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 29 May 2012

At long last: how to reef a sprit boom in video

Well done Wayne. What a fantastically useful little video. Hat's off to that man; not only for a clever, simple and clear video on how to reef a sprit boom lug sail but also on how to clear a front cockpit and maintain boat trim and balance (you'll see)! The height of organisational efficiency. Star man!

A must watch for all Nav owners. THANK YOU  Wayne!

http://donumvitae.wordpress.com/2012/05/28/reefing-a-sprit-boomed-lug-yawl/

Now I know what I'm doing wrong!!
And thanks to Steve Earley as well for clearing up what I was doing wrong when tacking under jib and mizzen only.  Slacken off the mizzen more than I have been doing. Dur! It sounds so simple when you hear it from experienced sailors!

Thanks both of you - much appreciated.

Steve

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Glad to help.

I have certainly enjoyed following your travels (and travails) aboard Arwen.

Additionally, the discussions you have started on the Yahoo group regarding the "dreaded crease" have been very helpful.

While we were out, we were certainly thinking of you. We were on a bay of Lake Erie, you have been in the Atlantic Ocean. Our adventures still pale in comparison to yours!

God bless!
Wayne

Bursledon Blogger said...

An alternative might be sheet in jib and mizzen really tight, put the boat hard on the wind, the main should hand out to leeward completely de-powered, the boat should sail slowly to windward under complete control while you reef the main as the video - has worked on every boat I've had

steve said...

Wayne - don't confuse running along the english channel 3 miles off shore with out on atlantic - different beasties.......although I have seen 2 miles off rame head foaming before now! And I dont have such a lovely crew to trip over!!!! I just manage to trip over teh clutter I seem to acculumlate

BB - that's a clever tip that is; and one i will be trying asap next week when half term hols arrive

i'll keep you both posted

steve