Tally grow!

Growth is the word of the moment for Sampson Boat Co’s Leo Sampson Goolden with his subscriber count having surpassed 100,000. Following a short break to secure a visa which will permit him to remain in the USA for the rest of the Tally Ho rebuild project, he’s thrown himself back into it, with a growing team of volunteers. His severed fingertip is also growing back, although he remains tight lipped about how it happened. Speculation abounds on Facebook, but prime suspect Poncho parrot is not talking either.

Leo will be talking about the Tally Ho rebuild project at the Royal Ocean Racing Club in London on 23 April. eventbrite.co.uk/e/restoringtally-ho-tickets-57722741273 The number of channels inspired by Leo is also growing. There’s a buzz about 17-year-old Ashmole Faire-Ring’s channel Sailing Barge Growler, documenting his ambitious rebuild of a wooden sailing barge. More to my taste is the channel Sailing Yacht Zora. Kinsale-based Rhys Walters is rebuilding a Koopmans (senior) designed steel blue water cruiser. The aim is to sail her to the Canaries, the Caribbean and beyond. She’s already sailing again and the focus is now on the interior fit out. With over 10,000 subscribers, I reckon this channel is going places.

Another Leo-inspired series that’s charmed me is Pauly Back Down on the Boat. Durham-based baker Paul Spooner is renovating Gesida, his ex-Admiralty wooden motor launch. We see him single-handedly reinstalling the reconditioned 750lb engine, a challenge for anyone, but even more impressive considering that Paul has ME and needs a wheelchair half the time. In addition, he muses on the benefits of boat work on his mental health. I’m sure many can relate when he says that it’s more than a hobby, it provides an escape from the trials of life and motivation to persevere when things get hard.