Falmouth Pilot Cutter CIC has been building The Pellew, based on the Vincent (built in 1852) for almost three years.

Built using traditional boatbuilding skills, the boat is named after Cornish maritime hero Edward Pellew who ran away from home and rose through the naval ranks in the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.

The project is being funded by maritime education specialist Brian Pain with the aim of encouraging young people to learn sailing and traditional maritime skills.

Director Joanna Powell said: "The moment you use the word traditional to describe anything there's a certain image that people get and it's difficult to get young people interested.

"But it's actually really exciting."

Joanna added that when finished, The Pellew will be the biggest gaff-rigged cutter in the country and although not quite as fast as its modern equivalents it is sure to inspire a generation of younger sailors.

The Pellew is set to take to the water next month and within the following six weeks it will be ready to sail.

Built by chief shipwright Luke Powell, it will provide opportunities for apprenticeships in the traditional trades and seamanship associated with vessels of its kind, and it will also be used partly as a charter boat.

Building The Pellew has been a dream of Luke's for some time. He was fascinated by the Vincent, which was built for the Vincent family of St Mawes in 1852 and worked for 70 years until being retired in 1922, ending her days as a houseboat at Freshwater on the Percuil River.

According to the CIC's website, The Pellew "is being built to the highest sea going standards with watertight bulkheads and all the equipment to sail the oceans of the world.

"Bound for a life a charter boat it is our plan that she will sail with both adult and young people onboard."