I may be optimistic in thinking that the decision makers responsible for the Ruskin Museum could decide that it would be 'correct' to have direct contact in early January 2021 with the BBP. This would allow time for the craft to be on water later in the forthcoming year. There would be sufficient time for the whole village to complete planning (in parallel) for a Coniston Festival with K7, which would take place a year and a half later.
Even with much optimism I doubt very much we could put together a crew training for next year - there just isn't time now. It's not so much the engineering side as having the right people available at the right time. We did pitch the idea way back when but to no avail.
And, don't forget, this is all subject to the decision makers getting around the table to agree terms for future running, maintenance, etc. They're going the long way around at the moment and without an assured outcome it wouldn't be fair to go to sponsors, etc.
Still, you never know, the phone could ring this afternoon...
I'm only a plumber from Cannock...
"As to reward, my profession is its own reward;" Sherlock Holmes.
'It ain't what they call you, it's what you answer to.' W.C. Fields.
