Essential information
| Type |
Experiences
|
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Date and times | Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June 2026 | 11am-4pm |
| Prices | Free with entry to Cutty Sark - Adults £22 | Students £16.50 | Children £11 |
| Free for Members. Not a Member? Join now |
Climb on board Cutty Sark for a weekend of activities centred around an interesting period of Cutty Sark's history: its years in the hands of a Portuguese company as Ferreira.
Attend a talk about the Ferreira period, meet themed character actors and get hands-on with craft activities.
See what's happening below.
Recommended for ages 5+.
Programme
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Gallery Favourite talk: Stories from the log of Ferreira
Saturday and Sunday | 'Tween Deck | On the hour at 11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pm
Come and learn about Ferreira’s adventures on the high seas, including when the ship was caught in a hurricane and nearly lost in a storm!
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Character actors
Saturday and Sunday | Throughout the ship
Learn about our beloved figurehead Nannie, and hear her nautical tales from the Ferreira years.
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Cork boats
Saturday and Sunday | 11am-1pm, 2-4pm | Dry Berth
Did you know that Portugal is the largest producer of cork in the world? Come and make and then race your very own cork boat!
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Sinnet keyring making
Saturday and Sunday | 'Tween Deck |11am-1pm and 2-4pm
Sailors on Ferreria would have used knots and ropework in their everyday life at sea.
Come and make your own mini decorative rope keyring in Portuguese colours.
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Cutty Sark Café
Saturday and Sunday | Dry Berth | All day
Come refuel at the Cutty Sark café, trying some of our tasty Portuguese treats: pasteis de natas.
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Why did Cutty Sark become Ferreira?
In the 1890s, Cutty Sark began to make less money, as more steam ships moved into the wool trade. Eventually, the ship was sold to a Portuguese firm and renamed Ferreira. It was used as a general cargo ship, transporting goods between Portugal and its empire.
When Portugal declared war on Germany, the ship had to contend with unrestricted submarine warfare. Despite surviving this unscathed, by the 1920s the ship was in poor condition and unlikely to survive much longer.
After suffering damage during bad weather, the ship experienced astonishing good luck. Brought to Falmouth for repairs, it was spotted and recognised by local retired sea captain Wilfred Dowman. Determined to save the ship and restore it to its former glory, he offered to buy it for £3,500 – more than what the ship was worth even in 1895.
The old name was restored in 1923, and Cutty Sark returned to British ownership.
Learn more about Cutty Sark's history
What’s on
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