Arwen's meanderings

Hi everyone and welcome to my dinghy cruising blog about my John Welsford designed 'navigator' named Arwen. Built over three years, Arwen was launched in August 2007. She is a standing lug yawl 14' 6" in length. This blog records our dinghy cruising voyages together around the coastal waters of SW England.
Arwen has an associated YouTube channel so visit www.YouTube.com/c/plymouthwelshboy to find our most recent cruises and click subscribe.
On this blog you will find posts about dinghy cruising locations, accounts of our voyages, maintenance tips and 'How to's' ranging from rigging standing lug sails and building galley boxes to using 'anchor buddies' and creating 'pilotage notes'. I hope you find something that inspires you to get out on the water in your boat. Drop us a comment and happy sailing.
Steve and Arwen

Wednesday 22 July 2015

Untidy packer

I never seem to get the hang of organisation on  Arwen. Because I was as 'green as grass' when I built her, I didn't spot the obvious flaw in the plans! The forward locker hatch! It is directly behind the mast meaning that it is virtually inaccessible. I wish I had had the foresight to offset it to one side.
Anyway, the upshot is that access to that huge underdeck locker is non existent. Consequently gear has to be stowed alone the sides of the hull.
So, ready for the Falmouth trip, storage on Arwen, is as follows:

  • Under the front thwart - 12 litres of water and spare fixings and tools
  • Port centre case locker - tape, electrics, spare radio, bits and pieces
  • Starboard centre case locker - safety gear
  • Rear stern locker - power monkey, spare radio, spare batteries, sponges, towels, 
  • Along the starboard hull side under side deck - boat cushions, spare fenders, warps
  • On the cockpit floor starboard side - main anchor, chain and warp in tray
  • On cockpit floor port side - kedge anchor, chain and warp in tray
  • Port hull side under side decks - clothes, emergency grap bag, tarp tent and fixing clamps, spare mooring warps
  • Along port side of centre case - food and cooking gear drybag
  • In rear footwell - dry bag rucksac containing documentation, keys, money, lunch; dry bag with foulies
It will be cramped! Let's hope she floats! 
I will be launching from Mylor creek boatyard. Then it's heading up river to visit Malpas and overnighting a little further downstream at Smugglers Inn. The next day, down Carrick Roads and across to the Helford River, overnighting at Tremayne Quay. A final day returning to Carrick Roads and exploring Falmouth and St Mawes, overnighting somewhere up the Percuil River. Then, next day, sailing back across to Mylor and hauling out. 
Well that's the plan. The weather may have a different view!

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