Cutty Sark

ships · history · Scotland · speed

Built for speed. Cutty Sark was launched in 1869 from Scotland and became one of the last and fastest tea clipper ships ever made. These special ships were designed to race across the ocean carrying valuable tea from Asia back to Britain.

A Scottish name. The ship was named after a witch character from a famous Scottish poem by Robert Burns called Tam o' Shanter. The witch Cutty Sark was so fast that she chased down a man on horseback and caught his horse by the tail.

Tea racing champion. Cutty Sark was built right when clipper ships were at their best, competing to see which ship could deliver tea the fastest. Ship owners gave them exciting names to show off how quick and impressive they were.

End of an era. Cutty Sark was one of the very last clipper ships built before steamships took over the ocean routes. Steam-powered ships were faster and more reliable than ships that relied only on wind and sails.