Pilot Cutter Tallulah

31/05/2024

Tallulah on her way to the Pilot Cutter Review - fast passage from Helford River to Fowey

17/05/2024

Boat to boat photos in April this year.

Thanks to Ryker Jeal who was out on his maiden voyage in this sweet little lugger.

I was trying to work out if I knew the couple on board, they and started taking photos off us on Tallulah in Helford River.

Thank you Ryker.

21/04/2024

Spray and sunshine. Slippery hull just out of refit.

Go Tallulah.

Left the dinghy behind for a change. Video from Customer Giles Ratcliffe

20/04/2024

What I love about this time of year is the harbours are empty, so the boats that are sailing, really steal the scene.

Great photo of Tallulah by Tamara - local lifeboat coxswain.

16/04/2024

First voyage seems to have gone well.

We had great winds and a bit of sun. Perfect tides to row right up to the Shipwrights Inn for a pint. Only boat anchored in Coverack. Lovely late afternoon light sailing back past Manacles.

Chris has already booked a place on the Pilot Cutter Review 2024 since getting home.

Lots of locals took photos of us sailing around, and we pretty much had Cornwall to ourselves….apart from all the Cornish pilot gigs training for the Scillies.

Did spot a few other trad boats out for early season sails, now the monsoon season seems to have abated. Lively, Unity and a pretty little lug dinghy.

Pilot Cutter Review - both voyage legs - are now full, but we do have places on Falmouth Classics / Shanty festival. Great trip for sailors and photographers. Got 2 musicans on board too.

Whole 2024 programme here:

https://classic-sailing.com/voyage-search/?v=19460&d=&t=&date=2024-04-17&dur=&b=&a=&sk=&submit=Search

09/04/2024

Local fisherman Peter sums up last nights high tide in St Mawes. South East Winds after days of Sw blow equals nasty in St Mawes, even though you would think the bay would be sheltered from the SE.

Wave refraction around the headlands and a big swell.

23/03/2024

Real working pilot cutter circa 1900

F13 Antelope
Falmouth registered.
Several were based in nearby St Mawes which gave faster exit out to sea, in some conditions

23/03/2024

The cavalry arrived today, or whatever the naval version of reinforcements is.

A good weeks progress on external paintwork and antifouling this week. Even managed a circus version of varnishing the main mast by climbing harness.

Thanks to customer and ex Navy helicopter engineer Caroline and incoming mates for the season - Anthony Champ and William Michael Templeman

Not many photos of our one dry day frenzy as off to pub

14/03/2024

LAST Isles of Scilly places on Tallulah for 2024
5-11 June - 2 singles and a double
3-9th Aug - ONE single berth
17-23 Aug - ONE single berth

Quite an 'out there' adventure with 2 long 65 mile passages there and back in the Western Approaches. Lots of anchoring and going ashore by boat. Beach landings, walks, ocean sunsets. Chilly swims in crystal clear waters. At the whim of wind and tide. Fascinating pilotage. Sometimes a bit of rock and roll. Incredible wildlife.

Not for those expecting a week to a set itinerary....or to stay completely dry!

This is Cornwall and the North Atlantic, not the Seychellles.

HONESTY CHECK:
Skipper Debbie has been sailing to Scilly for over 25 years.....and sometimes NOT. If we can't get out there because the weather is difficult, you don't want to be there. Trust me.

We will always try and create a similar expedition with as many of the same activities, if the seas are too wild to be island hopping. Last year 4 out of 5 Scillies trips on Tallulah enjoyed a full week amongst the islands. The 5th trip - we made our fun elsewhere.

More details. You can reserve for 7 days before 25% deposit needed

6 nights over 7 days £1200 per person (Starts and finishes in St Mawes. mainland Cornwall.

https://classic-sailing.com/voyage-search/?v=19460&d=351&t=&date=2024-03-15&dur=&b=&a=&sk=&submit=Search

01/03/2024

Tallulah is now on instagram (pilotcuttertallulah)

Why torture myself with all these social media platforms?

Well facebook is for telling stories and having an occasional rant.

Instagram is for the visually stimulated. Need I say more.

21/02/2024

Debbie and Bex Taking off the duvets, mattresses and lifejackets at end of 2023 season.

Not that long before it all has to go back on

21/02/2024

Remembering Unexpected logistical challenges in 2023

Fresh Cornish water. Tastes fantastic- straight from the tap….but seemingly impossible to find a 60ft space to park a pilot cutter to fill up the water tanks. In the good old days before all thr local marinas filled up - it was reasonably easy to pop over to the falmouth yacht haven to fill up with water by hose pipe.

The crew spent most of 2023 filling up our tanks with jerry cans by dinghy from St Mawes harbour, between trips. Hose over harbour wall, straight into cans in the dinghy. Runner backstay tackle to hoist out and up onto deck. Pour into tanks and repeat for at least 4 trips.

Luckily we have an electric outboard recharged by solar panels (on board or at home) that will do 5-6 knots.

Tallulah has 500L water tanks and carries another 50L of spare water. With 8 people on board its quite easy to get through that in 7 days.
Washing up uses the most. We try to pre wash dishes with seawater, but not everyone gets it.

Although Tallulah has a shower, daily sea swimming is a lot more fun.

20/02/2024

See 2 beautiful fleets

Has anyone noticed that the 2024 Richard Mille Cup overlaps the Pilot Cutter Review?

classic super yachts are gathering in Falmouth for the Richard Mille Cup from Sunday 2nd June, with racing on mon, tue, wed.

Pilot cutters finish racing on the Sunday but we expect some of the big classic yachts to be out on the water training, or just arriving.

Tallualh has a day sail on the Tues 4th June to watch the Mille Cup racing but it is pretty much full.

There is anotger way to be out on the water to welcome the likes of Mariquita, Mariette, Moonbeam.

Now we have split the pilot cutter review 5 day voyage into a 2 day and a 3 day shorter trips, there is room for a single booking, or a double bed berth for a couple for thise who want to race from fri eve 31 May to monday 3rd June for £599

https://classic-sailing.com/voyages/tallulah-pilot-cutter-review-a-spectacular-gathering-of-pilot-cutters-th310523/

12/02/2024

Spring is coming.
Mylor Moorings are out servicing moorings in St Mawes Bay today.

Tallulahs mooring service booked, seabed licences paid and harbour outhaul for Number 8.

All I need now is the boats!

23/01/2024

A POEM from lovely guests Rebecca and Adolf Alfonso

The Old Toilet Door (for Debbie and Tallulah)

"To escape the Cornish seas,
The deck banter and the breeze,
There is peace to be found,
Behind the old toilet door.
....see below for rest of the poem

Dear Debbie and Jess,

I wrote this poem the day after we left Tallulah at the petrol station in Falmouth where you dropped us off (do you remember?) and I have been meaning to send to you since. Adolf and I loved our three days on Tallulah and, as we said before, it was the best traditional sailing experience we had ever had (having already been on Morgenster around Cape Verde islands and Maybe crossing Irish sea). Debbie and Jess – you both worked very hard indeed and thank you for saying we were such a good crew to be with.



Here is my poem (forget about stanzas .. it flows like ‘The Pied Piper of Hamlin’ ... as all my poems seem to do).



The Old Toilet Door (for Debbie and Tallulah)



To escape the Cornish seas,

The deck banter and the breeze,

There is peace to be found,

Behind the old toilet door.

Or, the door to the heads

As I ought to refer!

And, whilst it reaches the floor,

The gap at the top,

And the lack of a lock

Do so subtly say

That one ought to be kind

And not linger too long

For the winds can be strong

And the crew of the boat

In their quest to stay afloat

Are keen, therefore, to see

On the deck

– a full team!

For the hoisting of sails

And the pulling of ropes

With a passage to steer

And horizon to p*er

Is demanding for eight

Knowing supper is late!

And though the strong booze

Makes it feel like a cruise

It can lead to regret

And make you forget

That a p*e in the night

Without the aid of a light

Is a challenge alright!

For, to manage the door

That reaches the floor

With a gap at the top

And the lack of a lock

Requires a quiet caress

Both to open and close

And not add to the woes

Of a crew that need sleep

Snug in bunks make of teak

Who would call you a pest

For disturbing their rest!

02/01/2024

Pilot cutter review 2024
This is a spectacular event to be part of. At 5 nights/6 days its quite a commitment for some customers, so I have decided to split Tallulah's voyage into 2 legs, with the shorter leg 1 at £399

There will be some people on for the whole event at £999 for wed 25 may to mon 3 june.

Whole event details.

https://classic-sailing.com/voyages/pilot-cutter-world-championship-2024-in-st-mawes-and-fowey/

LEG 1
Alternatively if you love spectacle but are not too sure about close quarters racing, then the mid week leg one offers a bit of sailing and training first between st mawes and fowey. The welcome party in Fowey and an informal passage race back with the fleet to St Mawes

Join st mawes 1500hrs wed 35 may and ends 1800hrs in St Mawes £399. - limited places

https://classic-sailing.com/voyages/tallulah-pilot-cutter-review-leg-1-tha290523/

LEG 2
For more experienced sailors - join at 1800hrs on Fri evening. We can discuss the race briefing for the weekend racing, enjoy a paella or similar on the terrace at St Mawes Social club. Quick safety brief and training on board fri night.
Exciting pilot cutter racing on sat and sunday, with a gathering of pilot cutters up the river Fal on Sat night and prize giving on sun late afternoon.

There will be 3 staff on board to train you / supervise.
Fri 31 May 1800hrs - Mon 03 June 10am £599

https://classic-sailing.com/voyages/tallulah-pilot-cutter-review-a-spectacular-gathering-of-pilot-cutters-th310523/

If I am splitting the voyage, we really cannot accept local crew wanting to arrive on sat morning as not time to fully familiarise you with Tallulah, but for those that have to be back at work on Mon, you are welcome to leave on sun night.

Hope this works for everybody.

07/12/2023

Whilst I would love a light wind drifter for Tallulah, there are times when I think bowsprits, topmasts and spinnakers dont go well together.

Grab it! But how?

29/11/2023

Two chances to race against Carlotta on Pilot Cutter Tallulah next year. They have the same height mast but very different hull shapes underwater. Carlotta with the black hull has the longer waterline and is an original pilot cutter.

Pilot Cutter World Championships 2024
29 May to 3rd June.
Sail to Fowey. Passage Race back to St Mawes and then sailing round the cans for weekend and shoreside gatherings.

And

Famouth Classics
13-17th June 2025
More of a mixed fleet, plus shanty festival ashore

Mate Anthony Champ is naturally torn, as he sails on both.

https://classic-sailing.com/voyage-search/?v=19460&d=&t=&date=2023-11-30&dur=&b=&a=441&sk=&submit=Search

29/11/2023

Give me the moonlight.
Heading home last week from the boatyard.

11/11/2023

HOT OFF THE PRESS The Richard Mille Cup is returning to Falmouth in 2024

Tallulah has squeezed in a day sail on 4th June to be able to sail out and watch the racing.

4th June DAY SAIL Starts and finishes in St Mawes. £120 per person. Max 10 guests

Last year this was a new event that caught us all by surprise. Suddenly there were 9 or 10 classic yachts gathering in Falmouth...and then we discovered they were going to stay around for 3 days racing locally. What a joy.

As skipper of Tallulah, I love a good photo opportunity and the guest were up for it too. We quickly adapted our voyage plan to include some sailing in close company with these incredible yachts.

Atlantic, Adix, Moonbeam and Moonbeam 5, Tuiga, Mariette and Mariquita were ones known to me but the beautiful Lady Ann was equally stunning.

It had been suggested the fleet would use a different port as their start in 2024, but they so enjoyed it here, they are going to grace our shores again.

If you want a day sail with a difference, this is the only one of the year on Tallulah, so we expect it to book up fast.

Reserve here. You can even buy it as a Christmas Present.

https://classic-sailing.com/voyages/tallulah-day-sail-for-mille-cup-2024/

All photos by Tallulah's skipper Debbie Purser - sailing alongside the Richard Mille Cup fleet in 2023

07/11/2023

Weather window at last.
Tallulah being craned out sometime today and Im currently bringing number 8 home from River Fal to Petcuil River

09/10/2023

Thats a wrap. Last voyage of the year.

08/09/2023

Last night on Tallulah’s home mooring - great misty sunset, bright lights of St Mawes and a hint of fog coming….

08/09/2023

Thick Fog. Had to take a compass to get fresh milk by rowing boat this am

Actually it was easy. Rowed along mooring bouy row ‘OP’, past Falmouth working boat beauties like Evelyn, Florence, Rita and Demelza, then accross to harbour via row D.

21/08/2023

For those who like it a bit windier. Tallulah chasing tall ships

21/08/2023

Helford River. Zephirs of wind and drifting out with the ebb.

Skipper in the tender. "Put her in the longboat till she's sober"

21/08/2023

A circumnavigation around Gull Rock.

Making the most of a light wind day on Tallulah.

15/08/2023

Damsons from my garden - nice in porridge on board Pilot Cutter Tallulah perhaps. Nice to have something sharp and tart after a summer excess of strawberries