Cutty Sark welcomes Tallship Races in Tallinn
A model of the historically fastest merchant ship ever, the Cutty Sark, has been on display at Tallinn Airport since 3 May. The ship model invites people to visit Tallinn’s three ports from 11-14 July.
Marje Tõemäe, project manager for Tall Ships Races Tallinn 2024, encourages everyone to attend this summer’s biggest maritime festival. “The Tall Ships Races, featuring beautiful sailing ships, is a very special regatta that returns to Tallinn after a long hiatus. It offers a unique opportunity for both locals and visitors to enjoy an extraordinary maritime festival in Tallinn’s ports. More than 60 large sailing ships from all over the world will come together, with various activities taking place both on land and at sea,” Tõemäe said.
Perfect representative
Iris Tomson, programme manager for the Tall Ships Races Tallinn 2024 at Lennusadam, said the clipper Cutty Sark perfectly represents the regatta coming to Tallinn this summer. “Cutty Sark has a long and exciting history. The ship was known for its impressive speed compared to other clippers of the time and stood out in races to be the first to carry valuable tea cargo from China to London. The tea clippers’ young and daring captains, known as China Birds, were as famous and popular at the end of the 19th century as Formula 1 drivers are today. This matches the spirit of the sailing regatta, where the fastest ship and the smartest crew win,” Tomson explains.
Estonian model maker
The model of Cutty Sark was created by Estonia’s greatest modelling master, Hermann Tõnissoo, and was his last completed work in the 1970s. He reportedly worked on the model for several years before his death in 1974.
Title sponsor
The world-famous tea clipper Cutty Sark was one of the fastest sailing ships of its time, originally transporting tea between Britain and China and later wool between Britain and Australia. The largest known tea cargo carried by the ship was over 600 tonnes – a remarkable feat for a ship 64.77 metres long. This iconic sailing ship symbolises the era of sailing and the seafaring profession. Cutty Sark also lent its name to a whiskey brand, which was the title sponsor of the Tall Ships Races from 1973 to 2003.
After 25 years in the British Merchant Navy, Cutty Sark was sold to Portugal in 1895 and renamed Ferreira. In 1922, it became the last clipper to sail the world’s oceans. In 1922, she returned to her homeland under the name Maria do Amparo.
From 1924 to 1950, Cutty Sark served as a training ship to prepare cadets for the British Royal Navy and merchant fleet. After extensive refurbishment, Cutty Sark has served as a museum ship in Greenwich, London, since 1957, where it continues to educate and inspire generations of young sailors.
Visit in July
The Cutty Sark model arrived at Tallinn Airport thanks to the efforts of the Tall Ships Races Tallinn 2024 organising team and the Estonian Maritime Museum. It will be on display at the airport until the end of the Tall Ships Races Tallinn 2024 in mid-July, just before passport control in the passenger area.
The Tall Ships Races is the world’s largest sailing competition with the longest traditions, bringing more than 60 large sailing ships to Tallinn’s three ports. From 11-14 July, visitors can tour the ships, enjoy performances by top Estonian artists and take part in various activities on land and at sea.
Read this article on the Tallship organisation ‘s Tallinn website.
More information on the Tall Ships Races can be found on Sail Training International‘s website.
Image: The Cutty Sark under sail, painted by Jack Spurling.
Windassist sponsor