The lugger F/V Girl Sybil Print E-mail
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.
Comments (5)Add Comment
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written by Robert Wike, June 22, 2009
Photo of PZ595 at Newlyn harbour in The Times Archive page 53 on Monday 22 June 2009.
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written by Jeremy Croft, August 07, 2008
Girl Sybil is doing well in her latest refitting. We came 3rd in class at Brixham Heritage Regatta just a few weeks after launching following 2 1/2 yrs on shore. A few not insignificant further repairs/ installations should hopefully see us on the way to Newlyn, departing early next week.
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written by Francis McWilliams, June 24, 2008
Girl Sybil was still pilchard driving in 1961 when I was in the 'Our John.' She was Porthleven crewed I think. Who were 'Tommy' and 'Sam' who were in her? Someone will know. Tommy was a tall stout man, and Sam small. There were still a half dozen Porthleven pilchard drivers in 1961. My only other season pilchard driving was 1963 in the 'Mayon Castle' when the pilchard fleet was down to half a dozen boats, which may have included Girl Sybil. I think she did a bit of crabbing and whiffing, but like most boats of her generation was really a drifter and not much suited to other fishing.
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written by jeremy croft, May 02, 2008
I am in the process of buying Girl Sybil- as an incomplete restoration project; she is currently ashore at Noss Marina Dartmouth Devon and we hope to have her afloat again in the near future.

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?
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written by John Charnock Looe Cornwall, March 04, 2008
Girl Sybil FY 595 was built at Kittos Penzance in 1907. I have sailed her many times and crewed for both cruising and racing. I do have a number of pictures taken at Looe Lugger Regatta and I also had an accurate scale model built.

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