The vessel pedigree relates to the years 1790 to 1840; years spanning the height of the Free Trade. The small boats of this era have no equal in beauty. The bluff shapes of the 18th century had become finer for speed while the deep sections, firm beam and forefoot speak of grip in the water and stability beneath a large rig.

Following research at the Science Museum, National Maritime Museum Greenwich and Exeter University Alert is being built with complete reference to contemporary plans. 
 

Notable features besides the clinker planking are the lute stern and barrel windlass. Her bold curves and buoyant hull above water become a fine entry, long keel and smooth run aft below. With 80 square foot of canvas per ton displacement; the combination will make her a powerful little vessel. The beauty of the dipping lug rig is in its simplicity. Clean wind with no turbulence from the spars fills the fore sail, which sets as a hydrofoil, also providing a lifting motion over the sea. This is further enhanced by the mizzen which itself has a weak depressing effect, helping to keep the stern steady. The mizzen also acts as a rudder, when sheeted in, to keep the vessel’s head to wind. The lugger’s ability to sail with different combinations aloft is an important aspect of reducing sail. The foot of the fore can be reefed or alternatively the big mizzen sail hoisted on the fore mast and a smaller mizzen sail set on the mizzen mast. The jib is set on a traveller, on a reeving bowsprit. In good weather a mizzen topsail is set and a staysail can fly between the masts.

The mizzen sail is set standing, in order to go about the fore sail has to be dipped. Two people are needed in order to effectively dip the sail and one on the tiller, who also looks after the mizzen. Sailing a dipping lugger is interactive; the boat has to be handled. With practice smooth operation is a pleasure, something that one can take pride in and acknowledged with respect by others. There are various techniques for avoiding dipping the fore however, all result in loss of performance. A lugger whose rig is well tuned will be notable for her ‘close windedness’ and speed at a given waterline length.

Alert

Length on Deck 37' 6”’

Beam 11’ 6”

Draught 6’ 2”

Displacement 14.5 T

Boats built by Revenue Cutters and Smuggling Luggers conform to the code of practice as laid down by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for the safety of small commercial sailing vessels.

All vessels are built under the "Agreement for the Construction of a New Boat" drawn up by the British Marine Federation and approved by the Royal Yachting Association.