Cutty Sark

[j.sabourn]

Have only visited once and had other things on mind at the time (honeymoon) however seem to remember reading some of the literature on board that the Cutty Sark never broke any records, the reason given that the masters of her would never sail her with a full spread of sail unless ideal weather conditions or something like that was given as the reason. Believe the vessel which did break the records was the Thermoplae or a similar sounding name. Anyone up on their sailing ships. John Sabourn

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi Shipmates, Hi J Sabourn, 1872 a duel was arranged between the Cutty sark and Thermopylae both left shanghai on the same day within an hour of each other, they were however some time in clearing away due to thick fog Cutty sark did not drop her pilot untill the 21st june the race did not start untill the 23rd of june The N.E. Monsoon began to blow strong and freshened to gale ,split the Cutty Sark fore top-gallant sail to pieces, The monsoon held held untill the 26th when at 1 am in lat 20 27'n long 114 43 E The two racers were in sight of each other The Cutty Sark in the lead. The Thermopylae was 6 miles to windward. The wind was fresh from the south west with heavy squalls The race was on !!!!

[cappy]

wasit the white cloud or the bluejacket one ship may hold the record for distance in a day but who would know which ship was truly the fastest unlessthey sailed in exactly the same conditions which of course could never happen could it cappy

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi shipmates, on the 28th of june they were together again in the Garspar straits The weather was boisterous, The Cutty sark had only one obersevation since leaving port. On the cochin china coast the usual land and sea breezes were worked, but crossing to the Natunas fresh gales and split sails were the experiance of both Clippers. On 15th july in 108 18E on the equator Thermopylea sighted The cutty sark about eight miles ahead but she gradually fell astern on the next morning she could only be seen from the fore topsail yard bearing S.E.. The Cutty sark led the thermopylae through stolzes channel but some unfriendly water spouts force the Cutty sark to take in sail this let the Thermopylae take the lead , The both ships arrived of Anjer with the Thermopylae in the lead by 1 and half miles both ship hove too for ship business, Captain Moodie of the Cutty Sark went ashore with letters, Both ship put to sea but were hung up by calms, it was not untill the 26th july with keeling cocos island in sight to the Nor'rard that wind came fresh from the S.E. trade then came from the E.S.E and the stunsail booms began to crack like carrots. This was the sort of weather The cutty Sark revelled in and she went flying to the front, with three consercutive runs of 340, 327 and 320 miles she carried the trades untill the 7th of august.

[Keith at Tregenna]

Louis my Amigo: I commend your knowledge of the Cutty Sark. A very interesting post and await: The race part two.

Meanwhile add a little info:

Launched in 1869 from Dumbarton, Scotland, Cutty Sark visited most major ports around the world. She carried cargo ranging from the finest teas to gunpowder and from whisky to buffalo horns.

Cutty Sark made her name as the fastest ship of her era during her time in the wool trade.

Many of the tea clippers that sailed the China Seas during the nineteenth century lasted for only a few years and only seven saw the twentieth century.

By the mid 1920s Cutty Sark was the only one still afloat, and from 1938 she became a training ship for the Incorporated Thames Training College at Greenhithe.

In December 1954, due to the great efforts of The Duke of Edinburgh, Cutty Sark came to Greenwich where she became, and remains, a memorial to the great days of sail and to all those who served in the merchant service.

K.

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi shipmates Hi Keith my barry buddy, glad you approve its from Captain moodies private log, his words, 11th august lat 34 3 S long 28 7 E distance 83 miles strong gale from N.E. blowing a very heavy gale all day fore and main top sails went to pieces august 12 ,13 14, 15,16, 17,18 19 heavy gales with mountainous seas. lost rudder and stern post, constructing jury rudder and stern post try a spar over stern, to steer ship but would not steer ship, made a bigger one some 70ft long the crew worked day and night with the cutty sark hove too, shipping sea to make a new jury rudder, then fine fair winds came and carried the Thermopylea round the cape, when the jury rudder was ready on august 21 the wind chopped to the west and began to blow a strong head gale with a sharp sea , the Thermopylae was over 490 miles ahead at this point 31 43s 13 e the jury rig carried Cutty sack to st helena the island was passed at 9am 1st sept the jury rudder was breaking its fastening and on 20th september the last of the eyebolts gave way no iron was found to make more repairs. they used a 5 cwt ketch anchor to make repairs? the crew repairs were smartly done took allmost two days when all was ready to make good the repair The sails were fill and the ship giving some headway the rudder and post were then lowered and steamed right astern the rudder was then close hauled to the trunk and the sails laid back as the ship lost headway the weight of the chain partially sunk the rudder, then as the ship slowly gathered sternway the slack of the guys were hauled in, the heel of the rudder sank and allowed the head to be easily hauled up through the trunk, a very fine piece of seaman ship in heavy seas By the British crew

[Keith at Tregenna]

The architects have completely repaired the vessel's deck and rigging, which were severely damaged in a fire in 2006, and have raised the entire ship three metres above its dry dock to create an underground exhibition hall below.

Some good pics of her now, LINK: Cutty Sark by Grimshaw - Dezeen

K.

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi shipmates, After The Cutty Sark misforture her luck change for the better she had strong N.E. trades to within a day of the western Isles, but the speed had to be kept down to 200 miles a day as the jury rudder could not control her,The final lap of the passage to the downs she again was battling against a fresh gale45 37N 26W The gale lasted untill 18th october she was a week behind the Thermopylae to the downs but the honours of the race were giving to the cutty sark for she was hove to for more than six days, making repairs and she only made 139 miles in eleven days, when she lost her rudder, the crew received great praise for they seaman ship, the Cutty sark would have won by serveral days she was the greyhound of the sea. Hi Keith my barry buddy I have a first hand account of what it was like to be a crew member on the Clipper The Cutty Sark soon as I come across the book I will post it.

[happy daze john in oz]

I have read somewhere Louis that Cutty Sark held the record for the fastest time for a wool clipper out of Oz and also as a tea clipper. But not under race conditions, just on single voyages.

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi Shipmates, Hi happy john in oz, It was plenty fast "The Cutty Sark" but it was not a lucky ship, But it was the grand daddy of the ocean going racers, With modern day materials refit she would be very hard to beat today in a race with a british crew.