Storm Eunice takes ‘Fresh From The Boat’ Boat

Many of you know Chantelle & Peter Williams from their fishing business in Emsworth and Peter been one of the last full time fishermen now operating from Emsworth Harbour.

Chantelle & Peter created Fresh From The Boat around 15 years ago, supplying fish from their boat at the Quay, Community Centre, local businesses then onto mobile stalls and safely secured new premises for Chantelle to work following her Brain surgery in 2019 in the heart of Emsworth where 100s of members of our community have visited.

They are passionate about what they do and have always opened up their hearts & story showing people what they do and how much it means to them.

Sadly the day storm Eunice hit they knew they were in for a Rocky ride but as Emsworth has no facilities for ‘Commercial’ fishing boats their boat ‘Tia Maria’ remained on her mooring within the safe Harbour.

Chantelle and Peter was on site watching from ashore Tia & other vessels taking the biggest bashing that they have seen within the harbour, while back at the shop serving a customer, they were notified a fishing vessel had washed aground taking a smashing to the sea wall and rocks, it was true!

The wind hit Force 11/12 Storm Eunice had descended and torn their lives apart, the vessel that makes them their living had gone. Tia is excessively damaged and they are awaiting a surveyor and quotes of repair, however by the looks of things at the moment she is beyond repair and it could run into the tens of thousands, the boat has gone underneath the keel has ripped through and off, the boats engine and electrics have been underwater and the prop and rudder are damaged beyond repair, the front end of the boat has gone too. To get her back to Commercial level seems unlikely, but we await the experts.

They are going to see if Tia can be craned off and if not she will need to remain where she is till the tide builds so they can get her off.

For Peter this is sheer devastation he has lost his ability to work and this could take months before it’s sorted to any level, he has no way of paying his home bills or been able to do the thing he is most passionate about but also keep him afloat!

Its too early to see the long term plan Chantelle & Peter are seriously broken, they have had many big battles this last 2 years and this one has broken them.

The admin work to all this starts monday with large amounts of paperwork for insurance purposes, although has many commercial fishermen know this is not going to be a easy claim, it takes along time and they will be lucky to see 50% of costs covered and certainly won’t be seeing any loss of earnings.

The recovery of her alone is not going to be cheap or easy. They have also said they are going to sell as much stuff they own as possible from fishing gear, vans etc to try and stay afloat with daily living costs and then focus on Tia or trying to organise another boat or make their plan, for now it is very raw with no structure but both feeling defeated.

Chantelle will try and open the shop with other fishermens catch.

Its very early days but the plans will come together and we know the community are behind them.

Any donation will be gifted directly to Peter Williams & will help with his daily living costs (while he cannot earn), costs of removing vessel from wall (hopefully he can claim at some point back from insurance), paying some of the items that are on loan such as £1500 liferaft and help towards loss of Tia and to get him back on his feet.

I would like to stress that Peter & Chantelle has not asked for this crowdfunding but due to many people in the community wanting to help and support this page was set up. Hopefully in the long run the insurance will cover most costs, whatever the outcome..but will not cover immediate loss or loss of earnings.

Thank you