➜Boats of Fowey
Pilot gig
Gig rowing has a long tradition in
Fowey. The early pilots used to row
the gigs to get out to the ships and
the first one there would get the work.
Today, members of the Fowey River
Gig Club complete all around the
south west in their distinctive red gigs.Troy
These wooden keel boats are identified
by the letter ‘T’ on the main sail and are
unique to Fowey. The first one was built
in 1929 for the daughter of Sir Charles
Hanson of Fowey Hall. The start of the
1930 season saw six identical boats on
the water, which led to the formation of a
class. Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch – a friend
of du Maurier’s – was Commodore of
the Royal Fowey Yacht Club at the time,
and had written novels called Troy. He
was asked for and granted permission
to use the name for the new class.Fowey River class OD
The River class is based on the Yachting
World Knockabout dinghy designed by
Reg Freeman in the late 1940s. The first
boat was built by Hunkins Boatyard at
Polruan for the local dentist. The fleet
grew to 15 boats by 1957 and 36 boats
by 1965, before almost disappearing.
However, since the 1990s over 20 new
boats have been built and many older
ones restored, and there is now an
active racing fleet and class association.(^64)
(^88)
107 49
(^27)
(^37)
3 3
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(^28)
(^63)
(^37)
(^27)
3
(^13)
(^07)
(^22)
(^07)
(^25)
(^15)
(^73)
(^09)
3
3
(^74)
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(^28)
(^13)
1
1
4
(^3217)
27 5
(^11)
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5m
5m
5m
5m
(^25)
Town
Quay
To w n
Quay
Swing
Buoy
Albert
Quay
Royal Fowey YC
Whitehouse Point
Fowey Gallants SC
Polruan Pool
River
Fowey
Punch Cross
Rocks
Washing
Rocks
Lamp Rk
PA (Apr-Oct)
Mundy
Rks
FI.G.5s
2F.G
2F.R
Fl.R.2·5s
2FR
Iso.WRG.3s (vert)
LFI.WR.5s
Polruan
Brawn Pt
Neptune Pt
Penleath Pt
St Catherine’s Pt
Polru
an P
t
Fowey
Wk
Wiseman’s
Point
Moo
rings
Mixtow
Bodinnick
China
Clay Works
Mixtow
Pill
W
ise
m
an
's
R
ea
ch
Berrill’s BY
Iso.G.2s
Caffa Mill
Radar/CCTV
Penpoll Creek
Quay
Quay
Golant
To w e r
Refuse
Barge
S. Fimbarrus Ch
Cas
tle (ru
)
Fowey Lighthouse
Slipway
Shipbuilders Yard
Small Craft Mooring
Pont Pill
NCI
White house
(conspic)
RNSA
metres
0 500
38' 4 °38'W
50 °20'N
21'
Pilotage
Fowey is accessible at all states of
the tide by day or night. The entrance
and lower harbour can become rough
during ebb tides and strong south-
westerly winds. Berths up river at
Grid Irons, Penmarlam and Wiseman’s
are sheltered from these conditions.
The harbour limit begins between St
Catherine’s Castle and Punches Cross
and extends 11km up to Lostwithiel.
In this area, the speed limit is 6 knots.
Enter the harbour on a north-north-
easterly course then head north-east
to the swing ground area off Fowey
Town Quay.
At night, keep in the white sector
of the Whitehouse light until abeam of
Polruan Castle (by day, you’ll see the
‘red rocket’ below the church tower).
The blue visitor moorings and
pontoon facilities are mostly on the
east side of the harbour. Arriving
vessels should contact Fowey Harbour
Patrol on VHF Ch12 to arrange a berth.
Further afield
Vessels drawing up to 2m can proceed
to Lerryn or Lostwithiel with good local
knowledge (speak with the harbour
office first). As a rule, if you leave Fowey
two hours before a high water of more
than 4.5m, you should reach Lerryn
or Lostwithiel before high water.
Fowey River class one designs
Blockhouse at Polruan
Point Neptune from
St CatherineÕs Castle
FOWEY