Willis removed the engines and paddle wheels and found he had an exceptionally good sailing ship.

Messrs. Ritherdon and Thompson, the surveyors to the East India Council, were commissioned to prepare drawings for the new ships based upon The Tweed.

The contract was signed in June 1869 and the ship launched March 1870, to the highest Lloyds standards and using the best materials.

On further examination it was discovered that the metal cradles which supported the topmasts had been incorrectly manufactured, and had simply bent out of shape once tension had been applied on the stays.

Rather than remove the masts to repair the damage, additional strengthening was added to hold together the cradles and provide new fixing points.

The ship's carpenter proposed drilling through the mast and inserting a winch handle to ensure the collar stayed in place, but the captain refused.

Shortly the remaining supports gave way and with an extra large roll, the mast tore further through the deck and fell overboard.

The sole remaining mast was now unsupported because its braces from the mainmast had also gone, but in this case, the crew managed to get lines tightened to hold it in place.

Over the next three days the crew managed to salvage enough yards to have three sails on the foremast plus stunsails and set course for Simon's Bay.

Approaching False Bay to anchor, the ship fouled a wreck and before repairs were completed was in collision with two other vessels.

Moore was moved to command Cutty Sark and replaced with Sam Bissett, who had been mate on the maiden voyage.

Carrying coal from Sydney to Shanghai she was caught in a typhoon, which caused the ship to heel over so much that the main and mizzen masts had to be cut away once more to right her.

In the China sea the ship hit an uncharted reef and stuck fast, despite throwing the cargo overboard.