Dear Patrons, (Patreon)

This is just a short note to update you with some of the latest goings on, and to thank you for your support.

Firstly, I want to address the issues with the county - in terms of the documentation on YouTube, the whole ordeal seemed to flare up and disappear quite quickly, but in reality it was a long and arduous process. By the time I released the first video about the county issues, I had been feeling increasingly stressed about it for years and felt like I was at breaking point. After the video was released, the public reaction was stronger than I could have imagined, and it was thanks to the support and advice of you guys that I realised two things;

- Moving to Port Townsend could actually be possible, and could even be a great thing for the project. 

- I have enough support to carry some serious weight in negotiations, meaning I could dictate my own terms for moving.

However, the video also bought a little too much attention - the regional newspaper published my address, we had a lot of people turning up at the gate, and amongst all the supportive comments and messages there were also some nasty threats made towards my neighbours and the county. I even received threatening messages towards myself. Of course this affected my landlords too, and I felt the responsible thing to do was to come to the quickest resolution possible and put all this behind us. Of course it was very tempting to fight back harder, and my lawyers felt we had a very good case, but throughout this process I had realised that actually moving the project one step closer to the water really WOULD be the best thing.

So, through a lot of work and negotiating we dictated our terms for moving the project and managed to rush to an agreement just the day before the next video was due! So in that video I was able to calm everyone down, move things forward, and get the focus back onto the boatbuilding. The county then cancelled the hearing, and the new agreement gives me more than enough time and freedom to work on my own terms to move the boat. Again, I’m sure this is thanks to the support shown by this community, and of course the legal help that I was able to get. 

So the current plan is focussed around moving the boat to Port Townsend and setting up a productive workshop there. Before moving the boat, I would like her to be caulked, painted, and have her ballast keel attached. The caulking actually adds so much strength that the deck and bulkheads will be unnecessary for the move (some bracing may be put in place). Painting is essential to prevent excessive shrinkage in the planking. 

I have arranged to rent a really great workshop in the Port of Port Townsend and I am renting a house nearby to live in and host any friends who come to work on the boat with me. Of course being in Port Townsend and setting up a workshop will be a lot more expensive than being in my current location, but the advantages are huge. As we get into fitting-out and on-board systems, being close to marine trades and stores will be invaluable, and we will not be limited in the hours we can work or the amount of people we can have working on the boat. There is a huge pool of useful experience and knowledge in the port, and I will be able to introduce more characters to the videos and also document some of the other exciting projects going on there. We will also be close to the sail-loft where the sails will be built, close to the foundry, and so on. 

For those of you worried about Pancho - I can’t make any promises, but I am hopeful that she will be spending at least some time with us in the new location!

The next few months are going to be challenging but extremely exciting, and I’m feeling more positive and animated about the project than I have for a long time. This location has been  amazing for the project so far, but of course it has it’s disadvantages too, and I’ve been here a while - I think a change will be really healthy and re-energising! Of course moving is a risk - but there is no reward without risk, and moving the project gives me the same fear and excitement which has accompanied all the best decisions of my life. 

Thank you guys SO MUCH for making all of this possible. Having your support has made this decision (and the work behind it) feasible, as well as making this whole project feasible! I feel incredibly lucky to have such an amazing community behind me. THANK YOU.