Leo Sampson and Tally Ho

[robin3boats]

I sense a book coming on

[CharlesL]

I hope that he writes one, but suspect he is very happy with modern media and film...

[Frank]

Charles you lucky man, we have religiously watched every Youtube episode.

[CharlesL]

It was a full house, with standing several rows deep at the back and side...
Perhaps any FOC members who are also RORC members could ask for a re-run, maybe at the Cowes clubhouse?

Charles

[Ben]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">150 pieces of live oak (I'd never heard of live oak) for the futtocks.

I reckon it'll be a days work to remove an old futtock, template, select the wood, cut it out and trim it to shape.

Nigh on 6 months solid work on the framing. Hard work too.

Its going to be tough.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

A year ago I wrote the above, it looked to me like the framing was 6 months solid work. Here we are, a year later, with the framing half done. As Leo says, finishing is 2 years away....

[CharlesL]

Leo was asked if it would not have been easier/ cheaper/ more sensible to have built a replica?
He agreed that it would, but the spirit of the original would not be carried on in the same way.

I can understand that a much restored boat has more going for it - 'this boat won the Fastnet in 1927' rather than 'this is a replica of the boat that won the 1927 Fastnet'

If you do get to meet him his enthusiasm is infectious. You want him to do it, and come away pretty sure that he will...

Charles

[Ben]

Hi all!

Time for a quick update -

I left the US nearly a few weeks ago now, and have spent a lot of that time in the UK, where I have been spending quality time with Francesca and family and friends. As well as a big family gathering over Easter, we spent some time visiting some old friends who live on the banks of the Rio Guadiana (which runs up the southern part of the Portuguese-Spanish border). This was one of the first places I ever visited on a boat, when I was just learning to sail, and is a very special place for me. I sailed my Folkboat there a few years ago, and I can’t wait for the time when I can sail Tally Ho up the same river!

We have also been sailing in Turkey, on a very beautiful modern Aluminium Cutter called Nerida. Cecca and I went with my parents and a couple of our friends, and it was really great to get on the water again and remember what it’s all about! In fact, this was Cecca’s first time sailing, and I’m extremely glad to report that not only did she really enjoy it, but she also defied her own expectations by not getting sea-sick! The boat was technically chartered, but in reality we were given such a generous price that it was basically a loan - thank you, Michel! I’ll hopefully be uploading a video with some sailing footage in a couple of weeks.

Although it’s been great to have a holiday, I’d found I’ve had very little free time at all! - hence, no videos yet, despite my best efforts. But tomorrow I’m going to release a video of the first part of the presentation I gave at the RORC in London, for those of you that couldn’t make it. The first part talks mainly about the history of Tally Ho, which some of you may know fairly well, but in the next part (next week), I will be talking more about my own background, which may contain some more surprises!

I’d like to apologise to anyone who has tried to get in touch with me and hasn’t yet received an answer. My inbox has been overflowing and I haven’t had time to stem the tide. I’m working hard to try and find a solution that will allow me to correspond more efficiently, but I’m not there yet!

Meanwhile, I have ordered and paid the deposit on the planking timber. It’s a bit late really - I should have had it some time ago, but it is a big expense and with a few tempting but impractical leads, it’s taken me quite a while to settle on a supplier and a timber. For most of the planking I will be using Wana, a lightweight south-american hardwood that grows in abundance in Suriname, and can be obtained in long clear lengths. I will also be getting a decent quantity of Angelique (a much heavier, stronger hardwood) for the sheer-strake (the top plank of the hull), the beamshelves and stringers, and so on.

Hopefully this order will arrive in time for the end of the next Frame-raising party.

That’s it for now - I have a few days set aside for just trying to catch up on paperwork and emails (who would have thought building a boat would require so much time on a computer?!) and then Cecca and I are heading back to the good ole’ U S of A. We have some more volunteers lined up already, and very soon I have to arrange the next and final Frame-raising party! Needless to say, I'm really looking forward to getting back to work on Tally Ho and after this break I think I will be facing the project with renewed vigour!

Massive thanks again to all of you for making this whole project practically possible. I really don’t know where I’d be without you!

Kind regards,

Leo

[Ben]

Saturday evening say episode 52 posted, the centreline is now complete.

I was interested to notice that the graving piece fitted in one part of the stem assembly was glued into place, I think that is the first glue used, an interesting contrast to our Fairey boats that a glue all over.

[Ben]

I have just watched Episode 57.

Fascinating to see all the processes for building a traditionally constructed wooden ship.

Anyone else still following?

[Paul Fl]

Oh yes Ben, an amazing project from young Leo, it should be compulsory for anybody intending to perform wooden boat restoration, if only to instill the 'never give up' attitude.

[EWV]

Yes, still watching every episode. I have seen them all and I watch the new episodes as soon as they are posted. Leo's skill and dedication is remarkable. His methodical approach and ability to not get overwhelmed is also reassuring!

[Ben]

Who is still watching?

Episode 73 - the deck is on and you get to see inside the boat.

[Folly Reach]

I had dipped out for some time but watched the latest one this morning. Very impressed that it is making some serious progress.

[EWV]

I am subscribed to his channel so I get an alert every time he updates a new video (every fortnight). Such an interesting project, the workmanship is incredible. Glad to see he is making such good progress, it has certainly stepped up a notch recently!

[chris]

I'm still glued to this Ben, I'm also a Pateron.