The Story of 2026
Results for 2026
Provisional Dates for 2027
Thank you to our Sponsor
Keynvor Morlift Ltd, Specialist Marine Contractors providing Offshore Marine Services in the UK.
Thank you to Keynvor MorLift for supporting the 20th Pilot Cutter Review.
Specialist Marine Contractors providing Offshore Marine Services in the UK.
A Cornish marine contractor, Keynvor MorLift specialise in coastal and offshore operations, marine civil engineering, heavy lift projects, vessel charter and renewable energy work.
Their support helps keep events like the Pilot Cutter Review running.
Pilot Cutter Review
This was the twentieth Annual Classic Sailing Pilot Cutter Review and another strong gathering of working pilot cutters, owners, crews and supporters.
Thursday Evening, Fowey
It was a lovely evening on Thursday as the pilot cutters gathered on the pontoons kindly reserved for us by the Fowey Harbour Commissioners. In total there were nine pilot cutters attending, which was a very respectable turnout.
The cutters attending were Marguerite, Peggy, Unity, Edith Gray, Pegasus from France, Talulah, Alice Wragg, Polly Agatha and Eran Mor.
After berthing, many crews went ashore to the Gallants Sailing Club where Paula provided excellent bar service throughout the evening. Thank you Paula, and Frankie from Denaro’s for a very good curry buffet which was well supported and much appreciated.
During the evening I, Adam, was able to brief individual skippers about the forthcoming passage race planned for the following day.
Friday, Fowey to St Mawes Passage Race
Friday morning was bright with only a tiny amount of rain. The plan was for boats to pass through the Royal Fowey Yacht Club start line from around 10am onwards, timing their own departure and finishing time in St Mawes.
Unfortunately there was a commercial shipping movement at planned start time. Fowey Harbour Commissioners gave us plenty of warning, which allowed all vessels to stay clear and avoid causing any disruption. Thank you to them both for the advance notice and for their support during our departure. It is always good to be in Fowey and we look forward to returning in 2027.
There was very little wind as the fleet left Fowey Harbour. The passage to St Mawes was around 24 nautical miles and required all vessels to pass navigation buoys correctly and leave both islands to seaward. The wind was extremely light and frustrating. At times it felt as though boats were going backwards rather than forwards. There was some favourable tide but not enough to make a major difference.
Eran Mor and Poly Agatha managed to find the wind and so did Pegasus by heading well offshore during the passage. Those three were the only cutters to complete the course entirely under sail without resorting to engines because of the lack of progress.
There were also some interesting manoeuvres near the Dodman. Unity sailed exceptionally close to the shore, nearly as close as the old expression, “within a biscuit toss”.
By Friday evening everybody had arrived safely into St Mawes. It had turned into a lovely sunny day and quite a few people discovered they had underestimated the strength of the sun.
Eran Mor winner of the Passage Race from Fowey to St Mawes
Friday Evening, St Mawes
Thanks to St Mawes Pier and Harbour Company for allowing the cutters to anchor in the harbour and there support during the event.
On Friday evening crews gathered at the Bohela Bar where Simon and Anna provided excellent food and service.
Nigel Sharp from the St Mawes Sailing Club gave the race briefing for the Saturday and Sunday racing. Entry forms were completed and instructions handed out.
Saturday Racing
Saturday morning was bright and sunny but unfortunately there was very little wind. Everybody arrived on time ready to start racing but then had to hang around hoping for the wind to arrive. Nigel Sharp delayed the start several times while waiting for enough breeze to establish itself. At one stage he disappeared ashore for a pasty, claiming it might encourage the wind to arrive. In fairness, not long afterwards, it more or less did.
Once the breeze filled in we had a short but lively race around the nearest marks in the Carrick Roads to St Mawes Harbour. It produced some excellent close quarter sailing and manoeuvring. Although the race itself was relatively short, everybody enjoyed it immensely.
Saturday afternoon racing was scheduled for 3pm but once again the wind failed us. By around half past three there was still no sign of any breeze and Nigel announced that if nothing arrived by 4pm the racing would be abandoned for the day to allow enough time for the pilot cutters to head upriver to Ruan Pontoon.
About ten minutes later a pleasant north westerly breeze finally arrived and racing resumed. We completed two laps of a fairly short course around St Mawes Harbour and Carrick Roads. Once again it produced close competitive sailing in interesting conditions.
Nigel Sharp deserves considerable credit for his race management throughout the day. There were effectively only two usable patches of wind during Saturday and somehow Nigel managed to find both of them for us to sail around. Well done Nigel for fitting in two races into a difficult day.
Saturday Evening, Ruan Pontoon
That evening the fleet sailed upriver to Ruan Pontoon, just above the King Harry Ferry on the Truro River, a branch of the Fal River.
The cutters rafted together and crews settled into a relaxed evening of barbecues and al fresco suppers aboard. Later there was shanty and folk singing accompanied by a fiddle. music aboard Marguerite, It was a grand old time.
Pegasus, the cutter that had travelled from France, was a real inspiration throughout the event. Her crew were extremely friendly and sailed the boat beautifully all weekend. We very much hope Pegasus returns in future years. Pegasus was built in Bristol, 2008, for a youth sailing charity and sold a few years ago to Passeurs d’Iroise, a non profit association based in Camaret-sur-Mer, Brittany.
Pegasus in full sail
Sunday Racing
On Sunday the fleet sailed back downriver, aiming for a 1pm start.
There was a good north westerly breeze with clouds building from the northwest, apparently stirred up by Carn Brae, one of the highest hills in Cornwall. Naturally the dark clouds were blamed entirely on Jack Bennett as he lives just under the hill. Jack did an excellent job assisting the race officer aboard the safety boat, particularly with timekeeping duties. Thank you Jack.
Sunday produced a longer and more sustained race than Saturday. The fleet crossed towards Pendennis Point before working around a series of marks across Carrick Roads.
There was plenty of tacking, frequent mark roundings and constant manoeuvring throughout the afternoon. It made for excellent viewing from the shore and provided some really enjoyable sailing for all involved.
The full race results are shown in the table below.
That concluded the racing for the 2026 Pilot Cutter Review.
Overall Winners Unity, owned by John Bray seen here with the team as they could not stay for the Prize Giving due to tides. They are working on Cariad Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter, built in Pill in 1904 and under skilled shipwright restoration. Unity under sail below.
Sunday Evening Prize Giving
On Sunday evening, we held a prize giving in St Mawes Sailing Club. Thank you to St Mawes Sailing Club for hosting us and providing the race officer, and to Anna providing excellent bar service and a fantastic buffet, all of which would not have been possible without our sponsors, Keynvor Morlift Ltd, Specialist Marine Contractors
The presentation prize giving was a bit of a shambles, which was entirely my fault, because having helmed the last long race I was pretty knackered and had to put all the results together in a bit of hurry and I forgot loads of stuff. (It was worth it as Tallulah came third.) Hopefully we’ll be able to get it right next year.
Thank you to John Andrew St Mawes Sailing Commodore for presenting the prizes. John mentioned how much the Pilot Cutter Review was appreciated in the Roseland by locals and visitors alike.
- Passage Race winner Eran Mor
- St Mawes Series winner Unity
- Best performance form and original pilot cutter Peggy.
- Full results below.
A big thank you to Nigel Sharp for his excellent course selection in variable conditions. You can read many articles by Nigel Sharp in Classic Boat Magazine.
Ooops
The other problem for the Sunday evening was that it did not proceed the Spring Bank Holiday Monday and so many cutters were unable to stay for the Prize Giving which we fully understand.
That has been corrected for next year, and we hope that more people can attend the prize giving.
2027 Pilot Cutter Review
The Provisional Dates for the 21st Classic Sailing Pilot Cutter Review are:
Thursday 27th May 2027
Pilot Cutters to arrive in Fowey during the afternoon and early evening and moor up on the pontoons near Prime Cellars .
- Permission being sought from Fowey Harbour Commissioners.
- Permission being sought from Gallants Sailing Club
1900hrs Briefing by Classic Sailing on the Friday Passage Race from Fowey to St Mawes.
Enjoy an excellent supper from Denaro’s and a pint or two from the bar.
Friday 28th May 2027
Passage Race from Fowey to St Mawes
Starting around 10am subject to shipping movements.
Bohella Bar St Mawes.
1900hrs Race briefing for the Saturday and Sunday Racing by the St Mawes Sailing Club Race officer.
- Permission being sought from St Mawes Sailing Club for the Race Organisation and from Nigel Sharp for being the Race Officer.
Enjoy fine food and beer from Bohella Bar.
- Permission being sought from Bohella Bar
Saturday 29th May 2027
- Race 1 from St Mawes Harbour 1000hrs
- Race 2 from St Mawes Harbour 1430hrs
Saturday evening gathering on the Ruan Pontoons in the Truro River, (Fal)
- Permission being sought from the Truro Harbour Commissioners.
Sunday 30th May 2027
- Race 3 from St Mawes Harbour 1300hrs
If only 1 race on Saturday then Race 2 will be held at 1015hrs
Prize Giving Sunday Evening
St Mawes Sailing Club. 1900hrs by the St Mawes Sailing Club Commodore.
Bar open from about 1600hrs
FEE Buffet Supper at 1830hrs
- Permission being sought from the St Mawes Sailing Bar and the Commodore.
Monday 31st May 2027
Please note Monday 31st May 2027 is Public Bank Holiday and we hope more Pilot Cutters will be able to stay for the Prize Giving and Free Buffet Supper.
Why the Pilot Cutter Review
Classic Sailing organises the Pilot Cutter Review as a way to promote ourselves locally and amongst pilot cutter owners and admirers. Pilot Cutters are part of the heritage of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Getting a dozen or so pilot cutters to gather in places like Fowey and St Mawes shows how important these vessels are to our culture and tradition.
The Pilot Cutters include original Bristol Channel Pilot Cutters, and modern replicas of Bristol and the Isles of Scilly Pilot Cutters built in Cornwall, Bristol and Canada.
Important People
Owners, harbour staff, sailing clubs, pubs, cafés, chandlers, local accommodation providers, race officers, musicians, volunteers and marine trades all become involved in the Review.
Visitors stop to watch from the shore, conversations start on pontoons and waterfronts, and younger sailors get to see traditional seamanship still being practised properly.
Pilot Cutter Heritage
Classic Sailing enjoys helping Pilot Cutters stay afloat and sailing around the shores of Cornwall, England and France.
Pilot Cutter Owners – Thank you.
Classic Sailing is very grateful for the Pilot Cutters joining the Review, thank you.
Results
2026 Passage Race Fowey to St Mawes
| 2026 Passage Race Fowey to St Mawes | Position |
| Eran Mor | 1 |
| Pegasus | 2 |
| Ploy Agatha | 3 |
| No other Pilot Cutters completed the passage due to lack of wind. |
St Mawes Race 1
| Pilot Cutter | Race 1 Position | Race 1 points |
| Alice Wragg | 6 | 6 |
| Eran Mor | 1 | 1 |
| Unity | 4 | 4 |
| Peggy | 3 | 3 |
| Poly Agatha | 2 | 2 |
| Marguerite | Retired | 8 |
| Tallulah | 5 | 5 |
| Pegasus | Retired | 8 |
St Mawes Race 2
| Pilot Cutter | Race 2 Position | Race 2 Points |
| Alice Wragg | 6 | 6 |
| Eran Mor | 2 | 2 |
| Unity | 1 | 1 |
| Peggy | 5 | 5 |
| Poly Agatha | 4 | 4 |
| Marguerite | Retired | 8 |
| Tallulah | 7 | 7 |
| Pegasus | 3 | 3 |
St Mawes Race 3
| Pilot Cutter | Race 3 Position | Race 3 Points |
| Alice Wragg | 6 | 6 |
| Eran Mor | 4 | 4 |
| Unity | 1 | 1 |
| Peggy | 2 | 2 |
| Poly Agatha | 5 | 5 |
| Marguerite | Retired | 8 |
| Tallulah | 3 | 3 |
| Pegasus | DNS | 8 |
St Mawes Series Overall Results
Frist – Unity
Second – Eran Mor
Third – Peggy
| Pilot Cutter | Total Points | Overall Positions |
| Alice Wragg | 18 | 6 |
| Eran Mor | 7 | 2 |
| Unity | 6 | 1 |
| Peggy | 10 | 3 |
| Poly Agatha | 11 | 4 |
| Marguerite | 24 | 8 |
| Tallulah | 15 | 5 |
| Pegasus | 19 | 7 |
Thank you to our Sponsor
Keynvor Morlift Ltd,
Thank you to Keynvor MorLift for supporting the 20th Pilot Cutter Review.
Specialist Marine Contractors providing Offshore Marine Services in the UK.
A Cornish marine contractor, Keynvor MorLift specialise in coastal and offshore operations, marine civil engineering, heavy lift projects, vessel charter and renewable energy work.
Their support helps keep events like the Pilot Cutter Review running.
Hope to see you in 2027
You can sail on a Pilot Cutter – No Experience Required
You can sail on a Pilot Cutter – Tallulah Voyage Schedule.
Tallulah 2026 Pilot Cutter Review Crew
Skipper Debbie, helmed by Debbie, Anthony and Adam.
Super positive helpful crew father and son Jason and Ben from Menorca.
It was a pleasure to be part of the team. Adam
