THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF CUTTY SARK

If theres a moral to be taken from the story of the Cutty sark Clipper, its never underestimate the under dog.

The product of an ambitious young mind, Cutty sark was designed by 33 Year Old whipper snapper, and owner of the most impressive name in ship-building, Hercules Linton. Cutty Sarks original owner, John Jock White Hat Willis (there are a lot of fantastic names in this story) was so demanding of the highest quality that meeting his expectations led to the eventual ruin of Lintons shipyard.

It was in reference to the exacting Mr White Hat that the motto emblazoned upon Cutty Starks stern read Where theres a Willis a way. Another apt motto may have been never let gramma get in the way of a good motto.

The extent of his pickiness didnt stretch solely to the clippers performance. Willis also demanded Cutty Sark be dressed to impress with an intricately rendered figurehead based on the scantily clad witch Nannie from Rabbie Burns poem, Tam OShanter.

Initially Nannie was accompanied by an entire coven of comely witches in various states of undress, sculpted around the ship's stern. Unfortunately, this being the Victorian era of big knickers and low tolerance, the hot witches were soon removed in the name of decency.

Built to live fast and die young, (The) Cutty Sark not only outpaced her rivals, she also outlived them all including her arch rival, the clipper Thermopylae.

But things didnt start out so smoothly for Cutty Sark.

On her maiden voyage in a cut-throat race against Thermopylae while holding a 400 mile lead, she lost her rudder around The Cape Of Good Hope. Resourceful to the last, her crew fashioned a makeshift replacement and Cutty Sark arrived home just a few days after her nautical nemesis.

Unfortunately it seemed the plucky clipper was doomed before she could find her stride. The year of her launch also saw the opening of The Suez Canal which heralded the dawn of the Steamer on the tea run from Shanghai to London. However Cutty Sark was built of sterner stuff and continued to punch above her weight between London and Australia under the helm of a series of extraordinary Captains. The most renowned of which was the incomparable Captain Richard Woodget, who indulged in roller skating, photography and the breeding of Collie Dogs all whilst at sea. He turned close calls with icebergs into great photo opportunities in the roaring 40s.

A devout man he was also in the habit of scattering reams of Bible Verses into the sea when passing another ship, convinced that each and every crew-member was an incorrigible blasphemer. It was under Captain Woodget in 1889 that Cutty Sark outran speeding steam liner Britannia who was regarded as the fastest ship of her time. Woodget eventually retired to be a dairy farmer when Cutty sark was sold to new Portuguese owners and renamed Ferreira, then Maria Do Amparo.

Captain Woodget only left Cutty Sark when she was sold to new Portuguese owners. As if knowing life at sea would never really be the same without her, he retired from the job to become a dairy farmer in his native Norfolk. Under the Portuguese flag, Cutty Sark was renamed Ferreira, then Maria do Amparo. Despite her change of name and all the bad luck it is said to bring upon ships, she fared well. Maybe because the new Portuguese crew referred to her as Pequena Camisola, a precise translation of her original Scots moniker.

Over the next 30 odd years Cutty sark embarked on a series of adventures which saw her covering sea from Rio to Mozambique and pretty much everywhere else in-between. She survived rogue waves and icebergs, was dismasted in the Indian Ocean and dodged German U-Boats in World War I while still capable of barrelling along at 16 knots.

And what became of her arch nemesis Thermopylae?

Well she was also sold to the Portuguese. Who promptly sunk her with a torpedo, for target practice In 1922 Cornish Sea Farer, Captain Dowman bought Cutty Sark and returned her to Britain where she not only made headline news, but also served as inspiration for a certain Mssrs Berry & Rudd. They were looking for a formidable name for a new brand of Whisky. A name that would be synonymous with class and uncommon quality.

Today, Cutty Sark has returned to her original home port of London.

Moored in Greenwich, East London, she was damaged by fire in 2007, but in testament to her indomitable spirit and the conviction of those who care for her, she is being restored and will re-open in 2010.

The challenger lives on.

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