Editing Yawl (section)

===Norfolk and Suffolk Beach Yawls===
Beach Yawls could be found along a section of the [[East Anglia]]n coast, mainly from [[Winterton-on-Sea|Winterton]] on the north [[Norfolk]] coast down to [[Aldeburgh]] on the [[Suffolk]] coast. (They were called "yols" by the men who sailed in them.) Each boat was operated by a "company" that shared the profits of operations between their members, subject to strict rules. The members were entitled to serve as crew when the yawl was launched. These companies are known to have existed at the start of the 18th century and yawls operated right through the 19th century, until steam power, efficient tugs and [[Lifeboat (rescue)|lifeboats]] put the last of them out of business by the start of the 20th century.{{sfn|March|2005a|pp=159-175}}{{sfn|Cooper|1927|p=213–218}}{{sfn|White|1950|p=19-20}}

The yawls serviced the ships anchored in [[Yarmouth Roads]], took [[Maritime pilot|pilots]] to and from ships, carried stores and performed [[Marine salvage|salvage]] work. The [[Royal Navy]] often had warships anchored in Yarmouth roads, so providing a lot of work additional to that from the many merchant ships that passed along the East Anglian coast.{{sfn|March|2005a|pp=159-175}}{{sfn|Cooper|1927|p=213–218}}{{sfn|White|1950|p=19-20}}

The Norfolk and Suffolk Beach Yawls were probably the fastest open boats ever built. Fourteen knots could be achieved in the right conditions, and 16 knots has been measured for one of these boats. Clinker-built and double-ended, the hulls were typically {{convert|50|feet|abbr=off}} long with a beam of {{convert|8| to| 10|ft|abbr=on}}. ''Reindeer'', built in 1838 was at the top of the size range, at {{convert|75|ft|abbr=on}} long (with a {{convert|12|ft|abbr=on}} beam). Whilst the earlier boats had three lug-rigged masts, in common with other types of British [[lugger]], from the middle of the 19th century the mainmast was usually dispensed with to give a dipping lug foresail and a standing lug mizzen. The foresail tack fastened to an iron [[Boomkin|bumkin]] protruding from the stemhead. The mizzen sheeted to an outrigger (called an "outligger" by the crews of these boats). The fastest type of Beach Yawl was used for taking pilots and passengers out to ships. The slightly shorter and beamier "bullock boats" carried supplies out to ships moored in the roads and would land catches of [[herring]]s from luggers.{{sfn|March|2005a|pp=159-175}}{{sfn|Cooper|1927|p=213–218}}{{sfn|White|1950|p=19-20}}

Beach Yawls were kept ready for launching at a moment's notice. A lookout tower was manned to spot any ship signalling for a pilot or in distress. There was competition between each company to get any potential work. The boats were run down the shingle beach on greased wooden skids laid at right angles to their route. Men ran alongside to hold the boat upright as it started to move, crew members scrambled aboard and others passed bags of ballast on board. As the boat entered the water she was given a final shove with a spar. Then each boat raced to get the work on offer.{{sfn|March|2005a|pp=159-175}}{{sfn|Cooper|1927|p=213–218}}{{sfn|White|1950|p=19-20}}

Large crews were needed: 25 men would be common. They were fully occupied if going to windward. On tacking, the foresail would be dipped behind the mast to set on the other side, and the [[halyard]] (which was made fast at the [[gunwale]] to help support the mast) and burton (a moveable stay) would be shifted to windward and hauled taught again,  whilst others would be heaving bags of shingle ballast to the new windward side of the bilge. Some would be continuously baling to rid the boat of the spray that came aboard. The most important man aboard tended the foresheet, which was never cleated, but held in hand after taking a couple of turns around the main [[Glossary of nautical terms (M-Z)#sampson post|sampson post]]. If a gust was too strong, the sheet would instantly be eased to prevent a capsize. If worked under oar, a yawl would have ten or more oars a side - though the beach companies usually operated a [[Gig (boat)|gig]] in light weather if delivering or collecting a pilot, as they were faster under oars.{{sfn|March|2005a|pp=159-175}}{{sfn|Cooper|1927|p=213–218}}{{sfn|White|1950|p=19-20}}