Cockwells’ Duchy 21 is a finalist in Powered Vessels under 40ft at the Classic Boat Awards for 2017, and the public vote is open online until 15 March.
The Duchy 21 is on the shortlist for a Classic Boat Award. Cockwells’ open launch is a finalist in Powered Vessels under 40ft, and because the winner is decided by public vote on the Classic Boat magazine website, anyone with an interest can take part. Voting closes on 15 March, and the result will be printed in the magazine’s May issue, which goes on sale on 7 April. If you have been following the Duchy range from this side of the world, casting a vote takes about a minute.
Why this shortlist is worth noticing
The Classic Boat Awards are about craftsmanship rather than speed or volume, which makes a shortlist place a particular kind of compliment. The reasoning given for the Duchy 21’s inclusion is that it pairs the hand skills of the shipwright with hull lines drawn from the traditional Cornish harbour launch, then fits the result with every modern convenience an owner could want. That is a fair summary of what sets a Duchy apart, and it is the reason I think the boat translates so well to a harbour like Sydney’s.
We are delighted to have been shortlisted in this prestigious industry awards scheme and hope that the public will support us by voting for the Duchy 21.
Dave Cockwell, Founder and Managing Director, Cockwells
Where the Duchy 21 came from
Cockwells builds from Mylor Creek in Cornwall, and it chose its twentieth anniversary, marked at the Southampton Boat Show last September, to add this smaller model to the Duchy Motor Launch series. Like the rest of the range it is a semi-production boat: a classically drawn hull built in low-maintenance composite, finished by hand to each owner’s order. The buyer chooses the stainless steel fittings, the timber for the joinery, the upholstery fabric and whatever extras suit the way they intend to use the boat. We go into that approach on our Duchy difference page.
Small details that make a day on the water
The cockpit takes up to ten people and is laid out for exactly the kind of day most owners here have in mind: a run out, a swim, lunch and a slow trip home. Three features stand out.
The swim ladder
The boarding ladder lines up with the central steps in the cockpit, so climbing back aboard after a swim is one movement rather than a scramble over a gunwale.
Sunbed, berth or shelter
Waterproof cushions turn the forward part of the cockpit into a double sunbed to dry off on. Put the spray hoods up and the same space becomes a double berth for a night aboard, or a cockpit that is completely enclosed if the weather closes in. When the hoods are down they are hidden, so the boat keeps its clean profile.
The picnic hamper
A hamper is built into the rear of the helm console. Unlock it and it comes away for a picnic ashore; leave it in place and lunch is served in the cockpit.
On the propulsion side the choices continue: a diesel engine or an electric motor. Cockwells rates the 21 as a capable sea boat that is also suited to inland waters, and because it tows on a road trailer it can be launched on the coast one weekend and on a river, lake or fjord the next.
Harbour-launch lines on Sydney Harbour
A design that started life as a Cornish harbour launch has an obvious home on an Australian harbour, and the sea-and-river versatility Cockwells describes suits the way most owners in Australia and New Zealand actually use a boat: estuaries, harbours and lakes, with a coastal run when the weather allows. The trailer means the launch does not need a berth, and the electric option is worth considering on quiet water.
Davis Marine Brokerage is the exclusive Australian and New Zealand dealer for Duchy Motor Launches. We can arrange a Duchy 21 build with Cockwells, with the fittings, timber and upholstery specified for local conditions, and we handle the import, delivery and commissioning in Sydney. Contact us to talk through a specification, or to discuss finance for a new build. If a pre-owned boat is the quicker route to the water, our current listings are here.
The vote is open until 15 March; Cockwells’ announcement, with the voting details, is on the Cockwells website.
Frequently asked questions
What award has the Duchy 21 been shortlisted for?
The Duchy 21 is a finalist in Powered Vessels under 40ft at the Classic Boat Awards for 2017, which recognise outstanding craftsmanship. The winner is chosen by public vote on the Classic Boat magazine website, open until 15 March, with the result published in the May issue on 7 April.
Why was the Duchy 21 shortlisted?
The shortlisting recognises the combination of shipwright skill and hull lines taken from the traditional Cornish harbour launch, fitted with every modern convenience. The Duchy 21 is built by Cockwells at Mylor Creek in Cornwall and was shown first at Southampton to mark the company’s twentieth anniversary.
What features does the Duchy 21 have?
A cockpit that seats ten, a swim ladder aligned with the central cockpit steps, waterproof cushions that form a forward double sunbed, spray hoods that enclose the cockpit or hide away, and a built-in picnic hamper that unlocks from the helm console. Owners choose diesel or electric power, fittings, timber and upholstery.
Can I buy a Duchy 21 in Australia or New Zealand?
Yes. Davis Marine Brokerage is the exclusive Australian and New Zealand dealer for Duchy Motor Launches. Each Duchy 21 is built to order by Cockwells in Cornwall, and DMB arranges the specification, import, delivery and commissioning in Sydney. Call Sam Davis on 0408 864 111 to discuss a build.
Davis Marine Brokerage is the exclusive Australian and New Zealand dealer for Duchy Motor Launches, Hardy Motor Yachts and Cockwells SuperYacht Tenders. To talk about a new build, a demonstration on Sydney Harbour or a pre-owned Duchy, call Sam Davis on 0408 864 111 or send an enquiry.
About the author
Sam Davis is the Director and Lead Broker at Davis Marine Brokerage, Fergusons Marina, Mosman. Brokering on Sydney Harbour for over a decade, he is a NSW State Councillor of the Boating Industry Association and the Australian and New Zealand dealer for Duchy, Hardy and Cockwells SuperYacht Tenders.
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