Polly Agatha – Pilot Cutter Launch
Cockwells Modern & Classic boatyard at Ponsharden have just launched their Pilot Cutter Polly Agatha at Mylor Yacht Harbour. The design is similar to that of Peggy a Cutter built by the Rowles family of Pill in 1904 in Bristol and still actively sailing in the Bristol Channel.
It is a great success for Dave and Joy Cockwell and underlines the Yard’s growing reputation for quality work with wooden boats. I visited the Cockwell Stand at the 2006 Southampton Boat Show and greatly admired the ribs and framework of the Cutter, which formed part of the exhibits on display.
Pilot Cutters have always been built in the West Country with the likes of Bowdens at Porthleven, Slades at Fowey and Treadwells at Padstow building some of the finest of the Bristol Channel Pilot fleet.
Dave Cockwell and his team are another band of highly respected and talented shipwrights in Cornwall building such magnificent vessels and joins the Gweek Boatyard as a centre for Pilot Cutter excellence.
Gweek is the current spiritual home of Pilot Cutter building in Cornwall with shipwrights Luke Powell and David Walkey actively building and restoring Pilot Cutters. Luke Powell trading as Working Sail has to date built 4 Cutters namely Eve of St Mawes, Lizzie May, Agnes, Hesper and Ezra.
His current project Tallulah is a 44 ft Cutter nearing completion with a launch date early next year.
The Bristol Pilot Cutter Association have a rather snooty view of so called replica cutters but I feel that with the use of traditional materials and the workmanship of the likes of Luke Powell or Dave Cockwell that age is the only difference between the modern and the old cutters sailing today.
Dave Cockwell has always dreamed of building a Pilot Cutter based on the lines of Peggy and Polly Agatha is built in a similar fashion with oak frames and larch planking. There are slight differences with bronze bolts and screws replacing the iron materials used in 1904 and a new deck of marine plywood sheathed in epoxy and glass and then overlaid in teak rather the traditional use of planks and pitch.
The new deck improves the strength and stiffness of hull and provides a more durable and lasting finish in an area on wooden boats often prone to water ingress.
Down below new owners Kim and Trudi Hartley had a major input into the layout and design and specified English Oak throughout. The layout includes a luxurious master cabin with en suite head and shower; forward two berth cabin with two occasional berths and an additional heads.
The main living area has another four berths plus another two occasional berths, a large galley and nav station.
Polly Agatha is one of the new breed of Pilot Cutter maintaining the excellence of the original design in hull shape and sail rig and yet incorporating a modern luxurious interior and utilizing all the modern electronic aids for navigation and living on board.
The boat will be based on the River Hamble and will be available for corporate and private entertaining as well as sail training with a professional skipper and crew. Full details can be found on www.polly-agatha.com.
Polly Agatha was christened in style by Trudi Hartley with the usual bottle of bubbly and then all present were invited to admire the stunning living accommodation below decks and following a splendid buffet in Mylor Yacht Club embark for the first sail.
The workmanship throughout is outstanding and since the formation of the Company in 1996 Cockwells have delivered some outstanding wooden boats. Polly Agatha continues that tradition and yet raises the bar higher for the next vessel out of the Yard.
David Walkey at Gweek is also actively working on Pilot Cutter restoration and repair. In 2004 Marguerite returned to the water after undergoing a major restoration and last year Marian was restored and relaunched to be based locally at Mylor. The last cutter David is currently working on is probably the most famous namely Kindly Light, which has been undergoing a meticulous restoration for several years with a launch date hopefully next year.
No doubt at height of the wooden boat industry in the 18th and 19th centuries many Pilot Cutters were launched every year but over the last few years the Carrick Roads has seen a flurry of activity at least 5 Cutters launched or relaunched.
Design tends to be improved and refined over the years and without a doubt the design of the Scilies or Bristol Pilot Cutter evolved and grew to make become the classic coastal sailing vessel it is today.
You cannot improve upon perfection and I left the Yacht Harbour a bright tinge of green after drooling over Polly Agatha – a modern day classic.
One Comment for this post
…need schedule for 2008….costs…all the stuff that planning a voyage with you entails…please
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