Bristol Channel 38 ft Pilot Cutter Replica 2011

EDITH GRAY seems to hit a “sweet spot” for a number of reasons: at thirty eight and a half feet she is a handy size to sail short-handed, yet she can accommodate up to seven comfortably with berths to spare; her build quality is impressive both in her structure and detail above and below deck; and if her pilot cutter roots hint at how capable a vessel she is, her lines make her an exciting boat to sail and own. Seeing EDITH GRAY tied to the dock it is almost impossible not think of adventure! She was designed and built in 2011 by Leo Goolden's (TALLY HO) mentor John Raymond-Barker of Bristol - along the lines of the smaller transom stern pilot cutters with inspiration taken from BREEZE of 1887 for basic dimensions and above waterline profile as well as DIARCHY of 1901 for her underbody lines. EDITH GRAY has proven herself to be extremely fast when raced in the pilot cutter fleet, often taking first in class, and very able and comfortable for the ambitious passages and cruises undertaken by her present owner. She certainly has that magic blend of function and simple beauty for which this style of boat is very well known.

- Provisional details for a new listing
- Updated specs and new photos may be added

Named after and launched in Bristol in 2011 by the builder's then 90-year-old aunt, EDITH GRAY's fine lines are based on the last of the sailing Bristol Channel pilot cutters and drawn for both speed and weatherliness. With three pilot cutter builds already under his belt, John Raymond-Barker wanted for himself something smaller, faster, and handy to sail short handed as well as affording some reasonable comfort below. With EDITH GRAY, unconstrained by any other client expectations, he was able to achieve all of this. Since her launch she has made her mark at the races, and for her impressive cruising range and ability in present ownership.

RACE HONOURS FIRST TWO SEASONS:
2011
- 2nd, Cock of the Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter Race, Tern Cup
- 1st, Classic Sailing Pilot Cutter Review at St Mawes
- (4 x 1sts in individual races)
- Completed the RORC Fastnet Race
2012
- 1st, Classic Sailing Pilot Cutter Review at St Mawes
- (1st, 2nd, 1st, 2nd in individual races)
- 1st overall; 1st in class Pilot Cutter Fastnet Race
- 2nd in Class, Round the Island Race
- 1st in Class, Plymouth Classics
- Yacht Haven Cup 1st in Class and over 30 ft
- 1st overall; Winner, 'Most Ansom Transom', Fowey Classics

In present ownership since early 2020, EDITH GRAY has clocked off the sea miles:

England:
- South Coast ports from Dover to Newlyn
Wales:
- Milford Haven and through Jack Sound and Ramsey sound
Ireland:
- Arklow, Greystones, Dun Laoghaire, Howth, Ardglass, Bangor, Belfast
Scotland:
- Extensively on the West Coast and north to Shetland
Norway:
- Extensively, from Fedje north of Bergen round to the Skagerrak
Sweden:
- Goteborg, Donsö
Denmark:
- Tunø, Lundeborg
Germany:
- Kiel canal, Cuxhaven, Noderney
Netherlands:
- Vlieland, Harlingen, Den Helder

At the end of this impressive list her owner writes: "That's about it really." Quietly capable is EDITH GRAY!

- Traditionally carvel built
- Larch planking on on oak frame
- Bronze and copper fastened
- Purpleheart wood keel
- Solid Douglas fir planked deck; caulked and pitched
- Lead ballast keel 5½ tons

GENERAL
- Slightly swept solid Douglas fir deck
- Nibbed forward to varnished covering boards
- Raised bulwark with varnished oak capping rail
- Open taffrail
- Galvanised stanchions for rope guardrail

AFT DECK
- Ash mainsheet block mounted to steel braced taffrail
- Stern light
- 2 x Raised mushroom vents over transom
- 2 x Large varnished lazarette hatches
- Fairleads through bulwark port and starboard
- Metal tiller steering
- Semi-circular mount aft of rudder stock for self steering vane

COCKPIT
- Raw iroko low profile coamings
- Deck as seating
- Well with grating sole
- Mainsheet Samson posts port & starboard aft
- Steering compass
- Spacious side decks
- Stanchions on bulwarks forward of cockpit
- Round deck lights outboard port & starboard
- Samson posts port and starboard for aft mooring lines
- Running backstay levers port and starboard

SIDE DECKS
- Chimney for cabin stove to starboard
- Lifeboat sheet fairleads port & starboard

TRUNK CABIN
- Varnished iroko uprights; port lights port & starboard
- 2 x Cleats
- 4 x Large round lights in painted roof
- Period companionway sliding hatch raised aft
- Hinged washboard
- Deck prisms at deck port & starboard

MID DECK
- Gas bottle locker offset to starboard
- Raised butterfly skylight hatch offset to starboard
- Raised bronze mushroom vent forward
- Deck prism to port
- Space for tender stowage to port
- Lifeboat type opening fairlead headsail sheet leads
- Belaying pins at widened rail at shrouds

MAST POSITION

FOREDECK
- Chain pipe to port
- Raised bronze mushroom vent to port over WC compartment
- Round deck light to port over WC compartment
- Raised foredeck hatch offset to port with round port light
- Bronze chain chafe protection on forehatch
- Deck prism to starboard
- Bowsprit easily reefed with tackle; bitts offset to starboard
- Manual galvanised anchor windlass mounted to port
- Round deck light to port and mushroom vent starboard
- Samson posts/ cats thru widened rail port & starboard
- Cleats at forward rail on knightsheads port & starboard
- Raised bronze mushroom vent starboard aft of stemhead
- Deck prism port aft of stemhead

GROUND TACKLE
- Rocna 33 kg self stowing anchor
- c.200 ft / 60 m anchor chain
- Kedge anchor (stowed fore end of trunk cabin)

GENERAL
- Sleeping accommodation for up to 9
- 7 x single berths; 1 x double
- White painted deck head and bulkheads
- Contrasting varnished oak deck beams and joinery trim
- Excellent light via numerous deck lights & 5 x brass bulkhead lights
- Solid wood cabin soles

SLIDING HATCH AND COMPANIONWAY STEPS DOWN
- Seetru tank level gauge by steps to stbd
- Wide quarter berths port and stbd

GALLEY TO PORT
- Alize Horizon gimballed 4-burner hob; grill and oven
- Gastronorm containers
- Pull out bin
- Belfast sink set in worktop
- Hot and cold running water from bronze dragon head taps
- Sea water pump
- Stowage under and above, outboard
- Bosuns Locker

FULL SIZE CHART TABLE TO STARBOARD
- Navigation instruments
- Electrical distribution panel
- Morsø 'Squirrel' wood burning stove; stays alight under way
- Wood store behind stove

SALOON
- 2 x Settee berths with lee cloths; one each side
- Stowage in deep lockers outboard, under and shelves
- Pilot berths above and outboard port & starboard
- Butterfly skylight over offset to starboard
- Deck lights throughout vessel
- Folding saloon table off centreline
- Coolbox under cabin sole
- Book shelves and laptop shelf on fwd bulkhead to port
- Bulkhead mounted clock and barometer
- Anchor locker access below

PASSAGE FORWARD

WC COMPARTMENT TO PORT
- Jabsco manual WC
- Valve to holding tank

FORECABIN
- 2 x Berths up and over to port
- 2 x Berths up and over to starboard

RIG
Gaff cutter rig with roller furling on the main and jibs set flying
- Solid Douglas fir mast
- Spiderband with belaying pins at gooseneck
- Hollow boom, gaff and bowsprit
- 'Appledore' mainsail reefing
- Wykeham Martin jib furling gear
- Traditional Rigging galvanised wire standing rigging
- Leathered top ends around hounds
- Galvanised bottle screw and deadeye lanyard tensioners
- Running backstays with Highfield levers
- Leather gaff saddle

SAILS
Clipper Canvas except where stated
By Patrick Selman, Falmouth
- Mainsail
- 2 x Topsails - large has a jack yard
- 1 x Large jib
- 1 x Working jib (relatively new, 180 sq ft / 17 sq m)
- Heavy weather jib (c. 90 sq ft)
- 1 x Staysail with deep reef
- 1 x Terylene jib topsail (not by Selman)

CANVASWORK
- Mainsail boom cover
- Skylight cover
- Rolled tender cover

MECHANICAL
- Beta Marine 25 hp diesel engine
- Hours: c.2000
- Consumption: c. 2 L/ hour at 2,400 RPM = c. 5.5 knots
- Panel at companionway starboard
- Stainless steel shaft
- Flexifold propeller offset to port

ELECTRICAL
- Solar panel
- Waeco integral battery charger
- Engine start battery
- Domestic battery 200 Ah
- LED lights throughout vessel

TANKAGE and ASSOCIATED
- Stainless diesel tank c.40 Gal / 180 L with sight glass
- Fresh water tank 53 Gal / 240 L
- Calorifier 9 Gal / 40 L
- Pressurised water system
- Hand pumped water

OTHER
- Cabin heater that works off the engine cooling water
- Sea water pump
- Deck wash pump

NAVIGATION
- Sestrel steering compass
- Garmin 152 H GPS
- Raymarine ST 40 depth sounder

COMMUNICATIONS
- Raymarine VHF
- Radio / CD/ mp3 player with large speakers

- Bilge alarm
- Electric Bilge pump
- Manual Bilge pump
- Gas alarm
- 2 x Fire extinguishers
- Life jackets
- EPIRB
- Dan buoy and safety line secured to starboard
- 6-Person Ocean Safety liferaft

- Inflatable tender
- Windvane self-steering system (Bill Belcher design)
- Fenders
- Mooring warps

Sailing Photos:
- Volker Gries
- Chris Vine
- Christian Topf