Sampson Boat Co · video

What this video covers

Leo Goolden completes his first single-handed sail aboard the 50-foot gaff-rigged cutter Tally Ho in the Gulf Islands, British Columbia.0:21 Departing from James Bay on Prevot Island, he manages the vessel without an autopilot, relying on the boat’s natural balance and a tiller-tensioning line to maintain course in 12–13 knots of wind.0:45 He hoists the mainsail by splitting the peak and throat halyard operations, then sets the staysail and jib.4:53 Navigation relies on TimeZero software running on a PC, with a phone repeater providing AIS and depth data.8:53 During the transit, he manages a water maker and navigates around local ferry traffic before successfully executing a solo tack.10:36 He drops the sails in the protected waters of Portland Island, noting that a poorly flaked main halyard caused a minor tangle during the dousing process.14:37 The experience confirms that the heavy displacement hull tracks well enough for short-handed maneuvers, though improved line management is required for future solo passages.12:55

More from Sampson Boat Co

Tally Ho sails into England after 59 years overseas!Aug 2026A very brief update from the Fal estuaryAug 2026Piracy and Peril - stories from the boatyards of West CorkAug 2026Tally Ho completes her Atlantic Crossing at the Fastnet Rock!Aug 2026

From Sampson Boat Co — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analysed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.