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RESTORATION


The Duke of Edinburgh inspects the site


The Queen deck showcases the voyager element of the ship, which travelled to virtually every major port around the world. Interactive games and touch tables help explain the mechanics of navigating the ship while crew lists allow visitors to fi nd out if any of their relatives worked on the ship. The weather deck examines how the ship was sailed. Visitors can raise and lower the yards and use binoculars to see things that would have seen be the crew, such as icebergs at Cape Horn. “Digital media really brings the stories


to life,” says Doughty. “For example, a magic mirror in the master salon shows the refl ections of people that aren’t here now, but were once. These include a war merchant and a lady from the 1950s touching up her hair and make up when the ship fi rst opened in Greenwich. These are fun ways of engaging with the public.”


GANGWAY Visitors exit the ship by a gangway into an access tower, which takes them down into the basement alongside the ship.


“You break out underneath the ship and experience what I hope will be a truly awe inspiring experience of being able to walk underneath the ship and see the lines,” says Doughty, unable to conceal his pride. Visitors can relax in the new café area and sample bespoke Chinese black and green teas created by Twinings while listening to a soundscape of the ship being built and launched out to sea. An underwater-themed soft play area is set up in the day. “We’re catering for a very wide audience with the family in mind,” says Doughty. As well as greatly enhancing the


visitor experience, the aim is to generate further income stream opportunities by using Cutty Sark at night. Corporate entertainment includes silver service dining for 320 guests underneath the ship and 100 on board, a reception for


62


The Queen opened the renovated ship on 25 April


500 under the ship or a production in the theatre for 100 people. “It’s now a very versatile resource,” says Doughty. “That allows us to lay down reserves so that in 50 years time, when undoubtedly more work will need to be done to the ship, we’ll have money saved up and secured so won’t have to get out our begging bowl.”


TREASURE CHEST Money raised to date has come from the Heritage Lottery Fund, central and local government and the public, who were very responsive to the cause, particularly after


“I joined in 2001, wondering I was going to raise £5m. And here we are £50m later”


the fi re. As is often the case, the cost of the project increased in the consequence of discovery. “When we removed the concrete in the bilges, the wrought iron frames were so badly corroded we had to have strengthening steel added to the ship to be able to put it back together again. “That was an unexpected blow,” recalls Doughty. “We also had huge problems in the ground, as the dry berth structure that was built just after World War II, turned out not to have been built according to the offi cial records of its construction. We had to grout the entire structure, rebuild the foundations and recast the entire top of the dry berth. All those things added hugely to our costs and created signifi cant delay, which also became very expensive. “I get a wry smile when I think about when I was


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appointed in 2001,” he continues. “The aspiration of the trustees was that this would be a £5m (6m, $7.8m) project at most. I joined wondering how I was going to raise £5m. And here we are £50m (60.5m, US$79.3m) later.” Although Cutty Sark is a big part of


British maritime history, it’s also a brand that belongs to the world, so Doughty has been able to secure funding from Russia, Australia, Europe and the US. “The ship’s reputation and the esteem with which its held has helped enormously,” he says.


ROYAL ENGAGEMENT The Duke of Edinburgh is the founder president of the trust and has been associated with the Cutty Sark since 1951. “People say that I’ve done well staying


in the job for 10 years with all that’s happened,” says Doughty. “But the Duke’s been doing it for 60 years, which is phenomenal. He’s been very generous with his time and support so that’s made a huge difference in our ability to get people to understand the signifi cance of the ship and want to invest in it.” Doughty reinforces the fact that Cutty


Sark is a conservation project, rather than a business plan; driven by people who want to fi nd the best solution for the ship and conserve it, rather than restore it. “Cutty Sark is one of those rare things


which are truly emblematic and intrinsically inspiring. It’s a piece of history that cannot be remade,” he says. “The ship that people come and see isn’t a replica; it’s the real ship. These are the frames and the wooden strakes that sailed to the south China seas and back. I can’t wait to get the public on board to see what we’re been doing for the last six years.” ●


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