Nestled inside Cresset’s newly refurbished interior, 22-year-old Trevor Webster celebrates a year since his restored vessel was launched. Since then, the 40-foot sailboat has been on a journey beyond that of the open water.
On June 23 of last year, Webster launched the 82-year-old boat after a year of restoration. Webster’s dream of fully restoring the ancient boat’s beauty and sailing the world was beginning to become a reality.
Following her launch in Lund, Cresset was given some new rigging. The mast was built from a western red cedar pole with equipment from Mink Island in Desolation Sound. After the new rig, the boom and gaff of the vessel began to take shape.
Cresset’s restoration has really been a team effort. “The boom was from Carlotta, Stephen [Mohan]’s boat, and the mast came out of Galley Bay on a guy’s beach there,” said Webster. “The caretakers of Mink Island gave me a place to build it and helped me build it. A few different people have helped rebuild the hull.”
After the installation of the new boom and gaff, Cresset and Webster left Desolation Sound and sailed to Victoria in what truly was smooth sailing. The early winter was spent sailing around the Lower Gulf Islands and Vancouver area.
Webster was then invited to work as a crewman to deliver a ship from the Azores to the Caribbean. The voyage was Webster’s first offshore expedition and an opportunity to make some money to finance his work on Cresset. “There was one big wave that took out a window,” Webster recounted. “That was pretty exciting. But after that, it was totally calm.”
In addition to the delivery job, Webster works for a number of fellow boat-lovers helping them with their own restorations. “This summer, I’ve got to go and build a mast for a guy,” said Webster, “and then just sailing between here and Victoria.”
This spring, Webster replaced the random, multi-coloured rigging with half-inch Samson XLS’s for halyards and a six-millimetre Marlow for lazy jacks and lacings. The boat is waiting on a new gaff saddle, parrel beads and other bronze pieces.
Webster’s work on Cresset has gone a long way. “I’ve been repainting the side of the boat and put a prop shaft in,” said Webster. Along with the new rigging, the boat is almost unrecognizable from its launch last summer.
Her exterior is not the only part of Cresset being restored. The cabin has seen some new electrical work and a new stove. A new two-range propane stove was installed in the boat surrounded by a new red cedar counter. For Webster, this was probably the biggest accomplishment of the past year. He has made the sailboat home by adding pictures and plants.
“It’s a beautiful boat,” Webster said. “It’s just nice to have a nice boat and go sailing, and eventually do offshore with it.” Webster hopes for a trip to Alaska next summer.
Interested readers can learn more about Webster and Cresset on their website, http://cresset.ca.
