Occupation Survivor



With the German invasion of Guernsey imminent, A.J. Barber evacuated to England with his wife Winnie and daughters Jocelyn and Patricia. By the time the first German troops entered the island on 30th June 1940 Cockleshell was already laid up on the harbour wall at St. Peter Port.

There, near the current site of the Guernsey Yacht Club, she would lie for five years until the liberation in 1945. Despite some shrapnel wounds to one topside (from a British bombing raid) and the loss of her mast, teak gratings, and other gear burned in a shed fire, Cockleshell came through the ordeal virtually unscathed.


A family reunited

After the liberation of Guernsey the Barber family returned to their beloved Beauregard and by 1946 Cockleshell was sailing again with an old flagpole as a makeshift mast. Sadly another of AJ's creations, the 16 foot carvel built motor boat 'Winkle' was nowhere to be found.

That season AJ and the boat are mentioned in the Royal Cruising Club's annual by Roger Pinkney who called into Guernsey during his first post war cruise to Brittany aboard Dyarchy.

With life returning to normal Winnie Barber told of camping trips to the island of Crevichon and sleeping overnight under just a spar and jib for cover.

This island, now private property, was a favourite spot but also the scene of a near disaster at the end of a family picnic when Cockleshell (skippered by John Sherwill) had to be towed off having got caught in rocks on a falling tide.

The Timeline

1925
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

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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 - 57
Max Barber and John Sherwill race Cockleshell on behalf of Mrs. Winnie Barber and moored for some of this time at Grand Havre Bay

1955
Cockleshell crewed by John and Rollo Sherwill wins the Sir Jesse Boot Round Jersey race, but later disqualified on grounds that she was not a cabin cruiser type even though her entry had been accepted. The incident was reported in the Guernsey Press.

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 arrives by road trailer from Kings Lynn and joins the Waldringfield Sailing Club yacht class and competes in her first Deben Week regatta. Initially crewed and then helmed by Jonty, after he begins racing a Cadet dinghy in 1967 John Sherwill invites club members and others to sail with him, with Liz Plummer becoming his regular crew.

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 new aluminium rig supplied by Z Spars UK at Hadleigh, Suffolk before launching for the 1984 season, moored as usual at Waldringfield and racing with WSC.

1986
Cockleshell laid up for one year at Larkman’s yard while Jonty concentrates on Solent based 3/4 Ton 'Lion' racing campaign, then Sigma 33 'Chaser' and other projects

1987
Cockleshell back in the water at Waldringfield and looked after by sailing friend Jeremy Goddard

1988
Cockleshell's last season on the beautiful River Deben including taking part in Deben Week before being delivered by road transporter to Deacon's Boatyard at Bursledon on the River Hamble and joining the Hamble River Sailing Club yacht class in 1989. Since then she has spent each winter ashore at the Elephant Boatyard.

2011
Cockleshell’s 85th birthday coincides with public holiday for the Royal Wedding on 29th April

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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 competes in the inaugural Hamble Classics Regatta, an event created by Vicki and Jonty and initially hosted by the Royal Southern Yacht Club. Attracting 64 entries in the first year, Cockleshell has taken part in each regatta since.

2017
New laminated oak floor fitted - with 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
Major deck renovation including replacement of mahogany rubbing strakes - with grateful thanks to John Haskins for machining the timber sections
Below - Cockleshell on display at the Solent Platinum Jubilee Celeberations at Cowes on August 6th 2022
Photo by Serena Alexander



2022
The Hamble Classics Regatta, organised in collaboration with Hamble River Sailing Club and the RAFYC, had racing cancelled out 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 central Solent was organised on Saturday and beginning 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!



2025
Cockleshell competes in the 10th Hamble Classics Regatta (hosted by HRSC and RAFYC) - overall 2nd in Regatta Class