1927 Fastnet Race Winner Tally Ho Is Afloat Again

29th April 2024

Very strange? The rugged-looking 1910-built 48ft gaff cutter Tally Ho in full offshore racing trim in 1927. At first glance, few would guess her to be an Albert Strange design

The 1927 Fastnet Race winner Tally Ho - a 48ft gaff cutter built in 1910 - has now been fully restored in a remarkable online project by English sailor/boatbuilder Leo Sampson Goolden in Sampson Boat Company’s premises at Sequium, Washington in the US Pacific Northwest.

We’ve referred to this massive six-year magnum opus from time to time on Afloat.ie, and many enthusiasts will have been regularly following Leo’s excellent work online. But for those who haven’t, here’s the buildup and success of launch day

Just about the last yacht designer you’d think of at first glance at Tally Ho’s appearance is art teacher/naval architect Albert Strange. He was almost totally renowned for his comfortable, soft-lined canoe-sterned gaff yawl-rigged cruising boats, such as Billy Mooney ICC’s 9-tonner Nirvana of Arklow, built by Jack Tyrrell in 1925.

But the rugged-looking transom-sterned Sussex-built Tally-Ho is indeed from the yacht design board of the multi-tasking head of the School of Art at Scarborough in Yorkshire. And her reputation for toughness was such that in 1927, Lord Stalbride bought her and signalled his Fastnet intentions by making her third name – Tally Ho – seem decidedly robust when compared to her three previous monikers of Betty, Alciope and Escape.

Truly Strange. The 9-ton gaff yawl Nirvana of Arklow – built in 1925 by Jack Tyrrell of Arklow for Billy Mooney of the Irish Cruising Club – is reckoned to be the epitome of Albert Strange’s vision for cruising yacht design. In 1934 she was awarded the ICC’s premier trophy, the Faulkner Cup (inaugurated 1931) for Elizabeth Crimmins of East Ferry in Cork Harbour, the first time for a woman skipper

ANNUAL FASTNET

In those early days, the Fastnet Race was an annual event, and this third staging was the roughest to date, with only two boats of the fifteen starters making the finish. First across the line was the 30-ton Alden schooner La Goleta, but just 52 minutes later Tally Ho came storming in to win on Corrected Time by a substantial margin.

Since then, she has led an ocean-wandering sort of life. But when a major restoration/rebuild became necessary, after several false starts it was only when Leo Goolden brought his vision, practical skills and communication talent to it all – having bought Tally Ho for one dollar – that everything started to come on track.

Thus we have the extraordinary prospect of the first 1925 Fastnet winner Jolie Brise sailing in next year’s Centenary race, and the 1927 winner doing the same in the 2027 race.

The superstar – Jolie Brise making smooth speed under a considerable acreage of cloth

Published in Fastnet, Historic Boats

Fastnet Race Live Tracker 2023

Track the progress of the 2023 Fastnet Yacht Race fleet on the live tracker above

The 50th edition of the 700-mile race organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club starts from Cowes, Isle of Wight, on Saturday, 22nd July.

Published in Fastnet

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Fastnet Race

About The Author

WM Nixon

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William M Nixon has been writing about sailing in Ireland for many years in print and online, and his work has appeared internationally in magazines and books. His own experience ranges from club sailing to international offshore events, and he has cruised extensively under sail, often in his own boats which have ranged in size from an 11ft dinghy to a 35ft cruiser-racer. He has also been involved in the administration of several sailing organisations.

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RORC Fastnet Race

This race is both a blue riband international yachting fixture and a biennial offshore pilgrimage that attracts crews from all walks of life:- from aspiring sailors to professional crews; all ages and all professions. Some are racing for charity, others for a personal challenge.

For the world's top professional sailors, it is a 'must-do' race. For some, it will be their first-ever race, and for others, something they have competed in for over 50 years! The race attracts the most diverse fleet of yachts, from beautiful classic yachts to some of the fastest racing machines on the planet – and everything in between.

The testing course passes eight famous landmarks along the route: The Needles, Portland Bill, Start Point, the Lizard, Land’s End, the Fastnet Rock, Bishop’s Rock off the Scillies and Plymouth breakwater (now Cherbourg for 2021 and 2023). After the start in Cowes, the fleet heads westward down The Solent, before exiting into the English Channel at Hurst Castle. The finish for 2021 is in Cherbourg via the Fastnet Rock, off the southern tip of Ireland.

The leg across the Celtic Sea to (and from) the Fastnet Rock is known to be unpredictable and challenging. The competitors are exposed to fast-moving Atlantic weather systems and the fleet often encounter tough conditions

Flawless decision-making, determination and total commitment are the essential requirements. Crews have to manage and anticipate the changing tidal and meteorological conditions imposed by the complex course

The symbol of the race is the Fastnet Rock, located off the southern coast of Ireland. Also known as the Teardrop of Ireland, the Rock marks an evocative turning point in the challenging race

Once sailors reach the Fastnet Rock, they are well over halfway to the finish in Cherbourg.

Fastnet Race - FAQs

When is the next Fastnet Race?

The 49th edition of the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race will start from the Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes, UK on Sunday 8th August 2021.

What's new about the 2021 Fastnet Race?

The next two editions of the race in 2021 and 2023 will finish in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin at the head of the Normandy peninsula, France

What will the fleet size be for the 2021 Fastnet Race?

Over 300. A record fleet is once again anticipated for the world's largest offshore yacht race.

Who races in the Fastnet Race?

The international fleet attracts both enthusiastic amateur, the seasoned offshore racer, as well as out-and-out professionals from all corners of the world.

What types of boats compete in the Fastnet Race?

Boats of all shapes, sizes and age take part in this historic race, from 9m-34m (30-110ft) – and everything in between.

What is the multihull Fastnet Race record?

The Fastnet Race multihull course record is: 1 day 4 hours 2 minutes and 26 seconds (2019, Ultim Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, Franck Cammas / Charles Caudrelier)

What is the monohull Fastnet Race record?

The Fastnet Race monohull course record is: 1 day, 18 hours, 39 minutes (2011, Volvo 70, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing).

Who won the 2019 Fastnet Race?

David and Peter Askew's American VO70 Wizard won the 2019 Rolex Fastnet Race, claiming the Fastnet Challenge Cup for 1st in IRC Overall.

How long has Rolex sponsored the Fastnet Race?

Rolex SA has been a longstanding sponsor of the race since 2001.

When was the first Fastnet Race held?

The first race was in 1925 with 7 boats. The Royal Ocean Racing Club was set up as a result.

What boat was the winner of the first Fastnet Race?

The winner of the first Fastnet Race was the former pilot cutter Jolie Brise, a boat that is still sailing today.

Was there an Irish entry in the first Fastnet Race?

Cork sailor Henry P F Donegan (1870-1940), who gave his total support for the Fastnet Race from its inception in 1925 and competed in the inaugural race in his 43ft cutter Gull from Cork.

Has Ireland every won the Fastnet Race?

Ireland has won the Fastnet Race twice. In 1987 the Dubois 40 Irish Independent won the Fastnet Race overall for the first time and then in 2007 – all of twenty years after Irish Independent’s win – Ireland secured the overall win again this time thanks to Ger O’Rourke’s Cookson 50 Chieftain from the Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland in Kilrush.

©Afloat 2020

At A Glance – Fastnet Race