LAUNCHING TALLY HO!
Seven ago, a very attractive young Brit, Leo, purchased a famous sailing yacht with plans to restore her.
Her every inch proved rotted.
The attractive Brit did something which proved wise. He began vlogging on YouTube. Which now has almost 500K subscribers.
Today, he dropped a video about the yacht touching water again for the first time in decades. It’s incredibly moving. That he took such a project on was pretty impressive, yes. But that he finished the project seems a miracle. Along the way we’ve met an incredible group of people, most young, some old. And a fabulous parrot, Poncho, who was there for the launch, of course.
There have been many poignant episodes, some infuriating (a nasty neighbor), and work of a quality I didn’t think possible. The finished yacht has to be THE best-built yacht on Earth, and all from not rich but dedicated people. Every episode has been an inspiration.
Typical comment: “Leo…my husband is a 55 year old carpenter in England who has been reduced to a blubbering wreck of a man after watching this video.”
You will be moved by the launch even if you do not know single thing about all this.
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What an incredible amount of work, a true labor of love. Tally Ho is beautiful, exciting to see her launched.
My husband and I have watched Tally Ho go from poor quality firewood, to something extraordinary. Leo has done more than just build a boat, he has given people the opportunity to see what true craftsmanship and community is.
I’ve been watching Leo since the beginning, was inspired by his monumental task and dedication, and gladly sent him a donation to further the cause. I am also amazed by the quality of the craftsmanship, the intricate planning, and the dogged perseverance he and his crew exhibit. Not at all sure I would have taken on something like he has when I was younger, let alone now at my less tender age. It will indeed be one of the best restored wooden boats extant, done by committed shipwrights who have more spirit than money, which is I think the best currency in circulation. He’s nearby, in Port Townsend, the wooden boat capitol of the country!
Wow. I’ll bet those that have followed this project all these years are both ecstatic it is complete and also saddened it is over. It is quite beautiful. All of the wood is so beautifully finished. I am curious to see what the below deck living quarters look like.
It was interesting to see how they got the boat from it’s dry dock into the water.
What is so important about this boat? Does it have a special history?
It’s not over, Mary, Far from it.
They have loads more to complete.
And then…they have got a lot of sailing to do…which will be epic.
Hi Ross! I have been following your blog for years (pre-pandemic, while recovering from the flu) and I check it almost daily. In fact, I just re-read the entire house blog for the third time! I discovered Tally Ho & Leo Sampson through a comment in here and have been avidly following his youtube vlog ever since as well. I hadn’t read the “other cool things” section in ages and missed this post. JBut just yesterday they released the video of Tally Ho’s maiden voyage (to the San Juan Islands and Beyond!) and this blog entry popped up on my home page.
In any case, I have never commented before, but this inspired me to finally do so. I would like to thank you for the hours of enjoyment. I think you and Leo share a love of craftsmanship and doing things to the highest standards that is increasingly rare in these days of fast everything (fashion, decor, renovations, etc.). So I share your excitement about Tally Ho.
If I were healthier I would have long ago travelled to Emporia to help with your renovation. Alas, it is not likely to hapoen. But regardless, I want to express my profound thanks for sharing your journey.
Cynthia
Well, nice to met you, Cynthia! And thank you for the kind words!
Yes, I love Leo. What most amazes, and impresses me, about his whole project is that he never gave up, and finished Tally Ho! This is not common with the restoration of vessels. As a kid, I used to travel on one of the famous Boblo Boats, the SS Columbia, but she was retired decades ago and languished. Then, a number of years ago, a non-profit was created to restore her, and bring her from Detroit to NYC. They did a lot of work on the hull, and she did, indeed, leave Detroit. But when she got to Buffalo, it seems the money ran out and she’s been there ever since. Their Facebook page has no update since 2022. And nothing really big for years before. Sigh.