Pettifox was built in 1992 by Peter Martin and Alfie Hicks and is the last sailing boat to be built on the isles of Scilly and is still registered (SC 139) with the British Registry, owner/skipper Alf Hicks worked and sailed from St Mary’s on the Isle Of Scilly and took holiday makers out on sailing trips around the islands. Pettifox is a replica of a Breton Cameret Crabber (langoustier) to a design by Francois Vivier, a Caravel built of Larch on Oak timber frames, 11 meters in Length and a gross tonnage of 12 ton is capable of taking the ground and as such can sail into small and drying harbours Like Polperro and Looe to the East or Mevagissey and Polkerris to the West, Pettifox can nudge into quite shallow water and can moor off many secluded beaches along it’s beautiful secluded sailing ground; a very unique experience for such a Gaff Rigged Cutter that Pettifox is, and she has an up to date MCA small commercial sailing vessel certificate and is licenced to carry 14 people.
The Skipper Owner Operator of Pettifox is Johnny Barley, born in Cornwall and has grown up on the water in a converted old boathouse known as Polmarine right on the waterside in Polruan, Johnny started sailing when he was 3 years old and has gone from Optimists, Lasers, and his own little classic (Sparrow) boat when he was just 13, Johnny has had work experience at Pendennis ship yard and Princess yachts as well as attending Falmouth Marine School, he has a commercially Endorsed skippers certificate and all the relevant up to date qualifications and a more friendly skipper you could not wish to meet for your Sailing trip and adventure on Pettifox.