Building commences in granite shed at Beauregard*, Les Cotils, St. Peter Port
Iron keel cast by the Guernsey Railway Company
*Beauregard is now La Fregate Hotel
1926
Build completion coincides with birth of A.J. Barber’s second daughter Patricia, 29th April
Cockleshell is launched at the St.Peter Port careening hard


1940 - 1945
Cockleshell is laid up during the German Occupation of Guernsey
c1947
New hollow pine mast by Marine Craft St. Peter Port using Aerolite glue
1949
John Sherwill marries Pat Barber, daughter of A.J. Barber
1952
Death of A.J. Barber
1953 - 1957
Max Barber and John Sherwill race Cockleshell on behalf of Mrs. Winnie Barber
Cockleshell moored some of this time at Grand Havre Bay
1959
John Sherwill and Ben Johnston sail Cockleshell across the English Channel to Orford
7-day, 325 mile trip includes stops at Cherbourg, St. Vaast, Dieppe, Le Treport, Boulogne, and Dover
1961
John Sherwill sails Cockleshell from Ramsholt to Kings Lynn,
with fortnight long stopovers at both Lowestoft and Brancaster
1962 -1963
Cockleshell races at Wroxham Broad near Norwich
1964
Cockleshell joins the Waldringfield Sailing Club yacht class and competes in her first Deben Week regatta
1983
John and Pat Sherwill return to Guernsey for their retirement
1984
Major refit by Jonty Sherwill in Dick Larkman’s yard at Melton with new decking and aluminium rig supplied by Z Spars UK at Hadleigh, Suffolk before launching for the 1984 season based as usual at Waldringfield Sailing Club
1988
Cockleshell arrives at Bursledon by road and joins Hamble River Sailing Club yacht class
2011
Cockleshell’s 85th birthday coincides with public holiday for the Royal Wedding on 29th April


Cockleshell’s 85th birthday celebration - dressed (semi) overall in the Hamble plus the post lunch sail with Vicki, Sue and Callum
2013
Cockleshell wins Classic Dayboat Class at Cowes Classics Week - 6 starts, 6 wins
2014
New mast step fitted
Cockleshell wins the Classic Cruiser (Fast) Class at Cowes Classics Week
2015
Cockleshell wins Royal Southern Yacht Club Aveva September Regatta IRC Class 4
2016
Cockleshell competed in the inaugural Hamble Classics Regatta hosted by the Royal Southern Yacht Club - this event was inspired by her and Vicki and attracted 65 entries, and she has taken part each year since.
2017
New laminated oak floor fitted - grateful thanks to Ollie Ophaus for his assistance
2019
Cockleshell competes in the Hamble River Sailing Club Centenary Regatta and the 4th Hamble Classics Regatta hosted for the first time by the RAFYC
2020 & 2021
Cockleshell competes in the 5th and 6th Hamble Classics Regatta hosted by the Royal Southern Yacht Club and winning her class for the first time
It was a record year for trophies won - see the 'Racing Record' page
2022
The Hamble Classics Regatta organised in collaboration with Hamble River Sailing Club and the RAFYC has racing our of respect for Royal family after the death of the Queen just a day before the regatta. Instead a cruise in company around the 'royal' marks in the Solent was organised on the Saturday starting after the twenty-one gun salute at the Royal Yacht Squadron
2023
Cockleshell competes in the 8th Hamble Classics Regatta (HRSC and RAFYC) winning her class for the second time
2024
Cockleshell features in Waldringfield Sailing Club's centenary book 'A Century of Sailing' compiled by Robert Deaves
In memoriam: Toby our terrier who since 2020 did almost every race aboard Cockleshell sleeping soundly in the aft locker whatever the weather threw at us, winning friends as well as races, sadly departed this world on February 25th 2024. Sail on our faithful little crew and keep winning!
