A group based in Russia has emerged with plans to build a new, sailing Cutty Sark – and even more extraordinary plans to revive tea clipper racing. Read about the original Cutty Sark here.
I’m amazed and impressed, and hope it all works out!
The initiators are led by Captain Vladimir Martus, owner and builder of the Shtandart, a replica of Russia’s first naval vessel, which was built by Tsar Peter the Great in 1703, and was also named Shtandart. She was launched in 2000 and has sailed ever since – so I guess they know what they’re doing.
The plan is to lay the keel of the new vessel in 2017, and to launch the new Cutty Sark in 2019. As the site says, the first step is to acquire copies of as much documentation as possible to make it possible for the project to go ahead.
And the money is coming from … ???? Huh – the Russian Government I suspect. Now just what political purpose will that serve?
I think it’s probably coming from oligarchs. But it’s still a nice idea, and an answer to all those folks who responded to what happened to the real Cutty Sark by saying it would be cheaper to build a new one.
No money is coming from the Russian government or any “oligarchs”. All funding will be by donation and crowd funding, from any people that are interested in the project. If an oligarch came forward to offer some cash, that would be nice, but there’s NO political affiliation with this project at all.
Good for them…it was certainly never going to happen in Dumbarton ..
Better to rescue one of the ships in South America. County of Peebles, Falstaff, Lonsdale, Ambassador, Majory Glen or County of Roxburgh in Tahiti. The real thing, not a replica.
Interesting… Here’s what I’ve found:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_of_Peebles_(ship)
http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?173675
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambassador_(clipper)
http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?169177
http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?181494
All very impressive, but I wonder how restorable they might be?
Gavin it’s all about the preservation of maritime history, to build a replica of a ship that is very much in existence would be a mistake, to build a “replica” tea clipper the obvious choice would be Cutty Sark’s rival Thermopylae, If you wanted a “restored” tea clipper the only choice would be Ambassador. Of the ships in South America Falstaff would be the best candidate for a restoration. “My thoughts on this subject!”
Thanks Richard!
Read about Thermopylae here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermopylae_(clipper)
you mean to say Richard that video of the STAD AMSTERDAM going from Boston to Malaga doesn’t give you heart palpatations,,,,replica or not,,,,those old rust buckets are to far gone and to expensive to reoair and you still get a floating warehouse not a real Clipper
I’m saying I find replicating a ship that is very much in existence distasteful, I would prefer to see another tea clipper replicated. The Ambassador is beyond repair but remains of that ship could be incorporated into a new build to continue the DNA of the original ship. There are so many famous tea clippers lost in the pages of history books. Let’s bring one of them back into life. I can picture in my mind Thermopylae tied up at Greenwich dock near Cutty Sark. Just my thoughts.
When thinking about authentic clippers needing funding for restoration, don’t forget the lovely Falls of Clyde in Honolulu. See https://sites.google.com/a/friendsoffallsofclyde.org/test3/
I was involved in restoring the James Craig in Sydney. She certainly fell into the definition of a rust-bucket. See http://www.boatregister.net/JamesCraig.html
After seeing how much better conditions the Falls of Clyde is compared to the James Craig was when we started, it is inconceivable that a few years ago the Falls of Clyde was destined to be scuttled. Thankfully saved by a grass-roots group in Honolulu, her struggles are not over. This wonderful example of a four-masted square-rigger is afloat, is practical, is of international significance and needs support.
Another existing square-rigger that readers might like to ponder is the Lady Elizabeth; see http://www.boatregister.net/LadyElizabeth.htm
A ‘replica’ of the Cutty Sark would on face value be quite an achievement.
On the plus side, it could potentially preserve a lot of skills, both in its construction and operation. It would also help avoid authentic historic vessels being used for sail training purposes with the potential for major modifications and perhaps misadventure. And of course, it would be an incredible spectacle.
On the negative side, a replica lacks the soul of a vessel contemporary of the type. Also, a replica would almost certainly not be a true replica. The challenges of modern safety standards, and scarce and expensive construction materials work against the objective of a true replica. See http://www.boatregister.net/AMMC_Survey_3.pdf
It would be interesting to find out exactly what they have in mind. In the meantime, don’t forget the Falls of Clyde.
The guy involved is the one who built and sails the Russian ‘frigate’ Shtandart – see http://www.shtandart.ru
Shtandart is the floating office of the CUTTY SARK REPLICA project.
Comments about the replica need to be posted to Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/cutty.sark.replica
Good i thought about building one in uk in steel .i think every country should build one built in sections like a modern ship so more the one yard can build section take to main yard to put it all together.would then beable to build with in one year .one of my younger brothers and i made the first baggy wrinkle for the first ts roylist. But wye was the new one built in a forign country.we still have the skills and we can build almost enything.