Albatros Update Jan ‘22
Back in February 2020, a sign appeared on the quay advertising that the Albatros was up for sale! At first it seemed rather mad to contemplate taking on such a task, but after several viewings and advice from several helpful contacts, and discussions with Robert Smith MBE we purchased the Albatros in May 2020 ‘sold as seen’. After a few weeks and now well into the first Covid-19 lockdown the enormity of what we had committed to as a family started to sink in, we had bought a ship, not just any ship, a 120 year old ship, a ship with a long history and a ship that was in need of some significant TLC.
After several weeks of spending weekends removing stock, furniture, fittings, fridges and freezers and anything not bolted down we engaged with Jim Dines of Heritage Marine in Maldon, a specialist shipyard dedicated to supporting Traditional Build, Heritage ships and Thames Barges and other projects such as maintaining the rigging on the Cutty Sark in London, and nautical film set special effects on locations such at Malta and Hungary.
On the18th August 2020, half past six in the morning, the old girl leaves Wells with guidance through the channel provided by the Harbour team and the Frank-T en route to Maldon with Ton Brouwer previous owner and master of the Albatros. We arrived one day later at Heritage Marine Jim’s & renovation team on the River Blackwater estuary.
Stage one was to get her into the floating dry dock and then the removal of all of the internal fixtures and fittings (except Captains and First Mate) cabins, partitions, floors, ceilings and services and the dropping of the two masts and all primary and secondary rigging as the steel and hemp rigging needed to be replaced.
Whilst in dry dock with more that 25 sq meters of hull steelwork replaced, new anchor chain lockers, new skylights cut, high pressure water and shot blasting of all internal steelwork finished back to bare metal before 6 layers of paint and antifoul, new sacrificial anodes, spot welding repairs, works to the propeller and rudder etc completed.
Internal works saw the removal and replacement of 30 tons of ballast, the start of installing new electrical and mechanical systems, fire alarm system, fresh and black water tanks, heating, ventilation, new cabins, kitchen, toilets, flooring, ceilings, lighting etc started.
Early April 2021 had her moved out of the dry dock and on to the main works floating pontoon and the refurbished masts and rigging re-fitted – all timber-work hand scraped, repaired, oiled, varnished, all metalwork galvanised, new barrel jacks, rigging lines, top masts, spreaders, a fabulous new bow spit etc with internal and external works continuing.
After what will be nearly 18 months and seeing her stripped bare and refurbished from the hull below the waterline upwards, we are now close to retuning to Wells, targeting Easter subject to weather, tides and of course Covid-19 that continues to impact on our lives.
Latest Update – December ‘21
Following one of our recent visits to Maldon to review the works that have been so far completed, we have concluded that while it would be amazing to have her back in Wells for the new year, it would make more sense to have everything finished whilst in the shipyard.
Works we need to complete include:
Painting of internal exposed steelwork – red oxide anti-corrosion finish applied to date.
Test and commission all plumbing and heating services to test for leaks, noise, operation etc
Varnish all the hardwood trimming to all the cabins, main hold as the photos below as we need at least two coats of pre coat and two coats of topcoat to all wood finishes.
Fitting of brass work and fittings to the cabin / head (bathroom) doors and trimming
Complete the fit-out of the kitchen and coordinate same with North Norfolk County Council Food Safety department
Have all the certification completed and available for the Harbour Commissioners to review prior to return and if required a final pre passage inspection visit.
Refurbish the deck saloon as a focal point (the old kitchen) and bring it back to past glory.
Lay hardwood flooring in some areas
Re-finish and oil the deck timers.
Polish all the brass fittings in the Wheelhouse
Strip and re-varnish the external and internal woodwork to the wheelhouse
Fit a new 12ft tender to the stern davits.
Add the last 2% that will make her as ‘special’ as she deserves – new / old ships clocks and soft furnishings to all areas.
As a family we will be working on most of the above as we have spent more than budgeted on the structural works because once we removed everything, we realised that this refurbishment is a one in 50 years project and it needed to be done properly with the right skills.
As such our revised plan is now to bring her back complete and finished (and subject to tides and weather) in mid to late March for Easter and her first summer fully refurbished.
Interior Updates December ‘21 - Sneak Peek
Main Hold showing exposed metal work to original hold deck upstands (we wanted to retain these and not cover up her heritage)
New lighting (LED) dimmable and hardwood trimming to all panels, new flooring panels, heating systems etc.
As you may notice, there is a new corridor behind the stairs that now leads to the original Captains and First Mates cabins, as well as the deck saloon and wheelhouse.
New access and fire escape corridor from the main hold area to the below deck kitchen, public WC’s, crew bunk, and two forward cabins.
There have been new roof hatches installed to the first mate and captains cabin, kitchen and the corridor area to flood the below deck areas with sunlight and to provide additional ventilation
Kitchen; with new range cooker, freezer, refrigerator, fire, smoke alarm system etc etc
One of two forward double bunks - both with their own ensuite
Deck Saloon
All old kitchen fixtures have been removed from the saloon which is to be our day/breakfast room. It’s going to be a lovely place to chill and watch the tide roll in and out.
Costs: Refurbishment costs as with any major renovation or improvement have escalated and we have continued to focus on the important and structural aspects of the works as we have always considered this to be a one in 50-year refurbishment and consequently we will need to complete some of the internal decoration works ourselves before and following her return to Wells, but have a target of late March for Easter 2022 to have all works completed including much improved access from the quayside.
As a family we have always loved Wells and the surrounding area, William is working to make his coffee shop a success (heavily impacted by Covid) and we want to continue to enjoy North Norfolk and of course the Albatros for many years to come.
We are considering all options for the future of the Albatros and want to support her history and will look to provide a Bed & Breakfast offer in the new / refurbished cabins, each with shower / WC ensuite, restore the deck saloon / day room to its former glory (used as a kitchen in recent history) and support local suppliers by means of a food offer.
We have maintained the premises alcohol licence but won’t be opening her as a drink’s only bar as we are in discussions with the Harbour office and Commissioners on usage. We have also undertaken a number of environmental enhancements as part of the renovation works and want to be ‘low impact’ with respect to pollution, noise etc.
Due to her size, age and specification we are unable to have her ‘coded’ for commercial use ie charters etc so movements in to and out of Wells will be limited to private usage only – maintenance, surveys and possibly Sail Amsterdam 2025, an international Historic Ship festival.
I, we can be contacted on the email below and once she is back on the quayside, we will be spending more time in Well’s and will be happy to discuss works to date, planned up to Easter this year and beyond as with any historic renovation project these must be planned and supported for her return to Wells Next the Sea and her future.
Rob/Bob Richardson and family
Email - robert.richadson1@icloud.com
New Albatros website to be launched early 2022
