The appeal was answered. In November 2025, Hans Hansen — a San Francisco Bay sailor and member of the Master Mariners Benevolent Association — was introduced to the project through his connection Bill Hansen, who had sailed on Yankee and knew John McNeill personally. Hansen took the lead in assembling an advisory circle and developing a phased restoration plan. (Cross-ref to main site — Restoration section, and Support page.)

The proposal envisions consolidating Yankee’s hull, spars, sails, rigging, and stored materials at Richardson Bay Boatworks in Sausalito under yard lead Andy Sommers, and completing the refit in phases totaling $200,000–$300,000. A new organizational identity — the Golden Gate Wooden Boat Trust — would operate as a program of the West Coast Seafaring Society during the transition, preserving the legal entity and its 501(c)(3) status while bringing fresh energy, branding, and fundraising capacity.

The advisory circle includes Hans Hansen (Project Lead), Hans List (Senior Maritime Advisor and Staff Commodore of the MMBA), Jason Chan (Finance), Graham Wheelock (Boatwright), Tom List (Engineering), KC Crowell (Governance), Andy Sommers (Yard Lead), and others — with John McNeill serving in an Emeritus role and Jon Price providing WCSS continuity.

As of March 2026, the GGWBT brand identity is well underway with a complete brand kit and a functional website. The February 25, 2026 Annual General Meeting of the WCSS appears to have been a key milestone in the transition. The course forward has been set.