Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter, Polly Agatha NEW images available

Polly Agatha has looked stunning on the water and certainly been noticed by local people in Falmouth. Photographs from the inital sea trials and interior shots of this pilot cutter have been added to the photo galley on the Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter 45' main page.

We will be updating Polly Agatha's galley, the aim is to show her through the various build stage at our yard.

Polly Agatha sailing, image from her bowsprit

Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter, Polly Agatha was named

The team at Cockwells, their customers and a impressive list of pilot cutter experts including Tom Cunliffe celebrated the launch of Polly Agatha, a replica of a 104 year-old, 45 foot Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter at Mylor Yacht Harbour this week. The original, Peggy, who is still sailing today, was built by Rowles of Pill in Bristol in 1904.

Dave Cockwell, owner of Cockwells has known Peggy for many years and sailed on her on numerous occasions. “For me it is a dream come true to build a replica of this beautiful wooden boat and see her sailing today. It has been a brilliant team effort from all who worked on her. Wooden boats are definitely back in Vogue. With the ability to combine both traditional and modern techniques a new breed of wooden yachts are appearing. At Cockwells all of our wooden boats both power and sail are bespoke, individually designed with every detail finished to perfection.”

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Polly Agatha being named

Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter, Polly Agatha maiden sail

As the light was fading, the pilot cutter slipped her mooring, exciting moment as she was heading out of Falmouth for the first time for a sail. She looked great and all on board enjoyed this sail and looking forward to more over the coming days(29th October 2007).

Mast stepped on the Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter, Polly Agatha

Wednesday 10 October, on the falling tide, Polly Agatha came along side to get her mast stepped, once back on the pontoon, she towers over all round her.

The fit out is on course, sea trails are to start shortly once her sails are ready.

We will update the build gallery shortly with all the new pictures.

The link to photo galley- Polly Agatha Galley

Polly Agatha after mest stepping

Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter, Polly Agatha is afloat

Thursday 27 September was a very exciting and rewarding day at Cockwells when our Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter, Polly Agatha left the workshop to be floated to the pontoon ready for her mast, rigging, and final finishing.

As she was wheeled out of the workshop and down the slipway the sun shone and a few tears were shed from our rugged shipwrights!

As the tide rose, she floated magnificently and was towed to a near by pontoon to await completion. With dry sawdust in her bilge and many admirers of her beautiful lines, all around our shipwrights stood proud! With the handover planned for the end of October, our team will be kept very busy for the next four weeks.

The space left in the workshop will soon be occupied with the next project a 54 foot Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter.

Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter afloat

Cockwells visits Monaco Yacht Show

The Monaco Yacht Show brings together professionals from the international luxury yachting sector; ship-builders and designers, equipment suppliers, brokers and service providers. It is renowned for being the show that must not be missed in the luxury yachting sector because it is the only yacht show exclusively devoted to Superyachts of at least 25 meters in length.

Monaco limits the number of exhibitors to about 500; moreover, many yacht builders do not even show yachts. Their customers do not want off-the-rack yachts; they want boats custom-built to designs that will not be replicated.

It seemed to be an ideal show for us to promote our bespoke launches. As Cockwells is a proud member of Superyacht UK, a flagship association within the BMF, we were delighted to be invited to attend the Monaco Yacht Show under their banner.

“We found the show very inspiring and met up with some excellent contacts. It was great to talk to so many renowned designers and naval architects all of whom seemed genuinely interested in what we are doing. I am very confident that our visit will result in some new business for us in the near future” says Dave Cockwell.

Using contemporary wood/composite construction we can design and build a launch to suit the exact weight and size requirements of any superyacht tender. Our traditional naval joinery skills create fine, unique interiors which we match to the style of the mother ship with every detail finished to perfection.

To find out more about the show - 17th Monaco Yacht Show information

Monaco Yacht Show (Copyright © 2003-2007 Monaco Yacht Show)

Cockwells Classic Launch 37 Update

The second milestone for the launch has been reached, the hull has been completed and now it is ready to be turned over for the first time. The install building of the hull has been done upside down and once the process of rolling the hull over is complete, it will be the first time the launch and her sleek lines will be seen.

It is a delicate process (see photo) however completed successful by Dave Cockwell and Billy Lambert (Project Leader); the next stage will see the hull be prepared for the internal fit out of the launch.

Rolling over of the new Classic 37

Dave Cockwell from Falmouth awarded Outstanding Support of a Traditional Skill

Country Living Magazine’s The Balvenie Artisan Awards 2007

Dave Cockwell, from Falmouth in Cornwall has won an award for ‘Outstanding Support of a Traditional Skill’; part of Country Living Magazine’s ‘Balvenie Artisan Awards 2007’. The event, which rewards individuals and businesses who help keep traditional crafts alive in the UK, took place at Albannach in London.

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'Dave at work' by Andrew Montgomery, Country Living magazine

Cockwells commissioned to build a 54 ft Pilot Cutter in 2008

As our reputation grows, so does our order book. We are pleased to announce a new commission with a planned start date of January 2008.

Contracts have been signed between Cockwells and their new customer a Devon based businessman to build a 54 ft Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter taking the lines from Marguerite which was built by Rowles of Pill in 1893

“Having taken our customer for a trial sail on Marguerite he was instantly impressed with her sea kindliness, lack of heel and her easily driven turn of speed. One sail and he is hooked! We all agreed that this would be a perfect vessel for his requirements.” says Dave Cockwell.“At 40 tonnes this vessel has a huge amount of internal volume which will enable us to design and build a very spacious interior”.

Digital rendering of th 54 ft Pilot Cutter

Cockwells are competition finalists

Cockwells are delighted to have been selected as one of the finalists in the Country Living’s The Balvenie Artisan Awards. Dave Cockwell has been short listed for the category for ‘Outstanding Support of a traditional skill’ and has been invited to the awards ceremony in London on 8 May along with Billy Lambert who has just completed his apprenticeship programme. Winners will be featured in the June issue of Country Living Magazine so keep a look out!

C‘Balvenie Artisan Awards 2007’

Alan Street joins the team bringing a Wealth of Experience

As Cockwells develops so does our team and our skills base. Filling the position of Business Manager, Alan comes to us having spent some twenty years in a variety of senior engineering and management roles within Oxford Instruments; a publicly quoted high technology engineering business based in Oxfordshire. He possesses valuable and relevant skills in project management, business processes and new business development. Alan enjoys sailing and regularly competes in regattas in Fowey and Falmouth.

Farewell and bon voyage to Jenny

Jenny Cockwell, Dave’s sister has played a major role within the company; totally reorganising our back office systems and using her project management skills to plan for the future. Health and Safety, environmental audits, training and monitoring of personnel skills, and obtaining funding to assist with development were all under her remit… and more! Sadly for us it is time for her to move on to sunnier pastures – Bermuda! At Cockwells we are eternally grateful for all her hard work. Cheers Jen!

Superyacht tour 2007

On 9 March Cockwells Shipyard was the final destination on The Tour of Excellence organised by Superyacht UK and supported by the UK Trade and Investment (UKTI).

17 international delegates from the superyacht industry visited our yard which included Captains, project managers, yard brokers and designers. We felt the visit was a great success and we were pleased with the response we received from the delegates.

"I very much enjoyed my visit to your yard and it was a great pleasure to see people not machines building boats." comments Captain Graeme Riddle, SY Wellenreiter.

“Good that they left the best till last on the tour ! Certainly put me on the mail list, I will always be interested in what you are doing. Nice to see something that doesn’t look like a plastic vacuum cleaner” congratulates Alan Foot, Yacht Project Associates.

Alan Street ~ Business Manager

Sail the Solent in a Cockwells Classic Yacht

With contracts finally signed, our 45 foot Bristol Channel Pilot cutter replica is now under new ownership. Unfortunately the previous owners found themselves unable to begin a charter business in summer 2007 as planned so they stepped back to allow new owners to take over.

Kim and Trudi Hartley of Bowsprit Sailing Ltd have named her Polly Agatha. They will be operating her out of the Solent offering corporate day chartering and RYA training courses.

Kim currently owns Cygnet of London, which won the Traditional Gaff Class in Round the Island Race last year. “We are delighted that we have been able to buy Polly Agatha at this stage. It means we have been very involved in the internal design process which has created a bespoke boat which is perfect for our requirements. She will be ideal for corporate chartering with her ample deck space and an exciting alternative for RYA sailing courses.”

Launch date for Polly Agatha is planned for August 2007.

New owners visit Polly Agatha in build

Cockwells build a larger, sleeker Classic Launch

When we took our 32’ Cockwells Classic Launch, designed by Ed Burnett, to the Southampton Boat Show she had a stream of admirers crossing her deck. She was adored by many as a day boat but those looking for a weekender hankered after something just as stunning but a little bit bigger – well here it is!

A sleek 37’ Cockwells Classic Launch, designed by Andrew Wolstenholme. This semi-displacement twin screw motor vessel is another powerful mix of state of the art wooden boat building methods combined with the latest system technology and the elegance and grace of classic gentleman’s launch.

This new launch is being built to the owner’s exact requirements. They have requested the same high specifications as the 32’ with all the handcrafted detail. With the extra space they want the added benefit of a beautifully appointed fore cabin with a double berth, a more powerful engine and a bow thruster. The twin 225hp Volvo D4 engines will provide an efficient cruising speed of 15 knots and a maximum speed on 24 knots.

“At Cockwells we are all delighted with this new design. I love the sleek lines created by the extra length. Building bespoke boats cost effectively is always a challenge. We are constantly analysing our build methods to improve efficiency of production. Introducing new technology such as CNC cutting is the way forward for this type of construction. Combining modern techniques with traditional shipwright skills creates truly unique results which are cost effective.” Says Dave Cockwell.

The skeleton on this new launch has already been set up and the launch date is set for the beginning of 2008. If you are interested in buying a launch and would like to discuss the design possibilities with Dave Cockwell do contact us. We will be happy to arrange a private tour of our yard and show you the various options available.

CAD drawings for the Classic 37