Speed and Sail

Aberdeen’s Tall Ships Heritage Walk

Stop 1: Aberdeen Harbour Entrance - Welcoming the Tall Ships and Beginnings of Aberdeen’s Maritime Trade (12th Century)

Aberdeen harbour entrance has welcomed two Tall Ships Races, already, in 1991 and 1997. The Tall Ships Races are specifically focused on young people and sail training. Organised by Sail Training International, the races aim to provide young people, aged 15 to 25, with the opportunity to experience life at sea, develop teamwork and leadership skills, and learn the art of traditional sailing. At least half of each vessel’s crew must be young trainees, making it a unique platform for youth development and international friendship.

The harbour, dating from a charter in 1136, is one of the UK’s oldest, and became a critical site for maritime trade and later the home port for Aberdeen’s iconic Tall Ships and Clippers.

Stop 4: Old Customs House - Regulating Trade (19th Century)

Built in the early 1800s, the Old Customs House was vital in monitoring and managing the vast quantities of goods passing through Aberdeen, including the precious cargo carried by Clippers from London and onwards to Aberdeen for redistribution. Customs officials at Aberdeen oversaw goods valued at thousands of pounds weekly. Today it is a restaurant.

Stop 6: Sea Cadets - TS Scylla

The Aberdeen Sea Cadets, based at TS Scylla, play an active role in fostering young maritime talent and a love for the sea, aligning with the spirit of the Tall Ships Races. Through hands-on training in sailing, navigation, and seamanship, TS Scylla has prepared Aberdeen’s youth to participate in Tall Ships events, both as competitors and crew members. The Sea Cadets Tall Ship TS Royalty is participating in the race and is in the harbour.

Stop 8: Aberdeen Bow Design - Maritime Innovation

Alexander Hall and Sons, shipbuilders at Pocra Quay developed the “Aberdeen Bow,” a design that contributed to the incredible speed of Aberdeen Clippers. The Aberdeen Bow reduced drag and allowed Clippers to cut through water more efficiently, a feature that helped Thermopylae outpace many rivals.

Stop 2: Pocra Quay - Growth of Shipbuilding (18th Century)

Pocra Quay was central to Aberdeen’s shipbuilding rise, becoming home to prominent shipbuilders who would later construct famed Clippers. Aberdeen shipyards produced vessels for trade as far as the Americas, eventually evolving to specialise in sleek, fast clipper designs.

Stop 3: Footdee Village (Fittee) - Home to Mariners

Fittee was a village for shipbuilders and sailors, a close-knit community that played an integral role in supporting Aberdeen’s maritime labour force. Many of Aberdeen’s clipper crews came from families living in Footdee, with skills and knowledge passed down through generations.

Stop 5: Pocra Quay Shipyards - Home of the Aberdeen Clippers

Major shipbuilders like Alexander Hall & Co. and Walter Hood & Co. launched legendary Aberdeen Clippers here, including some of the world’s fastest. Hall & Co. alone produced over 40 clipper ships, renowned for their speed and durable design.

Stop 7: Clipper Quay - The Clipper Races

This quay is named after Aberdeen’s most famous produce - the Clipper ships. Tea clippers set out on their races from Shanghai and Canton in China, carrying tea back to the UK as quickly as possible to maximise profit. The Aberdeen-built Clipper Thermopylae famously completed the journey from China to London in 91 days, making it one of the fastest voyages of its time.

Stop 9: Commerce Street - The Goods of the Clipper Trade

Clipper ships carried high-value goods like tea, opium, and spices, which brought immense wealth to Britain. By the height of the clipper trade, Aberdeen ships regularly transported thousands of pounds of tea annually, supporting Scotland’s demand.

Stop 10: Shipwrecks and Maritime Tragedies

While Clippers were built for speed, they often faced perilous voyages and sometimes didn’t return. In the 19th century, Aberdeen lost several Clippers to shipwrecks, often due to the hazards of high-seas races and stormy passages.

Stop 11: Marischal Street - Rise of the Aberdeen Line (1825)

Founded by George Thompson Jr., the Aberdeen Line included fast tea clippers, revolutionising Aberdeen’s economy and establishing it as a centre. The Aberdeen Line’s ships became famous for their efficiency and reliability, regularly beating competitors in tea races. The rise of steamships and changing trade routes led to the decline of the Aberdeen Line. By 1945, only a few of the original Aberdeen Line ships were still in service, marking the end of an era for Aberdeen’s tall ships.

Stop 12: Maritime Museum - Legacy of the Tall Ships

The Maritime Museum preserves Aberdeen’s maritime legacy, including models and artefacts of tall ships and clipper ships. Visitors can see original plans of Thermopylae and learn about the design and speed that made Aberdeen clippers world-renowned.

Stop 13 : History of Tall Ships Races

The Tall Ships Races began in 1956 as a one-time event aimed at celebrating traditional sailing ships and fostering international friendship and maritime heritage. Due to its popularity, it quickly became an annual event, with young sailors from all over the world participating to keep the art of tall ship sailing alive. From 1973 until 2003, the races were famously sponsored by Cutty Sark whisky, named after the renowned British tea clipper.
Today, Aberdeen celebrates its maritime past by hosting the Tall Ships Races, connecting the city’s history with a modern audience. The Tall Ships Races attract vessels from around the world, reinforcing Aberdeen’s historic role as a major port in international trade. Aberdeen’s spirit of innovation continues in the wind and energy sector - a legacy which spills over from earlier maritime innovations.