Information correct to the best of ability 13-05-2024, updates welcome.
How to Identify Pilot Cutters
Classic Sailing has created this European Pilot Cutter Directory because we have a strong affinity with pilot cutters. Our first charter boat was pilot cutter Eve of St Mawes and we have many happy customers who have sailed on a handful of pilot cutters who have been licensed for skippered charter charter.
The legend lives on and Classic Sailing help to celebrate this iconic working boat through Classic Sailing Pilot Cutter Review. This World Championships for original and replica pilot cutters is held in Cornwall every year.
If you want some tips on how to identify the 37 pilot cutters (originals, restorations and replicas) that you are likely to see sailing around Europe, then check out the list below. Apart from photos of some of the pilot cutters, it lists distinguishing features like hull colours, sail marks, hull or rig shapes. The guide will tell you at a glance whether the boat is a charter vessel you can sail on or in private ownership.
Owners Please update us if any of the information is out of date.
New Wooden Pilot Cutter Replicas
Working Sail Ltd. Luke Powell shipwright
Eve of St Mawes
Length on deck 38’
Built 1997 by Luke Powell
Recognisable features: Eve on the main sail. Light blue hull.
Who owns her: formerly Classic Sailing- but now in private ownership
Lizzie May
Length on deck 42’
Built 1998 by Luke Powell
Recognisable features: Very raked fan tail counter stern
Who owns her now: Privately Owned, lying Falmouth
Agnes
Length on deck 46’
Built 2003 by Luke Powell
Based on the lines of the last pilot cutter under sail working out of the Isles of Scilly ‘Agnes’
Recognisable features: Large barrel windlass on fore deck. Lute stern.
Flys outrageous flags. Hull currently green and black.
Who owns her now: Boatbuilder Luke Powell and his wife Joanna. Not currently in acitve charter.
Hesper
Length on deck 44 ’
Built 2006 by Luke Powell
Recognisable features: Black hull with white stripe.
Sometimes flies a large lug topsail
Who owns her now: For Skippered Charter in Maine USA
Where does she sail: Maine
Can I sail on her ? Yes https://canvasandpinesailing.com/
Tallulah
Length on deck 44 ’
Built 2008 by Luke Powell
Recognisable features: Teal hull
Who owns her now: Debbie Purser
Where does she sail: Cornwall. Isles of Scilly, Brittany
Can I sail on her ? Yes – Link to Tallulah Voyages
Tallulah – Star of the Pilot Cutters
Ezra
Length on deck 44 ’
Built 2006 by Luke Powell
Recognisable features: Powerful beamy hull with lots of deck space and elegant lute stern.
Who owns her now: . Private owners who may use her commercially for diving and arctic adventures.
Amelie Rose
Launched in 2009
Length on deck
Built 2009 by Luke Powell
Recognisable features:
Who owns her now: Nicola Anne Beck
Where does she sail: charter boat based on South Coast and famous for BBC Hungry Sailor programme with Dick Strawbridge.
Can I sail on her ? No – Currently for sale (15-05-2024) Amelie Rose
Freja
Launched in 2012
Runner up in Classic Boat Award for New Build for over 30ft Catagory 2012
Length on deck 42′
Built 2012 by Luke Powell
Recognisable features: light sea green hull and lovely little clinker tender, barrel windlass, Swedish ensign.
Who owns her: Anders & Marion
Where does she sail: Europe – Cornwall to Sweden
Can I sail on her ? Not sure – recently changed hands.
Pellew
Launched in 2020
Length overall 90′
Built 2020 by Luke Powell
Recognisable features: white hull and lovely little clinker tender, barrel windlass, huge Cornish flag.
Who owns her: Working Sail
Where does she sail: Cornwall, Europe
Can I sail on her ? Yes
If you are interested in commissioning a new pilot cutter or wooden traditional vessel of any size then contact Luke and Jo at www.workingsail.co.uk
Pilot Cutter Pellew under construction.
Polly Agatha
Length on deck 45’
Built 2008 Cockwells, Penryn
Recognisable features: white hull and PA on the main sail
Who owns her now: charter company
Where does she sail: based on Solent
Can I sail on her ? Yes – give us a ring on 01872 580022 for further information
Can I buy her ? YES currently for sale
Merlin
Launched 2009
Length on deck
Merlin and Peggy
Built Nov 2009 Cockwells, Penryn
Recognisable features: light blue hull
Who owns her now:
Where does she sail:
Can I sail on her ? Investigating – give us a ring on 01872 580022 for further information
Covey Island Boatyard, Nova Scotia
Iris
Length on deck 40 ’
Built 1997 Westerman design by Nigel Irens. Built by Covey Island Boatyard, Nova Scotia
Recognisable features: laminated wood construction.
Who owns her now: Private owners in UK
Where does she sail:
Can I sail on her ? Private owners
Westernman
Length on deck 40’
Built 19987? Westerman design by Nigel Irens. Built by Covey Island Boatyard, Nova Scotia.
Recognisable features: tan sails
Where? Based in Scotland and up for sale. (As of 3-1-18)
Who owns her now: Lloyd Cromwell Griffiths
Eleanor Mary
Length on deck 54 ’
Built 1998 ? Westerman design by Nigel Irens. Built by Covey Island Boatyard, Nova Scotia
Recognisable features:
Who owns her now: Private owners
Where does she sail:
Can I sail on her ? Has been a charter boat. Current status -for sale
Chance
Length on deck 40 ’
Built 2000 Westerman design by Nigel Irens. Built by Covey Island Boatyard, Nova Scotia
Recognisable features:
Who owns her now: Private owners
Where does she sail: Bermuda based
Can I sail on her ? private owners
Alice Wragg
Length on deck 40 ’
Built 1999 Westerman design by Nigel Irens. Built by Covey Island Boatyard, Nova Scotia
Recognisable features:
Who owns her now: Private owners
Where does she sail: based in Bristol
Can I sail on her ? private owners
Bristol Classic Boat Company
Pegasus
Length on deck 56 ’
Built 2008 by Bristol Classic Boat Company. Designed by Ed Burnett
Recognisable features: Green Hull. Letter B for Bristol on the sail
Who owns her now: Island Trust
Where does she sail: Based in Salcombe, Devon.
Can I sail on her ? Yes.
Pegasus Voyages with Classic Sailing
RB Boatbuilding, Bristol
Mischief
Length on deck 45 ’
Built 2008 by RB Boatbuilding, Bristol
Recognisable features: yellow hull
Who owns her now: Mischief Expeditions
Where does she sail: Scotland
Can I sail on her ? Not currently chartering. Give us a ring on 01872 580022 for further information
Morwenna
Length on deck
Built 2009 by RB Boatbuilding, Bristol
Recognisable features: black hull. M of Morwenna on the sail
Who owns her now: charter company
Where does she sail: Based in the Med
Can I sail on her ? Yes. Give us a ring on 01872 580022 for further information
Edith Grey Length on deck 38ft Won Classic Sailing Pilot Cutter Review in 2011 and 2012
Recognisable features,
Who owns her ? Wild Sailing
Can I sail on her ? Yes. Give us a ring on 01872 580022 for further information
Edith Gray is for Sale in 2015
La Cale 2 Lile – French Association
Saint Michel II
Built 2005-2011
Replica based on Jules Verne’s second yacht. Lines of a Le Harve pilot cutter
Black hull with red/white topsides
cream sails
based in Pornic near Loire Estuary
you can sail her as a member of the association
See website www.lacale2lile.fr
Restored original pilot cutters – out there sailing
Jolie Brise
Length on deck 56 ’
Le Harve Pilot Cutter built 1913
Recognisable features: Tan Sails with DS 2 on mainsail
Who owns her now: Dauntsey School
Where does she sail: Sail training vessel. Based on south Coast
Can I sail on her ? Owned by Private school
Baroque
Length on deck 50’
Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter Built 1902 in Cardiff
Recognisable features: black hull – no engine
Who owns her now: Swedish owners
Where does she sail: Charter boat based near Stockholm
Can I sail on her ? Yes. Give us a ring on 01872 580022 for further information
Marguerite
Length on deck 53 ’
Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter Built 1893 Restored by Covey Island and current owners.
Recognisable features: Light and dark grey hull. Cf on mainsail
Who owns her now: Private owners
Where does she sail: Based in Flushing, Falmouth.
Can I sail on her ? Private owners
Mascotte
Length on deck 60 ’
One of the largest Bristol Pilot Cutters Built in 1904.
Restored by Tony Winter
Recognisable features: Black hull. N on the mainsail.
Who owns her now: private owner leased to Sail training & Charter company
Where does she sail: Based in Scotland
Can I sail on her ? available for group charter Give us a ring on 01872 580022 for further information
Peggy (ex Wave)
Length on deck @@ ’
Built@@ by .
Recognisable features: Light Blue hull with high sweep to bows.
Who owns her now: Private owners
Where does she sail: Based in Bristol Channel area
Can I sail on her ? Private owner.
Dolphin
Length on deck @@ ’
Built@@ by
Recognisable features:
Who owns her now: Private owner
Where does she sail: has been to Svalbard recently see Classic Boat Magazine Article
Can I sail on her ? Private owner.
Marie Fernand
Length on deck 54 ’
Built 1894 in Le Harvre. Restored and launched at Brest 08 Festival
Recognisable features: Cream sails – pilot cutter number H23
Who owns her now: Association L’Hirondelle de la Manche ?
Where does she sail: France
Can I see her ? Sail on Eve at St Malo Pilot Cutter Rally & race with Marie Fernand.
Alpha
She was commissioned by William Prosser, a pilot based in Newport, to serve as a pilot vessel from 1904 until 1923 and unusually built in Fleetwood.Recognisable features: open decks and no doghouse. N on the main sail
Who owns her now: private dutch owner
Recently Restored at Gweek Quay Boatyard & relaunched in 2010.
Can I sail on her ? No. Private owner but Wilhem often sails in Cornwall
Cornubia (was also called Hirta)
Length on deck 51 ’
Restored by current owner Tony Winter. Relaunched in 2010. Won Classic Sailing Pilot Cutter Review in 2010.
Recognisable features: BY on mainsail.
Who owns her now: Private owner and also sails with young people.
Contact owner or Neilsens boatyard Gloucester Docks
Olga
Original 1909 Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter that has been restored by Swansea Museum
Recognisable features – black hull, cream sails.
Owners: Swansea Museum – Charity
Can I sail her ? Yes. Olga offers day sails out of Swansea – see Olga Facebook site. Olga raced at Classic Sailing Pilot Cutter World Championships for first time in 2013.
Kindly Light
Length on deck @@ ’
Original Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter built in @@. Was used for many years by Ocean Youth Club as Theodora. Restoration at Gweek Quay Boatyard. Re launched in 2013
Recognisable features: Black hull
Who owns her now: Private owner
Cariad
Length on deck @@ ’
Original Built@@ by .
Recognisable features:
Who owns her now: John Briggs
Restored at Nielsen’s boatyard Gloucester Docks
Can I sail her – No private owner.
Carlotta
Original pilot cutter that was recently used as charter vessel on the West Coast of America.Currently for sale.
http://www.pilotcutter.ca
Letty
Fully Restored and sailing since 2023
Surviving Originals but Status Unknown
Breeze
Frolic – needs rescuing. In a bad way 2018
Madcap
Raider
Steel and Full size GRP Pilot Cutter Replicas
Annabel J
Length on deck 54 ’
Steel Hull based on Marguerite T. Built
Recognisable features: Cream sails with AJ on mainsail
Who owns her now: Private owners
Not chartering
Marie Claude
Martin Heard GRP replica of St Malo Pilot Cutter
Recently sold to UK owner
