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The lugger F/V Girl Sybil |
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Thursday, 17 August 2006 |
Q. I have a photoprint of the lugger F/V Girl Sybil, purchased at an art fair in Salem, OR. I'd like to know more about the vessel. The photo shows her set up as a daysail charter in Cornwall.
A. Thank you for your enquiry to the Newlyn website regarding the Mounts Bay lugger Girl Sybil (PZ 595). She was built in Porthleven around 1900, I think by the boatbuilding firm of Kitto. Originally named the Patricia she worked out of Newlyn as a pilchard driver. These were smaller boats than the mackerel drivers - typically between thirty and forty feet in length - and she would originally have been a sailing boat and then later been motorised. It is at that stage that the wheelhouse would have been added.
The Patricia would have been renamed the Girl Sybil when the boat was acquired by the Vingoe family of Newlyn. The owner naming the boat for his daughter. She acquired the boat on the death of her father in the mid 1930s and sold it to the Stevensons who retained the name and continued to work her as a pilchard driver throughout the war years, she was then sold.
There is a photograph and a drawing of her in the book I wrote with Billy Stevenson 'Growing up with Boats' I am assuming that you have a copy of this book, or have seen it, as you suggested Billy Stevenson as a source of information. If not let me know and I will send the extracts and copies of the pictures.
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Is the build date of 1906 definite? I have various dates but no original documents and would appreciate further advice on this issue.
My Brother Aidan lives and works in Penzance and believes the Stephenson family have a family museum- whereabouts unknown- which could include pictures and info regarding Girl Sybil- do you know whether this exists?