Peter Nicholson was building stock boats to my designs between 30 and 36 feet LOA. Now under the leadership of Nick Maris they are aggressively keeping the yard up to date with the latest technology, and their tradition of excellence in yacht building looks set to continue for a generation or two to come.

The Chiltons were impressed by Whirlwind XII's aluminium hull, so readily agreed with Camper & Nicholsons to use the Dutch builder Kees Cornelissen to supply the aluminium hull and deck. While the hull was being built at Kees Cornelissen's yard, Camper & Nicholsons were finalising the detailed specification for all the equipment and getting it to Gosport, while their joiners prefabricated the interior. To control the process we established a working group that consisted of my project manager, Pat Lynch, with Kees Cornelissen, the hull builder, Andrew Winch to oversee the interior finishing and Maarten Boutkan who would coordinate the construction programme and equipment suppliers for Camper & Nicholsons.

Bob and Linda Chilton kept an eye on decisions affecting their original requirements for the yacht so that there were no delays in Camper & Nicholsons completing much of the interior by the time the hull was delivered from Holland. This team-work delivered to an American owner a hull designed in Ireland, built in Holland, styled in London and finished in Gosport within sight of Nelson's flagship at Trafalgar.