A historic Cornish lugger has been saved from destruction following a complex rescue and 12-month search for a new owner. Lucy Wood reports…
WHITE Heather, a wooden-hulled sailboat, was originally built in 1926 for fishing off the Cornish coast and later became a popular passenger boat in Fowey during the 1980s and 1990s. In 2003 it undertook an Atlantic voyage to Morocco, Brazil and the Caribbean, returning to the UK and later appearing as a guest ship at the Gloucester Tall Ships Festival in 2011. But, after another decade afloat, the privately owned sailboat fell into disrepair and sank in 2023 while in Gloucester Docks.
After it became clear White Heather‘s owner was unable to carry out the scale of works needed to raise and restore the vessel, or to license it to be kept in the dock, the Canal & River Trust’s licensing compliance and enforcement team began planning to remove it. Recognising the high heritage value of the vessel, the trust’s heritage team was brought in to support the removal operation.
Morgan Cowles, heritage manager at the trust, said: “It fell upon our charity to recover White Heather from the water. At risk of breaking up, which could cause obstruction, pollution and safety impacts, we set about a recovery that would keep it intact and save an important part of the nation’s maritime heritage.
“Because of the boat’s history, my heritage colleagues supported the operation from the outset, which included help from Digital Dry Dock Ltd, who carried out free-of-charge 3D scans of White Heather. This made it possible to fully document and understand the structure and condition of the vessel.
“Initial recovery efforts were hampered by concerns over the integrity of the fragile wooden hull. A second attempt succeeded in January 2024, with contractors safely raising and transporting the vessel to local boatbuilder RW Davis & Son Ltd, who generously supported the operation/project by providing secure storage and preservative measures.”
The trust contacted National Historic Ships and other maritime heritage organisations, as well as exploring the open market, to find a suitable custodian. Despite significant interest and much goodwill, no formal offers were received, leading to the prospect that White Heather could indeed be lost.
Just as all options seemed exhausted, an interested party came forward in early 2025 with credible and exciting plans for a restoration of the historic vessel. After positive discussions and careful due diligence, ownership was formally transferred, and White Heather was moved to Hayling Island in May 2025, where full restoration work is now set to begin.Morgan added: “The rescue of White Heather is a testament to the dedication and expertise of my colleagues that required technical care, specialist knowledge, and close collaboration with local partners. Thanks to a great team effort we’ve been able to secure a future for this remarkable vessel. From Cornish fishing boat to transatlantic adventurer, White Heather has a story worth saving – and we’re proud to have played a part in keeping that story alive.”
