Originally launched in 1899, CARLOTTA is one of only 15 or so remaining Bristol Pilot Cutters from the hundreds built for pilots to race west to meet ships entering the Irish Sea and Atlantic Ocean. Registered as a ‘historic ship’ with the UK Ships Registry, CARLOTTA has benefitted from a comprehensive program of restoration, refit and sensitive modernisation over the past 20yrs and three ownerships, both by Abernethy & Gaudin in British Columbia, where she underwent a 10,000-hour restoration, and more recently by legendary Elephant Boatyard in the UK. CARLOTTA now represents a truly usable and utterly reliable piece of yachting history, ready to cruise or race with a full or short-handed crew.
ACCOLADES:
• Best Restored Sailboat 2012 Victoria Classic Boat Festival
• Classic Boat 2019 Restoration Winner
• 2022 Falmouth Classics Class Winner

DETAILED HISTORY:

CARLOTTA was designed and built by W.H. Halford at Gloucester in 1899 for the Cumberland Sea Fishery Committee, who ordered a ‘Police Boat’ or ‘Protection Cutter’ to patrol fisheries in the Cumberland area. She was originally named THE SOLWAY. Halford built at least two other pilot cutters, but CARLOTTA is the sole survivor from this yard. Their boats differed from other pilot boats; the bowsprits were not always offset, instead being placed on the centre-line of the vessel; they featured ‘Valkyrie’ bows – straight stems with substantial rake; and in addition to internal ballast, an external iron keel. Framing was specifically ordered to be just 6 inches allowing for extreme conditions rigidity. That compared with her yacht lime lines made her a very fast protection cutter. When completed, CARLOTTA worked in the River Solway and off the coast of Cumberland around Maryport and Whitehaven with a crew of four to seven men and a Master. In 1907 she was replaced by a steam driven vessel and sold off as a yacht.

In 1907 she was sold into private ownership, renamed CARLOTTA, and moved to the Isle of Man, where she was converted to a yacht. Shortly afterwards she was sold again to the next of many owners, David A. Croall of St James’, London, and registered in Ramsey. In 1913 she won the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club Regatta under the ownership of A.R. Hoette. By 1915 her owner was W.G. Luke of Hamble, Southampton, and by 1920 she was owned by a property developer, John Rene Payne, who sailed CARLOTTA out of the Royal Burnham and Royal Corinthian Yacht Clubs. She was beautifully kept and took part in cruiser races. By 1925 she was owned by Lord Gort of East Cowes, a soldier who later rose to the rank of Field Marshal. He fitted her with every comfort and convenience. By 1929 she was owned by a retired Lieutenant Colonel, but in 1933 she was sold again, to George Henry Jordan of Monmouth, who sold her on to Sir Thomas Hewitt Skinner before the end of the year. In 1937 she was bought by Bessie and Aleck Bourne of London, who in 1939 sailed her from France to Guernsey thinking she would be safe there. In 1940 ownership was transferred to three Guernsey men.

In 1942 CARLOTTA was found laid up in a canal basin dock near Fleetwood by Richard Twist, who became her next owner. He sailed her out of Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland for about four years, and later chartered her out of St. Mawes, Cornwall, making frequent voyages to France. The Twists kept CARLOTTA for twenty-seven years, until 1969, but in 1970 they sold her to two men from Golant, Cornwall. She subsequently fell into a state of decay, with many frames smashed. But in 1973 a Canadian, Peter Heiberg, found her in the Fowey estuary, bought her, and had her restored at Falmouth. After several failed attempts he eventually reached Vancouver in 1981. CARLOTTA was a regular winner of Old Gaffers’ races in Vancouver. Heiberg owned her for over 30 years, but in 2004 he sold her to the Mohan family, who began the process of restoring her to how she was in 1899.

CAROTTA was back sailing in 2009, although her interior refit was only completed in 2011. In 2015 she was purchased by Michael Wright in London, and she underwent further repair and restoration work. In 2017, she was transported by road and sea to the UK after more than 43 years in British Columbia. Since 2019 she has been under the present custodianship and has been professionally upgraded for ocean sailing by the ‘Elephant’ Boatyard in Bursleldon. A refit in May 2023 added a custom-made anchor assembly along with a modern generation anchor, hydraulic Wills Ridley autopilot systems backboned into her Raymarine plotters. For planned ocean passaging a hydro generator was custom designed in Germany and fitted by the yard.

Competitive under her current ownership, CARLOTTA won class 2022 Falmouth Classics, placing second in 2023, and now presents immediately ready for her next custodians to racing or extended cruise. She wants for nothing structurally, mechanically or other. UK VAT paid and Part 1 British Registered.

MAY 2024 INSURANCE SURVEY SUMMARY AND VALUATION:

“CARLOTTA is a fine example of the Bristol Pilot cutter having undergone a major restoration between 2013- 2018. During the restoration nearly all the planks were renewed with some of the frames being replaced and sistering caried out to some frames are required, The deck was replaced along with deck beams as required. Electrical and water systems aboard were replaced accordingly. CARLOTTA presents well and is in very good cosmetic and structural condition.

Having taken into consideration the current market and the extent of restoration carried out within the last six years, this together with the vessels history, we would currently value Carlotta in the region of £330,000.”