European Regional Development Fund
Duchy Motor Launches are classically designed, hand-built, semi-production vessels that are created in the Duchy of Cornwall and customised with any number of optional extras by Cockwells’ skilled craftsmen whose design flair, expertise and exacting standards are second-to-none.
Combining the finest traditions of the shipwright with modern luxury, technology and performance, we offer a range of sizes to suit every need.
The elegant lines of a traditional Cornish harbour launch enhanced with innovative design and outstanding seakeeping are just the start of your Duchy experience.
When you commission a Duchy Motor Launch you create something that is uniquely yours; expertly tailored to meet your requirements. You also join a select group of discerning Duchy owners and become part of the Cockwells family.
From the metal fixings and the choice of timber for the interior joinery to the fabric for the soft furnishings and any number of optional extras, we will ensure that your Duchy is exactly how you want it to be – a classic yacht for a modern world that chimes precisely with your lifestyle.
In 2016, we launched a Duchy 27 that was bound for Chelsea. We launched her at Penton Hook marina and she made her way under 21 bridges and through six locks, all the way into the tidal Thames and her new home in Chelsea
The Duchy 27 has excellent fuel consumption, averaging one litre of fuel per mile at 18 knots. On a day trip in a Duchy from Falmouth to the Isles of Scilly to watch the annual World Pilot Gig Championships, we made the 60 nautical mile crossing in three hours and used a frugal 140 litres of fuel for the whole of the round trip.
We have been exhibiting at the Jersey Boat Show for a number of years now and we usually showcase a Duchy 27 there. The trip can be done in a day from the Solent or from Falmouth – we have done both.
Our second Duchy was launched in July 2012 when her new owners collected Alchemy from our Mylor Creek Boatyard. They then sailed her to her new home on the Isle of Wight with Dave Cockwell on board. The 160 nautical mile trip took approximately eight hours in total – the same amount of time it took the couple by train on the previous day. The weather was fine for the duration of the crossing, allowing the excited couple to sit in the cockpit, sipping champagne in the sun.
In June 2012, we visited the On the Water event in Dartmouth harbour in a Duchy 27. A highlight in the South West’s social calendar, the event encourages people of all ages to try a wide range of water-based activities. The voyage from Falmouth took three and a half hours on a calm sea. After a sunny weekend, the trip home was a different story. Although a 4 to 5 South Westerly was forecast, we found a 6 to 7 and very rough seas as we set sail for Falmouth. The Duchy handled the conditions well though, so we reduced our speed to 15knots and enjoyed the ride!