How It Works-Amazing Vehicles

Cutty Sark

Class: Clipper

Tonnage: 975 GRT

Displacement: 2,100 tons

Length: 85m (279ft)

Beam: 11m (36ft)

Max speed: 32km/h (17kn)

Capacity: 1,700 tons

Complement: 28-35

The statistics...

Time waits

for no clipper

Designed to transport passengers and

merchandise between England and Australia

during the latter’s colonisation, the Cit y of

Adelaide is today the oldest sur viving clipper

in existence. During its heyday the Adelaide

made 23 annual return voyages to South

Australia and, consequently, it is estimated

that 250,000 modern-day Australians can

trace their lineage to a passenger on the ship.

The ship was accidentally sunk while in

Prince’s Dock, Glasgow, in 1991 and, while

salvaged in 1992, is now a severely dilapidated

wreck. As with the Cutt y Sark, the Adelaide is

an A-listed protected structure.

There are only t wo other 19th-

Centur y clippers still around,

though they are fast decaying

City of Adelaide

Built: 1864

Fate: Sunk/salvaged

Position: Irvine, Scotland

Built in the Lavender Dr y Dock on the River

Thames during 1869, the Ambassador was

designed to transport tea from China to

England. A frequent contestant in the great

tea races of the day, the Ambassador was one

of the fastest clipper ships, with a personal-

best time of 108 days to complete the journey.

After its tea-trading days, the Ambassador

was used to transport wool and other

products around the world. Unfortunately, in

1899, the ship was in a state of disrepair, with

its then owner unable to pay for its restoration.

As a result, it was beached in Estancia San

Gregorio, Chile, where it remains to this day.

Ambassador

Built: 1869

Fate: Beached

Position: Estancia San Gregorio, Chile

© Dav id Cook

© Google/André Bonacin

Masts

The ship’s masts, yards and

bowsprit were made from

iron. The Sark was equipped

with three main masts.

Sails

The Cutt y Sark featured

a square sail layout due

to it being the most

aerodynamically

efficient running rig for

attaining high speeds.

Cargo

The Cutt y Sark transported primarily

tea, wool and coal, however other

foodstuffs were carried as the ship

was capable of reaching destinations

with great speed, reducing spoilage.

Crew

The Sark had a complement

ranging between 28 and 35 men

depending on the length and

direction of the trade route.

The Cutt y Sark in ser v ice

during 1869. Today, the ship

is one of only three left from

the 19th Century

© Jan van der Crabben

DID YOU KNOW? The Cutty Sark was moored under Krakatoa just two years before it erupted