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| The Classic Sailing Magazine on Luke Powell, who designed and built Freja: "Luke Powell is so modest about his achievements that he will probably be slightly amazed when described as a 'national treasure'. Beginning in the early 1990s, he has almost single-handedly pioneered a revival in the building of traditional pilot cutters in Great Britain." |
Thank God that there still are people who appreciate high quality, traditional materials and supreme craftmanship! That was what first thought that entered my mind, when I saw this gorgeous wooden cutter - the Freja - in the nearby small Svanshall marina.
The Freja, with legendary Falmouth in Cornwall as its home port, made me curious. Having returned home, I did some research, and found out that she actually is a brand new ship (launched on 7 April this spring), built by Working Sail in Gweek, Cornwall.
This is how Working Sail introduces itself on its home page:
Working Sail build traditional wooden pilot cutters which are based on the vessels which plied their trade from the Isles of Scilly during the later parts of the19th century. All of our vessel are solidly built using grown oak frames, larch planking and they are bronze fastened throughout, giving them great strength and longevity. The hardwood decks are caulked with oakum and pitched in the traditional fashion while the hardwood capping rail, coachroof, skylight and hatches are bright varnished, making these boats entirely unique in the new boat market of today.
Each vessel is individually designed by boat designer and master shipwright Luke Powell who strongly believes that recreating vessels from our rich maritime heritage is helping to bring back to life some of the nearly lost skills and traditions as well as a few of the once plentiful and beautiful craft of the past.
Pilot cutters carry a versatile gaff rig which is designed to give the vessel power and speed whilst arranged to be handled by an experienced crew of two. This rig has proven to be extremely adaptable for both racing and long distance cruising. When carrying all their sails, these elegant vessels are most exhilarating to sail, while in their working rig they are able to maintain a steady cruising speed with an easy motion. When balanced the boats are easy on the helm and a absolute joy to sail.
Working Sail´s web site also has some interesting information about the Freja and her Swedish owners:
Freja, our latest build, started in September 2010 was launched on 7 April 2012. She is 42’ long, 12’2” beam and 7’ draught. Her owners are a Swedish couple that wish to keep her here in wonderful Cornwall so as to take advantage of cruising the West Country as well as our Celtic neighbours. They are keen and well experienced sailors that have owned many wooden boats over the years. For Freja they have asked that she is capable of sailing for extended periods to remote places in the world with just the two of them. She is to be kept simple and easy to maintain; everything must be capable of being looked after by them when voyaging. Below decks she is equipped with a paraffin cooker and hand pumps – no hot and cold pressurised water system in this vessel. A good stove to keep the cabin warm and snug; with oil lamps to read by she will be as she should be – the real thing!
The local Anglican vicar, Ken Boullier (who also happens to be a qualified yachtmaster and cruising instructor!) blessed the Freja at the launch in Gweek. There are some nice pictures of the ceremony and the owners, medical doctors Anders and Marion Johnson, in his blog.
And, in case you are interested in a visual diary documenting the building of the Freja, the local artist Anna Cattermole has done a series of beautiful drawings, which can be viewed here.
Additional pictures of Freja:
Here is a brief video of a Working Sail pilot cutter sailing:
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