The Duchy 35 has won Motor Boat & Yachting’s Wheelhouse and Cockpit Cruisers award at the 2018 Motor Boat Awards, four months after its Southampton Boat Show debut.
Cockwells has started the year with a trophy. The Duchy 35, the newest and largest model in the Duchy Motor Launch range, has collected a Motor Boat Award for 2018 from Motor Boat & Yachting magazine. It was one of eight finalists in Wheelhouse and Cockpit Cruisers, and it came out ahead of the field at a London ceremony earlier this week. For a boat that made its public debut at Southampton only in September, that is a fast start.
I pay attention to this particular award because the judges, Hugo Andreae, Nick Burnham and Jack Haines, are the magazine’s own people. Motor Boat & Yachting had already reviewed the Duchy 35 on a sea trial before the awards, so this was not a verdict formed from a brochure. Their summary was that the boat pulls at the heart the moment you see it, and that every one of them would happily own one.
What the judges said about the Duchy 35
The citation picked out three things: the elegance of the lines, the solid displacement hull beneath them, and an interior built by hand from solid timber, with cabinetry and practical detailing the judges expect to outlast fashion. The sentence that best sums up their view is this one:
A shining example of traditional and contemporary working together in perfect harmony to create a boat that has the retro appeal of a wooden launch, yet all the equipment and comfort of a modern 40ft cruiser.
Hugo Andreae, Jack Haines and Nick Burnham, Motor Boat & Yachting, 2018 Motor Boat Awards judges
That balance is the whole point of the Duchy approach. From the marina the 35 reads as a classic launch; step aboard and the fit-out is thoroughly current. Cockwells builds the hull in composite to keep upkeep low, then finishes each boat to the owner’s specification, which is why no two Duchy launches leave the yard at Mylor looking quite the same.
Duchy 35 at a glance
- Third model in the Duchy range, following the Duchy 27 flagship and the open Duchy 21 day boat
- Room for ten guests on a day out, or a comfortable weekend aboard for two
- Choice of a one-cabin or two-cabin arrangement below
- Shower compartment with real headroom
- Electric sunroof spanning the full width of the wheelhouse, with glazing all round for the view
- Well-equipped galley, with the joinery timber, electronics and upholstery chosen with the owner
- Options from teak decking and leather upholstery through to made-to-measure stowage for the owner’s own crockery and glassware
A strong year at the yard
Dave Cockwell, who founded the company, has put the award in the context of a busy twelve months: the magazine’s favourable sea trial, and record sales for the yard at Southampton last year. He also let slip what is coming next.
We could not be more delighted that the Duchy 35 has won this prestigious accolade from industry professionals.
Dave Cockwell, Founder and Managing Director, Cockwells
Later this month Cockwells intends to release Scandinavian and Mediterranean versions of the Duchy 35 design. I will cover those when they land, because the thinking behind a Mediterranean version is directly relevant to anyone planning a Duchy for Sydney or Auckland.
What the award means for Duchy buyers in Australia and New Zealand
Davis Marine Brokerage is the exclusive Australian and New Zealand dealer for Duchy Motor Launches, and an independent judging panel’s view is a useful reference point for anyone weighing up a boat they cannot yet walk around at a local show. The three judges were looking for the same things an Australian owner should look for: a hull that behaves at displacement speed, joinery that will still look right in twenty years, and a layout that works for a day on the Harbour with friends as well as a quiet weekend for two.
Every Duchy 35 is built to order in Cornwall, so the cabin plan, timber, upholstery and electronics can be specified for Australian conditions from the outset. We arrange the build with Cockwells and handle the import, delivery and commissioning in Sydney. If you are thinking about a 35, or want to discuss finance for a new build, get in touch and we can talk through the layouts in detail. Owners who already have a boat to move on first can read about selling through DMB.
The original announcement is on the Cockwells website.
Frequently asked questions
Which award did the Duchy 35 win?
The Duchy 35 was named the winner in Wheelhouse and Cockpit Cruisers at the 2018 Motor Boat Awards, organised by Motor Boat & Yachting magazine. It was one of eight boats shortlisted in that category, and the result was announced at a ceremony in London this week.
How many people can a Duchy 35 carry?
Cockwells designed the Duchy 35 for up to ten guests on a day cruise, with the saloon and cockpit doing most of the work. For overnighting it is set up for a couple, with either a single-cabin or a two-cabin layout below, plus a shower with proper standing headroom.
What did the judges like about the Duchy 35?
The Motor Boat & Yachting judges highlighted the elegant styling, the sturdy displacement hull and the hand-built interior of solid timber and bespoke cabinetry. They described the boat as traditional and contemporary design working together, with the look of a wooden launch and the equipment of a modern cruiser.
Can I order a Duchy 35 in Australia or New Zealand?
Yes. Davis Marine Brokerage is the exclusive dealer for Duchy Motor Launches in Australia and New Zealand. Each Duchy 35 is built to order at Cockwells in Cornwall, and DMB manages 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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