October Update! (Patreon)

Dear Patrons and supporters of this project,

Time has passed, and progress has been made! 

It’s been a crazy year so far, with some big ups and downs, some big challenges and breakthroughs, and I just hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as me. 

There’s always so much going on at any one time here that it’s increasingly difficult to cover everything in the videos, but I hope you feel that my efforts have been engaging and interesting! 

The deckhouses are now in production, which is a big step, and work on the spars should begin very shortly. The rig is proving to be a much bigger job than I anticipated (surprise!), and a huge amount of work is currently going into figuring out all the spar dimensions, rig hardware,  deck hardware, blocks and tackles, halyards, sheets, topping lifts, shrouds, spreaders, forestays, backstays, bobstays, whiskerstays, sails, etc etc. In this design work I’ve already been able to make good use of my experience sailing Gaff Cutters, but I’ve also been learning a lot from the very experienced people I’ve been working with. I’m really looking forward to making videos about the rig and sharing some of these decisions and considerations with you all, and of course the actual work that follows! 

Meanwhile systems planning and installation has also been going well, and also taking a lot of time and energy. Getting the tanks (diesel x2, fresh water x2, black water x1) designed and made proved to be a lot more work and time than anticipated, but they are finally on their way now and should be put into the boat soon hopefully. These have been holding up a lot of other work, so once they are in we should be able to push on with the galley and saloon and engine room. 

Apart from making and editing the videos, I do find myself doing more and more design, research, project management, and less and less time actually making things with my hands, which is really hard for me - all these jobs are very necessary parts of this project, but nothing compares with the satisfaction of ending the day and looking at the actual physical “thing” that you made. The advantage is that I am learning a lot, and with such a great team a lot of progress is being made all the time, which feels great. 

However, I can’t help but look forward to a time when I’m able to organise things a bit differently and do more work myself, perhaps while sailing or on the next project. 

One of the biggest challenges for me is being away from my home in the UK for so long. Unfortunately my Mother is not very well, and it’s difficult being so far away - I’m going to be trying to make more frequent visits to the UK to see her and also to stay connected with my community there. I’ve actually just returned from a short trip. 

I’d like to send a really deep and heartfelt thanks to every one of you for supporting these videos and this project. Your generosity is the only reason that any of this has been possible so far. It has enabled me to build a wonderful team and work to a higher standard than I had ever dreamed of. It has built a community more positive and more widespread than I could have imagined. 

There is a HUGE amount of work left to do before Tally Ho will sail again, but there is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, and that is an amazing feeling. And when we finally get to launch the boat, that will just be the beginning - the videos will continue and the adventure will just get more exciting! I’m delighted to have you on board for the ride, and thank you so much for making it possible!

Leo