1001 Boats: Bristol Channel Cutter, Baggy Wrinkle

Tuesday, 1 March 2011

Bristol Channel Cutter, Baggy Wrinkle

The early pilots of the Bristol Channel earned their living by seeking merchant vessels approaching land and using their detailed knowledge of local navigation, pilot them safely into port.

The Pilot Cutters would race westwards to meet the incoming ships. The pickings were rich if you could get them, which meant being the first out to the incoming ship, racing and outwitting other pilots. The results were unparalleled seamanship and the evolution of very fast, able boats.

The cutters were usually crewed by a skipper, a "boy" and the pilot on the outward journey. Once alongside the incoming ship the boy would row the pilot to the merchant vessel, where the pilot would scramble aboard.

Baggy Wrinkle is a British Channel Pilot Cutter built in 1982 at the Northwest School of Boat Building. Her home waters are the western US and though far from her ancestors, she is very well suited for the ravages of the eastern Pacific Ocean.

4 comments:

Patrick Hay5 March 2011 at 15:35
If you want a new one built traditionally in superb materials by craftsmen - take a look at the pictures of one under construction recently in this yard in India.

http://mahasagarboats.com/pilotcutter/index.html
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doryman8 March 2011 at 22:05
Thank you, Patrick - that stern block is some chunk of wood!
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Mike11 February 2012 at 07:48
http://www.diy-wood-boat.com/pilot-cutter-fastnet-race-2012.html
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Ancient Egypt For Kids25 June 2012 at 12:51
Another Smart post from you Admin :)
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