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Model, of clipper Cutty Sark

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made in Edinburgh

Model, of clipper Cutty Sark
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A clipper is a fast sailing ship, characterised in the mid 19th century by a three-masted square rig. This wooden model represents the 'Cutty Sark', the most famous of all the clipper ships connected to the China tea trade. 'Cutty Sark' was built at Dumbarton in 1869 for Captain John Willis of London.

The model was built to a scale of 1:96 by Mr H J Boyd of Edinburgh. It does not have its sails set and was constructed using 'Modelling the Cutty Sark' by Edward Bownes.

The 'Cutty Sark' was intended as a rival to the Aberdeen-built 'Thermopylae', whose maiden voyage in 1868 had broken the record both to and from Australia. In 1872 the two vessels raced and although 'Thermopylae' was home first, it was impossible to say which was fastest as 'Cutty Sark's' rudder broke twice. After 1877, 'Cutty Sark' moved into the Australian wool trade. She was sold to the Portuguese in 1895 and returned to Britain in 1922. She was used as a training ship on the Thames until 1952 when she was moved into dry dock at Greenwich. She can still be seen there today.

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