Twelve months have now passed since we started this wacky adventure and there remains an increasingly small amount of time to complete the work to be on schedule. However, we have entered the interesting stage of the restoration, for both you and I, and that is not to say that we have been bored up until now, but the next few months will really show the rebirth of Chinook as she nears completion and the starting line beckons.
As you can see from the photos, the interior is progressing well, the chainplates are fitted, the ply sub deck is ready to be glued, the keel and deadwood are moving along nicely and the new keel bolts are ready to pick up. The new rudder is being built, the mast is on the way, and we are starting to throw paint around the place. The interior design progresses apace and weird and wonderful ideas are thrown about with the odd one being adopted and converted into reality only to add to an atmosphere already thick with sawdust.
Many problems remain to be solved but nothing so difficult as to create despair within the ranks of this finely tuned team. One such problem, earlier on in the year, raised its head. How do you fit an owner 6ft 5 (1m95) tall into a boat with 6ft (1m80) headroom? Much soul searching went on, heads were scratched, yet again, and ideas were thrown out on the table, like should we lower the cabin sole, or raise the deck maybe or even make head shaped cut-outs in the deck beams? The solution turned out to be incredibly simple. We are buying him a helmet and the real beauty of the solution is that all the "Rock stars" in the America's Cup wear them now so it won't even look out of place!
Problem solved and enough tongue in cheek for now. All that remains for me is to wish you all a very Happy New Year from all of us here at the Chinook restoration.

Jono.