Cutty Sark in such a short undergarment caused Tam to cry out "Weel done, Cutty-sark", which subsequently became a well known catchphrase. Originally, carvings by Hellyer of the other scantily clad witches followed behind the figurehead along the bow, but these were removed by Willis in deference to 'good taste'. Tam o' Shanter riding "Meg" was to be seen along the ship's quarter. The motto, "Where there's a Willis away", was inscribed along the taffrail. "The Tweed", which acted as a model for much of the ship which followed her, had a figurehead depicting Tam o' Shanter. "Cutty Sark" was destined for
Great Tea Race of 1866 between tea clippers to catch public attention was between "Thermopylae" and "Cutty Sark" in 1872. "Erl King" was the first ship to carry a cargo of tea through the Suez Canal, arriving in London on 4 August 1870 after a passage of 61 days. She later served on the route to Australia and then on transatlantic routes. She was lost off the coast of Florida on 16 Dec 1891. Captain MacKinnon of "Taeping" was taken ill with rheumatic fever on his next outward passage and was put ashore in South Africa. He died of complications whilst travelling home to Britain.