Cornish pilots developed their profession to a high standard. With a good cutter they could earn well, but if their vessel was slow, there were no wages; only the best survived. This demand created a most beautiful vessel, fit for purpose, fast to compete with the other cutters and yet seaworthy to survive the harsh conditions. The Cutters would sail west into the Atlantic beyond the Isles of Scilly in search of ships. Each carried eight pilots. They would return to port only after all pilots were placed. At times, if a further sail was sighted, the skipper of the cutter would also ship off as a pilot, leaving just the boy to sail the large pilot cutter home.
Falmouth Pilot Cutter CIC: enhancing maritime activities in the Truro & Falmouth Region
