Cutty Sark

8226; On the afternoon of 22nd November, 1869, this beautiful little ship of 963 tons gross was launched at Dumbarton on the River Leven in Scotland.

8226; Cutty Sark was built for John 8216;Jock8217; Willis, a seasoned sailing ship master who had taken over his father8217;s firm of ship owners in London. His ambition was for Cutty Sark to be the fastest ship in the annual race to bring home the first of the new season8217;s tea from China.

8226; She is the only surviving extreme clipper8211;a type of vessel that was the highest development of the fast commercial sailing ship.

8226; The vessel is the only tea clipper still in existence 8212; a tangible proof of the importance of tea in 19th century trade and cultural life.

8226; Most of her hull fabric survives from her original construction and she is the best example of a merchant composite construction vessel.

8226; The stately ship is a gateway to the World Heritage Site at Greenwich and is a key asset to both the World Heritage Site and the Borough of Greenwich.

8226; A Scotch whisky, founded in 1923; has been named after the clipper ship.