Pilot Cutter World Championships 2012

A spectacular gathering of original and replica Pilot Cutters racing in two perfect nautical amphitheatres for spectators ashore: Fowey Harbour and St Mawes Harbour. If you love Falmouth Working Boat racing then these gaff cutters, ranging in size from 38ft to 60ft on deck, are a more heavyweight version of duelling bowsprits.

The Pilot Cutter World Championships are as much about creating evocative scenes from the past as about racing. The event starts on the Thursday evening with the fleet rafting up in Fowey. You can see the crews setting sail in the harbour on Friday morning as they prepare to race along the coast to St Mawes Castle. St Mawes has a long history of pilot cutters and pilot rowing gigs operating from this seafaring village. It is also home port for Classic Sailing - the organisers of this now annual fixture. The weekend round-the-buoy racing is organised by St Mawes Sailing Club with exciting starts and finishes within the small St Mawes Harbour.

Cornish boat building and restoration is well represented within the visiting fleet. Eve of St Mawes, Hesper, Amelie Rose and Agnes were all built by Working Sail in nearby Gweek. Polly Agatha and Merlin were built by Cockwells, and Letty is currently being restored. Gweek Quay restored Alpha and the recently relaunched Kindly Light. Other originals have included Peggy, Cornubia, Mascotte, the famous Le Havre Pilot Cutter Jolie Brise, and the Bristol built replicas Pegasus, Edith Gray, Mischief and Mowenna.

About a third of the fleet are charter boats, so you could sign up as crew for a 4-5 day action-packed Cornish holiday and full training will be given. See the event website for more information.

2012 looks to be a large gathering of these distinctive working craft as a special Fastnet Race for Pilot Cutters will take place after the Pilot Cutter World Championships. On 29th May you can see the start of the race from Falmouth towards Land’s End, from where the boats will cross to Ireland.