Sea conditions at the entrance to the Bristol Channel are one of the most dangerous in the British Isles, particularly in bad weather. During the ninteenth century, it was the local pilot with his pilot cutter and intimate knowledge of the rocks, reefs and tides who turned this treacherous place into a safe haven for the ships that came in from the Atlantic Ocean from long voyages. In these demanding conditions the pilot cutters evolved into fast, strong and seaworthy crafts that sailed the open seas all year round, going far out into the Atlantic in search of ships.