Clipper Cutty Sark launched at Dumbarton (1869)

The clipper ship Cutty Sark was built in Dumbarton, Scotland, for the Jock Willis Shipping Line. Ordered during a tea clipper boom, construction was completed by Denny's after Scott & Linton failed. The vessel was launched in November 1869, coinciding with the Suez Canal's opening, marking the end of the tea clipper era as steamships took over.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Cutty Sark was ordered during a boom in tea clipper construction from 1865 to 1869, driven by reduced import duties. The design aimed to surpass the record set by the clipper Thermopylae in 1868. Built on the River Leven in Dumbarton, she was one of the last tea clippers, constructed as steamships began to dominate trade routes.

Construction. A contract for construction was signed on 1 February 1869 with Scott & Linton, a firm formed in May 1868. Due to issues, an arrangement was made for Denny's to take over the contract and complete the ship. This transition ensured the vessel's completion despite the original contractor's difficulties.

Launch. The ship was finally launched on 22 November 1869 by Captain Moodie's wife. This event coincided with the opening of the Suez Canal to shipping in 1869, which provided steamships with a shorter route to China, signaling the decline of the tea clipper trade.

People involved

Sources

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