Historic Fastnet Race winner Tally Ho is expected to arrive in Baltimore, West Cork, on Friday evening, marking a special Irish stop during her Atlantic voyage back to Britain.
The beautifully restored 48-foot gaff-rigged cutter is now expected to arrive between 3pm and 7pm, although organisers say the latest estimate points towards closer to 7pm, subject to weather and sailing conditions.
The visit follows an invitation from Baltimore publican and wooden boat enthusiast Bill Hillyard, whose admiration for the yacht's remarkable restoration prompted him to invite skipper Leo Sampson Goolden and his crew to West Cork.
A traditional harbour welcome is planned.
Renowned boatbuilder Liam Hegarty is expected to greet Tally Ho aboard Saoirse, the replica of Conor O'Brien's famous yacht. Members of Baltimore Sailing Club, local traditional wooden boats and other vessels are also expected to join a welcoming flotilla, alongside the Baltimore RNLI lifeboat, subject to operational requirements.
Designed by Albert Strange and built in Sussex in 1910, Tally Ho secured her place in offshore racing history by winning the 1927 Fastnet Race on corrected time after a celebrated duel with the schooner La Goleta.
After decades of changing ownership and eventual neglect in Oregon, the yacht was bought by British boatbuilder Leo Sampson Goolden for just $1 in 2017.
Over seven years, Goolden led an extensive restoration in Washington State, documenting the project on YouTube for a worldwide audience.
Now back under sail, Tally Ho is completing a 14,000-mile voyage from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Britain with the ambition of racing once again in the 2027 Fastnet Race, exactly 100 years after her famous victory.
Speaking ahead of the visit, Hillyard said he had followed the restoration from the beginning and felt compelled to invite the yacht to Baltimore.
"When my wife, Ann, and I moved from California to Baltimore in 2019, I never imagined that one day I'd be welcoming one of the most famous boats in Fastnet history to our adopted home," he said.
Goolden said returning to Baltimore would be a highlight of the voyage.
"I have wonderful memories of sailing into Baltimore many years ago," he said. "Tally Ho's story has always been about the people who have helped bring her back to life, so being able to stop in a community with such strong maritime traditions and such close ties to the Fastnet makes this a very special part of the voyage."
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