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

Saturday, 15 May 2010

Arwen's back on the drive at long last

She's back at long last where she belongs when not in the water.....on the front drive. Poor Arwen, stuck amongst the big boys, all under wraps. Queen Anne's Battery have looked after her well but I had to keep popping down every three days to check that she was still there safely under wraps. It was a 'piece of mind' thing.



Arwen under tarpaulins at QAB in Plymouth

I raced to get her temporary covers off - I'm saving up to have some proper canvas fitted ones made with click buckles which will save so much time in the future when taking her to the launch site........I spend ages untying bits of string from the boat trailer. She has three tarpaulins on so that water doesn't leak through. It drives me mad!

Anyway, the sun came out, the temperatures rose and she emerged........like a butterfly............OK I'm sad.....but hey it took me three years to build this baby......my dad and my father-in-law, two men \I admire most.....laid the keelson and first planks. My kids helped sand and paint her......there's a lot of love in Arwen.........its different when  you've built your own boat isn't it.


Arwen unwrapped and in the sun again



Arwen's trailer is made by 'degraaf trailers' It's adjustable so that if \I ever build a pathfinder, I've already got the trailer.....not that I can see that happening.........I'm too smitten by Arwen!



By the way, if you enlarge this photo, please ignore the very obvious paint dribbles on the port side of transom............I know if I was a decent craftsman with some self pride - I'd sand it all down and repaint it......but hey a little secret........'life's too short'......and we should all be out SAILING!

Steve

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