A BOAT named after Cornish maritime hero Edward Pellew has been craned into the water at the Rhoda Mary Shipyard in Truro.

Falmouth Pilot Cutter CIC has spent almost three years building Pellew, based on the Vincent which was built in 1852.

The project is being funded by 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, 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.

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

It took to the water on Saturday and it is hoped it will be ready to sail within six weeks.

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 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.

She will be officially christened in St Mawes in early May.