"Tall Ships" Finland Travelogue by Znaky

The Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Races are a truly international event with the lure of the sea and the spirit of adventure attracting participants from many countries.

Each year a new course is charted for the Race, and the
fleet of mighty square riggers, barques, barquentines, brigs,
schooners as well as smaller yachts assemble in early July
for the challenge of The Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Races.

Beyond the spectacle of tall ships racing under sail on the
high seas lies a deeper concept.

Sponsored by Cutty Sark Scots Whisky and organised by The International Sail Training
Association, the Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Races enable young people of all nations and from
widely differing backgrounds to sail and race together at sea. There they learn the virtues of teamwork and self-discipline whilst experiencing the thrills and challenges of a lifetime.

Since the first race from Torbay to Lisbon in 1956, some 100,000 young people from many
countries have participated in this great experience.

Cutty Sark Scots Whisky encourage the concept of international understanding
amongst these young people by awarding The Cutty Sark Trophy, a splendid
silver model of the famous clipper ship, to the vessel which contributes the
most to international understanding during each year's race series. The winner
of the trophy is chosen by all the other participating vessels.

The winners of the Cutty Sark Trophy are the crew and vessel which have contributed the
most to international understanding and friendship during each annual series of races. It
could go to any ship, large or small, and to any nationality - any participating vessel can win the Cutty Sark Trophy.

The race organisers, the International Sail Training Association, do not
decide who should win this special trophy, nor does the sponsor, Cutty
Sark Scots Whisky, even though they present the award. The winner is
decided by the votes of the captains of all the vessels in the race fleet.
As the captains consult their crews on their choice, it can be said that
the winners of the Cutty Sark Trophy have been chosen by all crews taking part. The trophy
itself is a valuable solid silver model of the "Cutty Sark" clipper, one of the greatest 'tall ships' in history.

The Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Races are named after their sponsor, Cutty Sark Scots Whisky. But
the whisky, in turn, is named after one of the most famous tall ships of them all: the 19th
Century Scottish clipper which is now laid up at Greenwich.

Here is how it came about. One day in 1923, at lunchtime, the partners of London wine
Merchants Berry Bros. & Rudd were entertaining a well known Scottish artist, James McBey.
The conversation turned to the new brand of pale whisky which the firm was planning to put
on the market. McBey suggested that the whisky should be called Cutty Sark, after the ship
which was in the news at that moment. She had just been bought back from the Portuguese
by Captain Wilfred Harry Dowman, a Cornish master mariner who had seen her outrace a
steamship in 1894.

Berry Bros. & Rudd accepted McBey's suggestion that the whisky should be called Cutty
Sark, and they commissioned him to design a distinctive label. His design remains
unchanged to this day, complete with the illustration of "Cutty Sark" and hand-drawn
lettering on a yellow background.

Cutty Sark was launched and became on of the world's biggest selling whisky brands,
exported to 130 countries and winning the Queen's Award for Export Achievement.

In 1972, the Berry Bros. partners' attention was drawn to the plight of the Tall Ships' Races which were in danger of lapsing due to shortage of funds. Once more the joint topics of tall ships and whisky were discussed at the firm's historic premises at No. 3, St. James's Street, London. The conversation revolved around the growth of the races, since the first one in 1956, their international character and their contribution to worldwide goodwill and understanding.

A decision was taken. Cutty Sark Scots whisky would sail to the rescue of the tall ships.

Ever since, Cutty Sark has worked closely together with the Intenational Sail Training
Association, the organisers of the event, in the development of the Cutty Sark Tall Ships'
Races worldwide. Through this sponsorship, thousands of people from all over the world
have raced in friendly rivalry at sea and formed lasting friendships ashore.

During one lovely Saturday in the end of July we had the opportunity to see all those ships at Mariehamn, Åland islands.. Above is the magnificent ship from Mexico, she was a rare beauty!

A Swedish schoolship. I had the true joy to visit all these proud vessels in Stockholm, where they arrived some days after Mariehamn. The days ended in Sthlm with the most magnificent fireworks!

I don't think the pictures show the tiotal truth, the fireworks were so great.. you should have seen them..

Two of the bigger ships during TSR 2000. Unfortutanetly I don't remeber what country they were from.

My beloved family after a day at sea!! haha.. We ended the day with a great meal at a cozy restaurant.
A great day with a great family!

One of the boats that Adam fell in love with! I can understand him..