Established in 1994, Working Sail is run by Luke Powell, drawing on a lifetime of experience in boatbuilding. Luke served his apprenticeship in Thames Sailing Barges, going on to rebuild Pilot Cutters and Smacks. He also spent some years in Greece and Turkey sailing around in an old engineless cutter that he made his home. This was followed by building new fishing boats in France.

After years of this, Luke Powell felt it was time to build a new generation of Pilot Cutters. Setting up the business with the help of Sara James who did the historical research, the reputation of Working Sail has grown and become a tradition in itself.

Luke now employs a crew of shipwrights to help him create these fine vessels. He has surrounded himself in an environment of nineteenth-century wood and sail and spends all his time either designing, building or sailing his cutters..