Building oars and making plans.. (Cape Horn or Northwest Passage?)

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EPISODE 204

In this episode, I try to figure out what’s next for Tally Ho - what to do over the winter, and which route to take for our first major voyage halfway around the world! In the meantime, I make some new oars for my PT11 rowing dinghy, using carbon fibre blades and Douglas Fir shafts.

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MANY THANKS!

Music;
Valley Drive - The Whole Other
Hiiltop - Dan Lebowitz
Acid Jazz - Kevin MacLeod
Leslie's Strut - John Deley and the 41 Players

Ep204

[Cortana]

It took 207 episodes to understand that Tally Ho will not just be a boat you take on a few weeks' adventure. In my simple mind, which never had anything to do with boats except for watching 207 episodes of Sampson Boat Co., she was like a floating RV. Today, I realized that she will become your home. When I heard that you think of your journey in terms of years, I understood what this beautiful boat truly means to you. That was somehow mind-blowing for me. I think that is a very close description of freedom.

[jamesgordon]

How exciting was it when Leo said " I am going to put a lot of the tools into storage for the next project"!

[jackielinde]

Kids, please take note of Leo's example. When you borrow something/anything, you should work to return them in the same condition or better than when you receive them.

[erlixerlix]

Experience from Sweden: Before going through the north west passage with a wooden boat you would have to copper sheath at least the waterline on the forward half of the boat. Even a very thin layer of ice quickly destroys a wooden boat without copper sheathing.

[katemcclain]

Hello Leo, I am a former U.S. naval officer, which does not necessarily make me an expert of nautical affairs, but I am familiar with some of the waters that you will sail through. Aside from time constraints, I highly recommend against taking a westerly course across the Pacific and Indian oceans. Unless you ask the Royal Navy to escort you, going through the Straits of Malacca, the Andaman Sea, and anywhere near the Horn of Africa is begging for serious trouble. You could, of course, cover your deck and skirts with Kevlar or steel plating and mount twin 40mm Bofors on the fo'c'sle, but that might not go so well with the Fastnet organisers. Also, the Arabian Sea/Indian Ocean is typically becalmed during the non-monsoon season. I've been there when the sea surface was as smooth as a bathtub's for months. If you divert to the south, then you have to deal with the Cape of Good Hope. I have not personally passed through this area; however, the scuttlebutt is that it can be exceedingly difficult to navigate, especially in a sailboat. If passage fees can be covered (and I assume they are quite steep), then I would vote for passing through the Panama Canal. It is safest for you, your crew, and for Tally Ho herself.
I am truly excited for you. I would be tempted to make another visit to the UK just to see you pull into dock. Fair winds and following seas, Mike

[jimprier]

Tally Ho is a challenging rig to handle, especially in high northern and Southern latitudes. Moreover, an open cockpit leaves the helmsman seriously exposed to weather, which is frequently severe off Cape Horn and also Greenland. The Suez canal is out unless you have an in ith the Houthis, so sailing west means passage around Cape of Good Hope and managing security issues along East and West Africa. Bite the bullet and take the Panama Canal

[PRINCESSDREAMYLYN]

Leo, you know it's lovely to see you give back the oars better then you received them. I grew up and was taught the same thing. It has been the one thing That has allowed me to re-barrow or barrow other things with no issues. It's a wonderful quality to possess and build trust. Also when you need something you are sure to have friends who are there with a helping hand. I hope more take on that quality in life as it makes a huge difference at the end of the day.

[rayfairbanks]

My vote is the more expensive, but more safe route through the Panama canal. Y'all got enough to worry about with makin it to that race! Plus it'll still be a beautiful voyage. You got plenty of time to take the more risky routes around the world.

[davep]

I remember watching the maiden episode and thought, 'what is he doing? He isn't restoring, so much as building from scratch. Why would he buy that piece of junk?' Now, seeing the end result, it wasn't so much the finish line as the entire journey you took all of us on.
Thanks to you and everyone who helped for creating a magnificent vessel.

[AgiHammerthief]

once again I‘m in oar of your craftsmanship.

[mikesworld]

Whichever way you go Please take in consideration the parts of the world that pirates occupy and safe travels. I vote for Panama Canal because you will have many more years to take the more interesting routes when you have more time. Be safe out there.

[TheMacawWhisperer]

To reach your destination with the least risk, you must choose the Panama Canal. You still need to be able to port should anything arise during this longer voyage. The last thing you need is to be in the NWP and have to turn back due to ice or other issue. I think coming through the Caribbean and up through the east coast of the US, you will get to show off your masterpiece where everyone who has followed your years long journey, might be able to see her with our very own eyes and gladly donate more funds into your coffers. I am in Kentucky and would gladly travel to the coast to see her, even from a distance. As a former joiner for San Juan Yachts out of Anacortes, I admire all the hard work you and your crew have accomplished. Save the NWP and other routes for future voyages after your race in 2027. Be safe in all you do. Tally Ho!

[mjMiller]

I'm not a sailor Leo, but I have worked as a data scientist for many years. If you choose the Northwest passage, the National Ice Center may have details you will need to plan the trip. They have many years of seasonal data of the ice sheet and movement as well as forecast. May the wind be at your back! Good luck always.

[davez]

Do not underestimate the dangers of time pressure. It can lead to silly mistakes and poor decisions.
You have a great, but inexperienced crew, and you have a deadline to meet. These two factors alone should be enough to guide you towards taking the shortest, lowest-risk route.
Once you have successfully made it to England, and raced Tally Ho, you will be in a far better position physically, mentally and geographically to take on more challenging routes.

[stevewoodard]

I hauled boats all over the U.S. in the late'70s (Boat Transit Inc., Costa Mesa, CA), most of which were overdimensional and needed permits, escort vehicles, and all the rest. That's how I stumbled onto the Tally Ho saga -- somehow the episode where the hull was moved from Sequim to Pt. Townsend showed up in my feed, and now I've watched every episode, twice. All of which is to say that I know something about trucking large sailboats across the country.

If Tally Ho had a beam of 11', a draft of 6', 6' or so above the waterline to the top of the cabin and displaced maybe 25K lb., trucking her across the country (my vote would be to Duluth) could make sense. The northern states involved are quite friendly to overdimensional loads, and you wouldn't be burdened with many escort vehicles. Going to the East Coast, even with our hypothetical anorexic version of Tally Ho, becomes a nightmare with low bridges and other serious restrictions.

However, Tally Ho has a beam of 12'10", a draft of 7'6", height above the waterline well in excess of 7' and a displacement on the order of 65K lb. A load of that size (particularly the height, I'd estimate at least 15') is going to require private escorts front and rear the whole way and possibly state police escorts part of the time as well, plus an 11+ axle truck combination that charges a minimum of $10/mile these days. It's a big, big deal, plus the hassle of unstepping the mast and packing it and all the other spars for shipping, possibly requiring a second truck.

The Panama Canal would be a bargain in comparison, IMNHO.

[Maadhawk]

When I was in the US Navy, we sailed the northern route. However, we were in a submarine and went a fair bit further north than the Northwest Passage. In fact, we stopped at the North Pole. Then we continued on and came out of the polar ice between Iceland and Greenland. We had the luxury of sailing at cruising depth for the Los Angeles class submarine. We also did the passage in the winter and this is where it would most relevant for you Leo. Even at cruising depth of several hundred feet submerged, we were rolling very, very heavily from all the storm on the surface while transiting the Bering Strait. It was enough I wouldn't even want to try it in a much smaller surface vessel. Personally, my vote is either South or West. I just want to keep watching videos of all your adventures that a longer voyage would give. Call me spoiled by your outstanding Captaincy and the quality of your Crew.

[davidvial]

I vote for the Panama Canal burn diesel as needed . Play it SAFE. Hope you get your Gaff saddle and Capstain parts at least made before you take off on your winter cruise. Open cockpit and Caspe Horn could be asking for crew injury and illness I think.

[geoffreystearns]

I went through the Panama Canal last December on a small cruise ship and we shared a lock with a small sailboat about Tally Ho's size. The sailboat was damaged in the turbulence as the lock filled and it didn't seem like the lock dock workers offered much help when the sailboat needed it.

[giuseppepuglisi]

Man, knowing that literally YEARS of Tally Ho stuff awaits us is so friggin' exiting.

[immasurvivor]

As its the boats first major journey i would choose the safest path, you have a lifetime of adventuring ahead of you, no need to rush into it.