The author David Patient has been a shipwright for 42 years and ran his own barge-yard in Maldon. His extensive knowledge of shipbuilding significantly enriches this documentation of the town’s maritime history leading up to John Howard’s fascinating story. The book’s title quotes Essex bargemen who could not resist enlightening others that John Howard built the most elegant sailing barges. He also designed and built many successful racing yachts and other craft. Howard, a most respected Maldonian, became a member of the Institution of Naval Architects, a rare achievement among shipwrights.
Published by Jardine Press, well known for their high design and graphical standards, this long anticipated heavyweight sets a new standard of excellence for a work of this nature. A must for those with an interest in this ancient maritime locality and with the innovative output of sailing barges, smacks and other workboats and beautiful yachts, many of which etched their names onto the silverware of Thames Estuary yacht clubs.
