Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Cutty Sark is a British clipper ship. Built on the River Leven, Dumbarton, Scotland in 1869 for the Jock Willis Shipping Line, she was one of the last tea clippers to be built and one of the fastest, at the end of a long period of design development for this type of vessel, which ended as steamships took over their routes.
The younger Jock Willis (1817–1899), himself a ship master, took over his father's firm of ship owners. Also known as 'White Hat Willis', it was during his time that the company built and owned clippers like Cutty Sark. [6] The other sons, too, joined the company in various capacities – either sailing on their ships or working in their offices.
Main page; Contents; Current events; Random article; About Wikipedia; Contact us; Donate; Pages for logged out editors learn more
Main page; Contents; Current events; Random article; About Wikipedia; Contact us; Pages for logged out editors learn more
The Duke of Westminster sold the Cutty Sark to Cdr Mack in 1941, so at that stage he owned the warship he commanded. The ship was eventually acquired by the Ministry of War Transport in 1942. Her war service was mainly routine escort work, and she is mentioned several times in this capacity in Edward Young's book, One of Our Submarines.
As was the case with Cutty Sark, the shape of the hull for the ships was based upon another ship belonging to Willis, The Tweed (previously named Punjaub). This was a former sail/paddle steamer frigate built in Bombay for the East India Company , later sold when the East India company navy was merged into the Royal Navy.
The clipper ships bound for Australia and New Zealand would call at a variety of ports. A ship sailing from Plymouth to Sydney, for example, would cover around 13,750 miles (22,130 km). A fast time for that passage would be around 100 days. [6] Cutty Sark made the fastest passage on that route by a clipper: 72 days. [7]
The agreement to build the Cutty Sark was signed by John 'Jock' Willis (also known as 'White Hat' Willis) on 1 February 1869 with a contracted completion date six months later on 30 July 1869. Willis had been an experienced shipmaster in his father's business and now was also an experienced ship owner on his own account.