Yacht "Albion"

A Memory of Maylandsea.

This boat was called Albion, I remember her well as I spent my childhood in Cardnell's yard either sailing the family boat or fitting it out -(some of the happiest days of my life) - she was pale green, an unusual colour for a boat as many consider green unlucky. Moored next to her in a similar mud berth was a clinker built converted ships lifeboat called Kim. I remember this from age 10! (1966). As a family we continued to sail from there and I went on to rebuild a little 2 1/2 ton Blackwater sloop (aged 19) that I bought in Burnham on Crouch. She was sound but tired and I sailed her round to Cardnell's yard to re-fit her. Tom Cardnell could not believe it as (little known to me) 'Escape' as she was called was the first boat he built after being apprenticed to his father in 1928. She at one time been sunk and left on the bottom after being run down by a barge. Tom thought she was lost. Not so, she was raised and had little damage only having been pulled under. He even showed me a little graving piece in the deckhead where he had made an error during the build thinking was to be gaff rigged and not the new fangled "Bermudan' rig. She was first owned by Sam Poulton a well known Maldon Barge skipper and had won a huge number of cups which I did see after that in the Maldon Little Ship clubhouse. I met Sam too who gave me a lovely old photo of her which I still have. I am still sailing and live nr Chichester with a 24ft Essex Smack copy (in true style with no headroom!). They were formative days that made their indelible mark. I went back there this year.. hmm.