Stirling and Son

26/08/2026

Stirling and Son covered slipway in 1852, only 38 years after the roof was installed!

1852 photo by Linnaeus Tripe of DEVONPORT DOCKYARD from
CREMYLL. Just look at Mutton Cove!

01/08/2026

16/06/2026

⚓️Exciting news! ⚓

We are absolutely delighted to announce that Vigilance of Brixham has successfully passed her final safety inspection and is now certified to carry passengers.

As we look forward to seeing her sail once again in her centenary year, we're happy to announce that public sailing trips will resume from July!

⛵ Book your place now via our website

https://www.vigilanceofbrixham.co.uk/events/

📸© Trevor Taylor

12/06/2026

Dinghy no. 59 wood work complete, gold leafed in the name, decorative carving and cove line and spray varnished with 14 coats. Unusually this dinghy is entirely mahogany except for the oak ribs. At first this seemed like a departure from the norm but we all became used to it and she looked rather nice after all in one uniform timber.

08/06/2026

A sea trial with the team built Vertue Tom Thumb, ostensibly to test her brand new engine, which soon became a circumnavigation of the breakwater in blustery weather.

05/06/2026

An enjoyable delivery trip on Thelma from Glasgow to the south coast at an average speed of 8.5 knots and taking 68 hours non-stop. The boat, with interior design by Ed Dubois and India Mahdavi, is easy to be on and she looks as good as she did ten years ago when we relaunched her after a keel up restoration.

03/06/2026

The gap is almost closed!

Happily there is enough planking timber this time and to spare for the bulwarks and interior fit out – we often find we are scratching around for the last planks no matter how much contingency we think we have ordered.

Well done the shipwrights for working on through the monotony of a repetitive job and for maintaining high standards.

31/05/2026

It was an honour to be invited to present the prizes at The Brixham Heritage Regatta over the May Bank Holiday weekend. A well attended regatta in light airs, on Sunday evening a full table of shining silverware was shared out amongst the boats with the King George V cup (gifted by the King in 1914 as a perpetual challenge trophy for Brixham trawler racing) going to Pilgrim.

29/05/2026

Up the planks rise towards the tuck, always an awkward area due to leaving the rabbet at the stern post and the stronger bevels on the plank edges to get around the curve.

22/05/2026

We are coming down the topsides plank by plank. It is like fitting planks to a double ender because they are mitred into the transom aft.

The hot forged nails are cold rivetted and we are careful not to bruise the Oak framing around the rivetted nail.

It is difficult to find more to say beyond the photos… just keep on planking!