Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter

A Bristol Channel pilot cutter is a specialised sailing boat the style and design of which is derived from the single-masted cutter. Based upon bulkier, less nimble, fishing boats but modified for use in the strong tides, winds, currents and coastline of the Bristol Channel its purpose was to quickly ferry local maritime pilots to and from large ships to assist in safe navigation into or out of any of the port cities in the Channel. The speed and manoeuvrability of the cutters allowed a minimal crew, in almost any weather, to quickly arrive at and easily lie alongside larger ships for easy and safe transfer of pilots. The craft was also equipped to stay 'on station' for days or even weeks, awaiting arrivals just outside the channel.

The design has been described as the best sailing boat design ever, for being both high speed, highly manoeuvrable and yet easy to handle by just two crew.

With the advent of steam engines and vessels made out of metal, the wooden sailing cutters fell out of use and many were sold and later lost. Only a relative handful of the many Bristol Channel pilot cutters survive today.

When used to refer to sailing boats, a cutter is a utility vessel, single-masted and with a small crew (as few as two but often five or more) fore-and-aft rigged, with two or more headsails and often a bowsprit. A cutter's mast may be set farther back than on a sloop. Cutters most often found utility in coastal work, either as patrol, ferry, packet or light cargo.

The Bristol Channel is one of the naturally most dangerous shipping lanes in the world, due to its huge tidal range of over 14 metres (46 ft) - second only to the Bay of Fundy in Eastern Canada - currents hitting 7 knots (8.1 mph) (faster than many sailing ships of the day); all combining to hide rocks and constantly shifting sand bars.

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