"My name is Leo Sampson Goolden. I am a Boatbuilder, Sailor and Writer from Bristol, England." Short and sweet is how the young Brit introduces himself on his website, whose wake is already peppered with adventures that many others do not experience in their entire sailing life.
The current adventure is taking place on land, far from his British homeland, on the north-west coast of the USA. Here, Goolden, who has been operating as a boat builder under the name Sampson Boat CO. since 2013, is dedicated to rescuing a historic yacht.
Leo Goolden about the project
Tally Ho
It is a very special treasure that Leo Goolden wants to save. The 48-foot gaff cutter "Tally Ho" was launched in 1910 at Stow & Son in Shoreham-by-Sea (Sussex, England). Designer Albert Strange had promised the client a seaworthy vessel, as he wanted to go on relaxed voyages and engage in deep-sea fishing.
The ship soon became too small for him, it was sold and went to the start of the contemporary ocean races under the new owner. In 1927, for example, she took part in the stormy Fastnet race. "High though the seas rose, she seemed as steady as a church, and we watched her in silent admiration" - she looked as steadfast as a church when viewed from the deck of the competitor, under a single reef and small jib, and she was looked at in silent admiration. And the crew of the large schooner knew that a real competitor was sailing there.
Rescue at the last second
However, that was almost a hundred years ago, years that have left their mark on the yacht. Leo Goolden now wants to remove them. A project that is tantamount to a new build, and is actually even more complex. Goolden, an enthusiastic boat builder, brings not only expertise but also the necessary dose of youthful naivety, as well as charisma, infectious spirit and the ability to get people excited about his project.
He regularly reports on the progress in videos, here the first and the current eleventh episode:
Leo Goolden on the demolition of the deck
