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They were fast, they were sleek and 150 years ago the great tea clippers ruled the waves. Battling the elements, the clippers raced to deliver their valuable tea cargo from China to the fashionable tea-drinking sets in London. Great prizes of revenue and prestige awaited the first to bring the tea home. Competition was fierce, pitting ship against ship, captain against captain and crew against crew. The Cutty Sark and the Thermopylae emerged as the pinnacle of the clipper class. Attracting the best captains and crews, the world was gripped by their head-to-head challenges.
In the first half of the 19th century, the English merchant East India Company held the monopoly on this lucrative tea trade. Since there was no competition to spur them on, the old East Indiamen ships made the 15,000-mile passage in a leisurely 120 days. However, in 1834, the company lost its monopoly as the trade was opened up to other British companies. Then in 1849, the British government revoked the laws that had previously ruled that only British ships could trade in British ports. The heat was on and the old British ships met stiff competition from abroad.
America had developed the Baltimore clippers to outrun the British fleet during the American War of Independence. The Baltimores' extra spread of sail and sleek hulls meant that they could 'clip' that last inch of wind from their sails. Exploiting the change in British trade restrictions, the Americans entered the China tea trade. In 1850, the American clipper Oriental beat the British tea carriers back to Britain, earning itself twice as much as the British ships for its cargo. But the British soon fought back, building wonderful clippers of their own that were the Concords of their time. The trade route had become a ferociously competitive battleground.
The financial importance and widespread publicity of the tea races was illustrated by the Great Tea Race of 1866. Sixteen tea clippers gathered in the Chinese port of Foo-Chow-Foo, set to race the 15,000 miles back to Britain with their precious cargoes of tea. Two ships, Ariel and Taeping, arrived in London 90 days later. Serica followed on the same tide and Fiery Cross finished two days later. Compared to the old journey times of 120 days, it was a remarkable feat that gained the public's admiration.
In 1867, the owner of the Aberdeen White Star Line, George Thompson decided that he wanted a clipper ship to outstrip the rest and work began on the Thermopylae. She would be a composite ship with an iron framework supporting a wooden hull. A huge spread of sail made Thompson confident that Thermopylae would be a winner. On her maiden voyage in 1868, she proved herself immediately, making a record-breaking 63-day passage from Gravesend to Melbourne.
Whilst Thermopylae was breaking all previous records, another Scot had his eye on the tea trade. Captain John 'Jock' Willis had decided that he would build a rival to beat Thompson's ship. In 1869, Willis's Cutty Sark was finally launched. Her maiden voyage was not astounding and it would be two years before she would get to meet her archrival, Thermopylae.
1869 also saw the opening of the Suez Canal, which provided a short cut for all eastern trade. It wasn't great news for the sailing ships though, as they couldn't navigate the narrow route. The newly developing steam ships could, but steam technology was inefficient at this time and the clippers were safe for a while.
Cutty Sark and Thermopylae had their showdown in the summer of 1872, in the annual race to bring the first of the season's tea to London. On the same tide on 18 June, both ships left for London from Shanghai, on the east coast of China. Cutty Sark was sailing under Captain Moodie, one of Willis's most trusted masters. Thermopylae was mastered by the equally experienced Captian Kemball.
Cutty Sark was 400 miles in the lead when a storm blew up round the Cape of Good Hope. Disastrously, she lost her rudder. Moodie had the carpenter make a temporary rudder. Sailing in terrible winds and seas, the crew, including Willis's brother, urged him to head for dock in South Africa, but Moodie refused and reached London only seven days behind Thermopylae. Although they lost the race, both captain and crew were celebrated as heroes for their gallant effort. Especially by Willis who had insured neither ship nor cargo.
By the 1880s, steam ships had robbed sail of the tea trade and the clippers sought other waters and other trades to ply. The first few years were bleak for both of the mighty clipper ships as they tramped from port to port picking up whatever cargo they could. However, by 1885 Thermopylae and Cutty Sark had found a new lucrative market in the Australian wool trade. The old rivalry was reborn.
Cutty Sark had a new master, Captain Woodget, an experienced sailor and an eccentric who loved photography, roller-skating and breeding dogs – all whilst at sea. In 1885, Cutty Sark and Thermopylae met up for a deciding head-to-head, from Australia to England. In a record-breaking 73-day passage, Cutty Sark won the race, beating Thermopylae by seven days. Cutty Sark had found her form and would continue to break records, beating Thermopylae for the next 10 years.
By the 1890s, neither ship was economically viable. After a short period in Canada, the Thermopylae was bought by the Portuguese navy for use as a training vessel, only to be torpedoed for target practise in 1906.
The Cutty Sark was first sold to Portuguese merchants, and then passed through a variety of owners. In 1954, she finally made her way to Greenwich in London and settled into the new dry dock that would become her final resting place.
Cutty Sark and the Great Clippers
Graphics version (includes layout and images)