Stealaway
'The prototype that needed no alteration'
The first of the fleet, Stealaway, was built for J.S (Ted) Dunham of Helen's Bay, Bangor, in 1947. Originally dark blue or black in colour, Stealaway was built to the cost of £450 with a two cylinder Stuart Turner engine and sails made by Sadler. Early in her life, Stealaway was washed ashore in a storm having suffered hull damage, needing repair works back in the shipyard.
Early Life
Ted Dunham owned Stealaway from 1947 until 1957. The boat was then purchased by Andrew Ripley who owned her for the next four years. Stealaway has been on the East Coast since John Corbett Stark bought her in 1961 from Andrew who had kept her on the Hamble. John kept her at Maylandsea on the Blackwater as did her next owner Terence Bone between 1969 and 1974. Richard Oxley then owned her between 1974 and 1976 and kept her at West Mersea, with maintenance work being carried out by Cardnell's Yard in Lawling Creek. He sold her to Peter and Joy Allen who kept her at Benfleet from 1976 until 1996 during which period they carried out a very thorough refit and upgrade below decks. In 1996 they bought a Victoria and sold Stealaway to Trevor Arnold who subsequently kept her at Waldringfield on the Deben. For an account of a passage aboard Stealaway in the mid-1960s under John Corbett Stark’s ownership, see the following excerpts...
In April 2000 Ann and Martin Pearsons bought Stealaway through Peter Temple Marine Brokers at the Tide Mill in Woodbridge. Martin Pearsons writes ‘In September 2000 we brought her back to West Mersea where we are members of WMYC. ‘We day-sail, we cruise the East Coast, and we compete in the Classic Fleet during Mersea Week each summer. Stealaway is kept on a swinging mooring in Salcott Creek and is hauled out each winter by Peter Clarke's Boatyard who undertake all major shipwright work required.’
Martin & Ann Pearsons at the Ballyholme slipway in 2012
Stealaway interior showing how it's done...
In 2017 Stealaway was bought by Mike & Georgie Butler of Aldeburgh, carrying out an extensive refit in Upson's boatyard and subsequent maintenance. Continuing on the legacy of careful and dedicated ownership, many trips and memories were made during the following eight years.
