May 2019 Update (Patreon)

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