The Cutty Sark has gone up in flames...

[kiwi123]

Very sad news on the BBC this morning, the tea clipper Cutty Sark has gone up in flames. I've always loved this ship, it was a beauty..

:\:eek::err::cry::cry::cry::cry:

[kiwi123]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6675381.stm

[Lukem]

Are they saying what has caused it? Please don't say it was arson. How much damage?

Edit: I've just seen it on the news.:(

[kiwi123]

It's pretty much toast...I saw it on fire and after, and suffice to say that the whole of the hull was black....

[Sphynx]

From what I've heard 50% of her was away for restoration, but 80% of what was left is gone, and they fear that the structural iron-work is buckled.

The police are currently suspecting that it was arson because of people seen in the area and a suspicious car that they can't yet trace.

[snofox1]

This is really sad news. A beautiful ship! It also has a lot of sentimental memories for me as it was the first "complex" model that my younger brother and I built when we were very young, back in the 60's. A sad day for history and those who love sail. :( :( :(

[Sphynx]

Little update on what is safe: Mast, Sails and wheel were all away for restoration. Apparently the bulk of the wooden structure and rope work's distinctive smell is filling the air of south London however - in its burnt state.

The head of the restoration committee does not think however, that there is too much buckling of the metal and they are hoping to fully restore her.

[Martocticvs]

Looking at the photos they're probably going to have to rip out most of the timber structure and rebuild... if the iron is not too badly damaged then that's about as good news as you can expect - damned lucky the masts rigging were off the ship though. But it's a massive amount of work to repair her - with the exception of the iron it looks to me like something close to a rebuild; at the very least a very extensive refurbishment. This is a really sad thing, and if it is arson I can only hope they find a fitting punishment for them.

[Lukem]

Something involving yard arms perhaps; or better still, something involving a keel?

I hadn't realised that the masts were metal, presumably due to the amount of sail she would have used on a run?

[Martocticvs]

I'm not sure if the originals were metal, but it is common for these ships to have them metal now - Victory's lower masts are now metal, but back in the day they would have been several pieces of good straight fir bound together. It really just comes down to cost - it's much cheaper to have a 50ft length of tubular steel made than the same in wood.

[Hitori Kyo]

thats a real shame =/

- Hitori Kyo

[allfiredup]

I just saw the news on this. My father built the plastic model kit way back in the 70's. I didn't realize it was the Cutty Sark until I saw this thread :(

Now I would really love to find this kit and build it myself. It would be my first complex ship model.

[Skyraider3D]

...and if it is arson I can only hope they find a fitting punishment for them.Keelhauling!

[kiwi123]

Nah, hang em upside down from the mast by their balls and go for a rough sea voyage.

[falcon012]

[QUOTE=This is a really sad thing, and if it is arson I can only hope they find a fitting punishment for them.[/QUOTE]

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o80/cbscharlotte012/CptnKiddHangingInIrons.jpg