It’s almost a symbolic moment. On Instagram, the crew announced: “We’ve done it! The ‘Tally Ho’ sailed past Fastnet Rock yesterday evening – for the first time since 1927, after more than 4,000 nautical miles and 26 days at sea.” Shortly afterwards, on Friday 31 July, the yacht reached Baltimore in the south-west of Ireland, the first European port of call on the voyage.
Originally, the route was intended to lead directly to Falmouth in the south-west of Great Britain, ssays Goolden in a YouTube video. However, the crew then decided to head for Fastnet Rock first. For this boat, this was not merely a change of course, but a return journey with historical significance.
A special stop at Fastnet Rock
After all, the ‘Tally Ho’ is not just any restored classic yacht. In 1927, the yacht won the Fastnet Race on a time-on-course basis. Back then, in heavy weather, only two yachts completed the race: the Alden schooner ‘La Goleta’ and the ‘Tally Ho’.
The fact that the ship is now sailing past Fastnet Rock again, almost 100 years later, makes this current voyage far more than just a trip across the Atlantic. And it is certainly not set to be the last time any time soon. The long-term goal remains: In 2027, the ‘Tally Ho’ is set to compete in the Fastnet Race once again to mark its anniversary.
A large number of fans turn out to welcome him
And even the final few miles to Baltimore turned out to be an event in their own right. According to Irish media reports, more than 30 boats accompanied the “Tally Ho” into the harbour. Around 100 people were waiting at the pier for the four-person crew.
On Instagram, she wrote after arriving: “That was a truly wonderful crossing – we were lucky with the weather and made good progress. There were plenty of highlights and new experiences, but for now we’re just enjoying a few pints of Irish hospitality!” In the YouTube video, too, Goolden spoke of mostly good weeks at sea and only minor technical challenges.
At this point, you will find external content that complements the article. You can display and hide it with a click.
Baltimore was the obvious choice for the first stop, as the harbour is not far from Fastnet Rock. From there, the journey is set to continue to Falmouth at the start of the week.
From a wreck to a multi-million project
The fact that so many people have been following the ship’s arrival in Ireland also has to do with the story behind it. Goolden bought the ‘Tally Ho’ in 2017 for a symbolic price and turned what was a badly dilapidated hull into one of the best-known restoration projects on the scene.
The yacht was built in 1910 by Stow & Son in Shoreham-by-Sea, in the south of England, originally under the name ‘Betty’. It was designed by Albert Strange. After years as a pleasure and working boat, an accident in the South Pacific and subsequent disrepair, the ship’s fate seemed to have been sealed long ago. That is precisely why its return to Europe is all the more significant.
Added to this is the enormous reach on social media. Hundreds of thousands have been following for years, how the project became a global hit on YouTube. These days, it’s no longer just about reconstruction, but about the journey of a boat that is rewriting its own history all over again.
The next big event is Fastnet 2027
The story doesn’t end with the arrival in Ireland. On the contrary: if everything goes to plan, the ‘Tally Ho’ is set to sail the Fastnet route again in 2027, almost exactly a century after that historic victory.
“It feels crazy to reach Ireland on this boat. It’s a really big milestone for me and the boat,” says Goolden. The boat hasn’t been this far east since the 1960s.
Fabian Boerger
Editor News & Panorama