Editing Cutty Sark (section)

===First tea seasons===
''Cutty Sark'' was destined for the [[tea]] trade, a seasonal trade of a high-value cargo from China to London. Though the "premium" or bonus paid to the ship that arrived with the first tea of the year was abandoned after the [[Great Tea Race of 1866]], faster ships could usually obtain a higher price for transporting their cargoes than others.<ref name="MacGregor 1983">{{cite book|last=MacGregor|first=David R.|date=1983|title=The Tea Clippers, Their History and Development 1833–1875|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|isbn=978-0870218842}}</ref> Her first roundtrip voyage under captain George Moodie began 16 February 1870 from London with a cargo of wine, spirits and beer bound for [[Shanghai]]. The return journey, carrying {{Convert|1305812|lb}} of tea from Shanghai, began 25 June, arriving 13 October in London via the [[Cape of Good Hope]].

''Cutty Sark'' sailed in eight "tea seasons", from London to China and back.{{r|MacGregor 1983|p=237–242}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ ''Cutty Sark''{{'}}s tea runs{{sfn|Carr|1964|p=5}}
! Year !! From     !! To             !! Days
|-
| 1870 || Shanghai || Beachy Head || 109
|-
| 1871 || Shanghai || North Foreland || 107
|-
| 1872 || Shanghai || Portland || 120
|-
| 1873 || Shanghai || Deal || 116
|-
| 1874 || Woosung || Deal || 118
|-
| 1875 || Woosung || Deal || 122
|-
| 1876 || Woosung || Start || 108
|-
| 1877 || Woosung || Scilly || 122
|}