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

Tuesday 3 May 2016

and they are off.......


It was far more miserable than it looks ........out at the start between HMS Kent, south of the breakwater and Penlee Point

Visibility was low and at times the boats disappeared from view on several occasions

Heading into the wind, waiting for the gun to signal the last five minutes 

Making slow big turns and jockeying for position before heading down wind for the final turn before the start 



one of the big crew support boats comes out to see them off




lots of boats came out to see them off. It got pretty crowded out there in the spectators area



final preparations, all support crews off the boats and onto the ribs


and then they were off...........the big gun of HMS Kent signifying the start of Transat Bakerly 2016





It was pretty swelly out there with some chop but our skipper tucked right into the lee of Penlee point



We had managed to obtain the last four tickets on one of the cruise boats - we almost didn't go but I am glad we did. My parents thoroughly enjoyed themselves; no one was sea sick and actually as the gun started the race, the sun came out and the gloom lifted.
All in all rather a good day out!

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