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| Cutty Sark delayed by nine months | Cutty Sark delayed by nine months |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The reopening of the famous 19th Century ship Cutty Sark has been postponed until the spring of 2011. | The reopening of the famous 19th Century ship Cutty Sark has been postponed until the spring of 2011. |
| The historic tea clipper, based in Greenwich, south-east London, was ravaged by a fire in May 2007. | The historic tea clipper, based in Greenwich, south-east London, was ravaged by a fire in May 2007. |
| The Cutty Sark Trust, which is rebuilding the ship, had previously said it would reopen to visitors in the summer of 2010. | The Cutty Sark Trust, which is rebuilding the ship, had previously said it would reopen to visitors in the summer of 2010. |
| But the charity's chief executive Richard Doughty said he was "confident we will open in Spring 2011". | But the charity's chief executive Richard Doughty said he was "confident we will open in Spring 2011". |
| The ship is currently covered in shrouding to protect the structure while it is being refurbished. | The ship is currently covered in shrouding to protect the structure while it is being refurbished. |
| The covering will be removed in 2010, but it will be another year before the public will be allowed onboard. | The covering will be removed in 2010, but it will be another year before the public will be allowed onboard. |
| "We're hoping to have it fully ready by Easter 2011, a full year before the Olympics," said Mr Doughty. | "We're hoping to have it fully ready by Easter 2011, a full year before the Olympics," said Mr Doughty. |
| 'Sparkling white' | 'Sparkling white' |
| Mr Doughty also confirmed there was still a funding gap of up to £5m to reach the Cutty Sark Trust's vision. | Mr Doughty also confirmed there was still a funding gap of up to £5m to reach the Cutty Sark Trust's vision. |
| "The frame had corroded more than we thought which has meant additional work. We have sufficient money to conserve the ship, but we have a vision for it," he said. | "The frame had corroded more than we thought which has meant additional work. We have sufficient money to conserve the ship, but we have a vision for it," he said. |
| "We are looking for more money. We have around £35m and could still need up to £5m more but we are closing the gap." | "We are looking for more money. We have around £35m and could still need up to £5m more but we are closing the gap." |
| He added: "When we unveil the ship, we'll then go to the public. It's something truly worth investing in." | He added: "When we unveil the ship, we'll then go to the public. It's something truly worth investing in." |
| Mr Doughty said the ship was looking "stunning" and "sparkling white". | Mr Doughty said the ship was looking "stunning" and "sparkling white". |
| The frame is wrapped to protect paintwork while conservation continues | The frame is wrapped to protect paintwork while conservation continues |
| The ship's new parts have been made at several sites across London and are now being delivered to Greenwich and fixed to the shell of the ship. | The ship's new parts have been made at several sites across London and are now being delivered to Greenwich and fixed to the shell of the ship. |
| "It's a jigsaw puzzle. It's now about reassembling the parts," said Mr Doughty. | "It's a jigsaw puzzle. It's now about reassembling the parts," said Mr Doughty. |
| The 900-tonne vessel, designed by Hercules Linton, was constructed in 1869 in Dumbarton in Scotland, launching in November that year. | The 900-tonne vessel, designed by Hercules Linton, was constructed in 1869 in Dumbarton in Scotland, launching in November that year. |
| As one of the last tea clippers to be built, the ship was made for intensely competitive races from China, with huge profits to the first ship to bring tea back to London. | As one of the last tea clippers to be built, the ship was made for intensely competitive races from China, with huge profits to the first ship to bring tea back to London. |
| But as clippers lost out in the tea trade to steamers, the Cutty Sark began to transport wool from Australia. | But as clippers lost out in the tea trade to steamers, the Cutty Sark began to transport wool from Australia. |
| In 1954, after being restored her to her original appearance, she was moved to a custom-built dry-dock at Greenwich, and became a popular tourist attraction and famous landmark in the London Matrathon. | In 1954, after being restored her to her original appearance, she was moved to a custom-built dry-dock at Greenwich, and became a popular tourist attraction and famous landmark in the London Matrathon. |
| After years of lobbying for her full restoration, she was awarded grants of £25m and was closed in November 2006 so work could begin. | After years of lobbying for her full restoration, she was awarded grants of £25m and was closed in November 2006 so work could begin. |
| But a fire, sparked by an industrial vacuum cleaner, raged through the ship on 21 May 2007. | But a fire, sparked by an industrial vacuum cleaner, raged through the ship on 21 May 2007. |
| When repair and restoration work is complete, The Cutty Sark Trust plans to unveil her as she would have looked in 1872. | When repair and restoration work is complete, The Cutty Sark Trust plans to unveil her as she would have looked in 1872. |
| "It will be the icon of world heritage sites," said Mr Doughty. | "It will be the icon of world heritage sites," said Mr Doughty. |
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| Amateur video of the Cutty Sark fire in May 2007 |