate Jock ‘Whitehat’ Willis, the Cutty Sark was launched from Dumbarton in 1869. She was a masterpiece - a showcase of expert sailing ship design. Her three masts set the ship forwards at an incredible speed of 17 knots, making her one of the fastest ships on the sea in the 1870s.

Her speed made her a highly profitable vessel as she traversed the globe, bringing crops of tea from China - an incredibly fashionable commodity in the tearooms and parlours of Victorian Britain. Inflated by the stories of her prowess on water and her success in trade, the Cutty Sark’s owners put her forward for a tea race in 1872. The stakes were high as people put huge bets on her sure-fire victory. She ran neck and neck with a competing boat, Thermopylae, in the Indian Ocean, until the Cutty Sark’s rudder broke loose, costing her the race, but nevertheless cementing her legend on the water.

However, there were dark times ahead. Industry spurred on the advent of steamships on the water, setting a new standard of speed for merchant ships around the world. And in 1880, when the Cutty Sark set off on a voyage to Japan, a fight amongst the crew left one man dead and a mutinous crew on board. The captain committed suicide thinking his career was ruined. The Cutty Sark was held to account and soon a new reputation was assigned to her as a ‘hellship’: a cursed vessel. Her fortunes, however, were not to be consigned to superstition for long.

For a decade, she would preserve her legend on water through lightning voyages and the careful and generous attention of her owner, Jock Willis. After ceasing to be profitable, she spent 25 years transporting cargo, managing to avoid German U-boats during World War I, and in 1936, she spent her time at a Training College at Greenhithe by British naval cadets.

Cutty Sark Greenwich - A New Chapter

In her later years, the Cutty Sark found a permanent home in Greenwich, London, where she is docked. This ship at Greenwich has become an iconic landmark, drawing visitors from around the world.