Mascotte was built in 1904 by Thomas Cox & Son in Newport. Thomas Cox was also her owner and a Bristol Channel Pilot. He came from a family of Newport Pilots and he held licences for both Newport and Barry. His son was a Newport Pilot, his nephew a Barry Pilot.
Mascotte is believed to of been the third largest Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter ever built. She was twice as heavy and at 60ft she was 10ft longer than most others. She is the largest surviving Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter and was the largest ever to work out of Newport.
She was built to be seaworthy, sea kindly and fast. She once sailed around Lands End to Dover to pick up a ship bound for Newport. She made Thomas Cox a wealthy man.
The opulence and Edwardian grandeur below deck was reflective of how successful the Pilots were and more importantly how they liked to live at sea.
Length Overall: 18.3m
Beam: 4.6m
Draft: 2.9m
Air Draft: 23.8m
Mascotte’s owner is in the process of setting up a charitable organisation ‘Rich’s Boat’, in memory of her skipper of 9 years Rich Clapham, who took his own life in 2019.
The intention with Rich’s Boat is to bring the essence of Rich’s style of sailing and to ignite his passion, in others, of the beauty, excitement, power, historical importance and the absolute joy that is Mascotte. The Trust wants to provide opportunities for both total beginners and experienced sailors to push the boundaries of what they’re capable of.
It’s all about sharing knowledge, skills and a positive life experience with those who may not otherwise have the opportunity to get out on the water or sail a boat as historically significant as Mascotte.
