In this corresponding week in 1870, the legendary tea clipper Cutty Sark set sail on her maiden voyage to Shanghai, beginning a journey that helped shape global trade.
More than 150 years later, her story still resonates — reminding us how international trade has always connected people, cultures and economies.
At Atlantic Pacific Group, this moment feels especially meaningful as we continue our partnership with Royal Museums Greenwich. The Cutty Sark represents the spirit that still drives our industry today: speed, resilience, innovation and the determination to bridge continents.
In 1870, the race to bring tea from China to London was the supply-chain challenge of its time. Every day mattered. Every knot of speed mattered. Shipbuilders, sailors and merchants were united by one goal — moving goods across the world as efficiently as possible.
Sound familiar?
Today, our ships are steel rather than timber, powered by engines instead of wind and guided by satellites rather than the stars. Yet the mission is unchanged: we connect producers and consumers thousands of miles apart and rely on the same blend of precision, teamwork and innovation that powered the great clippers.
The Cutty Sark also tells a story of transformation. She was built at the peak of sail just as steam began to reshape shipping — a transition that feels strikingly relevant as our industry enters a new era of decarbonisation, digitalisation and evolving global trade.
As we celebrate 25 years of Atlantic Pacific Group, we’re proud to support RMG in preserving the stories that shaped our sector. Maritime heritage isn’t just about the past — it inspires the future of global trade.
