Jonathan Minns has dedicated his life to restoring various historical artefacts, including water mills and beam engines, often without the opportunity to meet their original designers. However, the restoration of Providence was a unique experience. Upon sailing her to Cornwall, Minns learned that the vessel's designer, the late Nigel Warington-Smyth OBE, was still alive and residing in a cottage at the mouth of Frenchman's Creek. They sailed there and arrived on the designer's 75th birthday, which coincided with the 50th anniversary of Providence's launch.

During an extensive discussion lasting approximately five hours, Minns inquired about a bell he had discovered hidden within the vessel's internal ballast near the dead-wood aft. The bell, made of bronze with a high silver content, was identified as a late 18th or early 19th century Persian artifact, possibly brought back by a trading skipper as a souvenir. Warington-Smyth was moved to tears upon hearing this, explaining that Providence was built by Gilbert & Pascoe using their family's oak trees from the Helford River. The builders were known for hiding items in boats they particularly enjoyed constructing, but none had ever been found in Providence until this discovery.

Providence is widely admired and was recently voted one of the World's Top One Hundred Classic Yachts as a tribute to Nigel Warington-Smyth. Lovingly restored by Jonathan Minns, the vessel rivals modern luxury yachts in elegance. Few gaff-rigged vessels have survived so close to their original form for over fifty years. Notable features include a polished brass compass binnacle, shining varnished wooden blocks, and spars, deck, and hull painted rather than varnished to reduce costs. The interior is surprisingly spacious for four persons cruising, and the grown oak frames are expected to last another century.

Since 1969, Providence has been powered by a 42hp Perkins diesel engine, which was replaced in 1996 by a Lister-Petter Alpha. However, during the Dunkirk evacuation, she had no engine and was towed across the Channel. The vessel's long 3½-ton iron keel, substantial ballast, and ample beam provide excellent stability. The Appledore reefing gear on the main sail allows the crew to reduce sail area quickly. A pre-war owner recounted racing Providence from Concarneau to Benodet, noting, "We were home and stowed before the Bermuda rigs came in."

Following Dunkirk, Providence served on the East Coast for barrage-balloon duty, moored in the River Crouch. When Nigel Warington-Smyth regained possession, the vessel was in poor condition and beyond his financial means to restore. Subsequently, Providence found enthusiasts who recognized her qualities. Under Jonathan Minns's care, she is maintained on the Beaulieu River in Hampshire and frequently sails to Falmouth in Cornwall. Providence continues to grace rallies of the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships, where she is a distinguished participant.