Life's a Gamble, so lets take a Chance Restoration Project

Fishing boat waiting to go to sea when it is their time to go lining and potting  Yorkshire cobles of different designs designed for this coast in mnd. All boats around the coast are designed for the area which they are used. The coast is a very changeable from day to day and always full of surprises  The other day we were here the the tide and it was very different  Fishing boats waiting for the tide before going out fishing for crabs and lobsters  Rocks showing off the fossils of the past Fossilised  shells  THe Restoration team beach combing for fossils and ote items A beautiful fossilised shell   

The framework is one of the most detailed and difficult parts to rebuild and is going to be one of the longest tasks to do. The cockpit companionway hatch lids, a simple job, however, it is necessary to do to get out of the way The aft deck on Chance which will be needed to be removed and relaided after the deck beams and cabin sides are renewed  The galley front which as been rebuild and the doors have been refitted with new brass hinges, this galley front will need to be varnish to match the doorways The work on the interior is an on going project all of its own  

Whitby inner harbour with a number of Sea angling boats waiting for people to take them out of fishing trips. A few of the commercial fishing boats have a day off before going fishing next week.  .The Whitby swing bridge which for once was open and working.  The round the bay pleasure boats waiting for the next group of people to take a short sea trip around the bay. Low water in the harbour, most of the times we visit Whitby the tide is in and we for once the tide was out to expose the sandbanks in the harbour  A dive boat just returning from a dive in the bay looking at wrecks.  The smaller round the bay pleasure boat manoeuvring out of the way of the larger pleasure boat going out to sea.   More trip boats out in the bay enjoy the Autumn sun.  

                 We found April Star in a yacht club in Essex and spent a number of days over the course of a few weeks to get her ready to sail from the river Blackwater to Walton on the Naze via Brightlingsea.                                          April Star just before her re-launching on the River Blackwater after she had been antifouling and the rig and sails were checked. Taking April Star for a trial sail before setting sail for Walton on the Naze April Star now on her mooring at the Walton Backwater, now she is ready for day sails and general maintenance over the autumn and winter   

Back in May this year we got ourselves a small sailing yacht in which to go on adventures around the local creeks and backwaters and along the coast when it is possible to get away from work.  I have now got the time and space to sort out the yacht and be able to use her for day sailing around the local area and have some peace from the rest of the world and clear my mind of the dark feelings I am having at the moment.   

These updates are of the restoration of Chance, Simon's mental health crisis and rebuilding his life around the restoration of Chance. Restoring his own mental health and bring Chance back from the brink. Simon as been working as a boat builder all his working life apart from a enforced break due to an industrial injury which put him out of boat building for about 5 years 25 years ago, between him starting in 1977 to date he as always been boating in some way. However, the last few months he as had a severe mental breakdown which put him out of commission and made him question whether to continue working or not or even continuing restoration Chance. However, Simon is now getting counselling to help him get through this difficult time and hopes to put this all behind him and move on with his life and also restoring Chance at the same time. Much of today's video is about getting the seacocks out of the hull and also removing the old gear shift gears which will not be needed w...

I have made available all 496 videos of Chance's restoration available to anyone who wishes to see how far we have come with her restoration over the3 past 5 years just follow this link to go to my pateron page https://www.patreon.com/cw/Chance_1948 Where you can all see the work we have put into her over the years and how far we have to go to get her back on the water

Since this photo was taken the yacht is now afloat and being used as a place of stress relief and a way of getting my hand back into sailing again. This is the yacht on its launch day and on to its temporary mooring while we get the yacht ready to sail up the coast to her new mooring in Walton on the Naze  This is her afloat for the first time in five years after the last owner passed away and his children wish the yacht to go to a new home and be enjoyed again by someone who would look after her once more.

Getting April Star off her mooring at Steeple and coming into pick up the rest of the crew for the short trip to Brightlingsea. Almost along side the jetty to get the crew then get underway downstream and the adventures ahead and siling in company with Thames barges.