The historical Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter - Part 1

Many consider the Bristol Channel pilot cutter to be the finest sailing boat design ever. Fast, seaworthy and beautiful to behold, the pilot cutter is the perfect combination of form and function - a thoroughbred perfectly adapted to a life in one of the Britain's most treacherous stretches of water. Sailor and writer Tom Cunliffe explores the life of the pilots and sails a perfectly restored cutter to find out just what drove these men and their wonderful machines.

Let us start a journey back in time. Back to the black and white films of history. The times have changed, but it is good to know what kind of things have changed and where are the roots of pilotage.

Look at Life Vol 01 Transport Pilot Aboard 1963
The story of Britain's pilotage services.

This is the new Bermuda pilot/SAR boat 'St. David'. Its intended to operate up to 30miles off the island in the open north Atlantic but capable of going much further. She is a Gladding Hearn built, all weather 61' aluminum hull capable of about 30kts. She replaces a 23 year old pilot boat with the same name.

The transfer of pilots to and from seagoing vessels should not rely solely on mutual trust and good intentions.

PORT QASIM LİMANI PIL0T BOT PROJESİ / KARAÇİ - PAKİSTAN PORT QASIM PORT PILOT BOAT PROJECT / KARACHI - PAKISTAN PİLOT BOT AMBER / PB2000 GÖVDE TİPİ /HULL TYPE: TEK GÖVDELİ /MONO HULL TAM BOY /LOA :20,50 m GENİŞLİK /BEAM :5,50 m MAKSİMUM HIZ / MAX. SPEED :23 Deniz Mili / 23 kts İNŞA MALZEMESİ /BUILDING MATERIAL :Çelik / Steel SEVK SİSTEMİ /PROPULSION SYSTEM :Sabit Kanatlı Pervane / Fix Pitch Propulsion

Took this in 2021. The pilot boat is helping to navigate through the Port of Barcelona.

Die Lotsenbrüderschaft Elbe ist ein geschlossener Kreis, der sich nicht gern in die Karten schauen lässt. Wer dort Mitglied werden und bis zu 400 Meter lange Containerpötte in den Hamburger Hafen steuern möchte, muss hohe Anforderungen erfüllen. Bewerber müssen mehrere Jahre lang zur See gefahren sein, um ausreichend Fahrpraxis zu haben. Aber es gibt immer weniger deutsche Seeleute, weil die Reeder billigere Kräfte aus dem Ausland bevorzugen. Dadurch wird es zunehmend schwierig,...

This article was already published on 05.01.2022: This study sample consists of a group of healthy middle-aged maritime pilots (n=20), who have been exposed to highly irregular work schedules for more than 15 years.