Name Alpha

ALPHA was built as a Bristol Channel pilot cutter, designed to take pilots out to ships requiring pilotage as they approached Bristol or other big ports. The first pilot there to negotiate a price got the job, so the cutters had to be fast and easy to sail with as little as two crew members. ALPHA was commissioned by Newport based pilot William Prosser, as a pilot vessel from 1904 till 1923, after which she became a yacht. She was named ALPHA, it seems, because Prosser's pilot number was one. She was a Fleetwood build boat and with that an exception in the fleet of Bristol Channel pilot cutters. Her fairly cutaway for foot gave her an enviable record for speed, particularly in light winds; although during the pilot cutter review at St Mawes 2011, she belonged to the fastest cutters of the fleet, also in a fair breeze! She was build in pitch pine on oak, her topsides were oak on oak (strength). Over the years hardly any oak remained on her topsides and all the pitch pine was replaced by larch and iroko. Some time after World War II, she was re-rigged and her mast replaced by a shorter one as well as her gaff and bowsprit, which became significantly shorter. At some point in the early 2000s she was based in Helsinki, Finland. 

Under new ownership and back in the UK, ALPHA underwent a restoration at Gweek Quay from 2007-2010, when she was re-masted and re-rigged close to the original configuration. The bowsprit was replaced in July 2011 by the original sized bowsprit. In 2023-24 she was completely re-planked in Danish oak and underwent a further refit at Penryn, Falmouth. This included restoration of ALPHA’s original counter shape, and refurbishment of the electric systems.

Alpha has been nominated in the Restored Sailing Vessel over 40ft (12.2m) category at the 2025 Classic Boat Awards. 

Update, January 2025: Vessel for sale.