Why am I so disorganized?

With the cruising season coming upon us soon and the opportunity to do some cruises along our wonderful south west coast, three questions have been occupying my mind


• Where to go?

• Why does Arwen seem so untidy inside?

• How can I cut down on what I take and keep things more ship shape?

The last question is of particular relevance given that I’m hoping Dad will come along on one or two cruises this year (although I will have to make Arwen more comfortable – some form of sleeping platform in the rear cockpit). Now Dad’s shed is an exemplary example of meticulous organisation and packing. Every tool is in its correct box; every box in its correct place. His model railways stuff is organised in boxes. The shed even manages to consume all the debris that Mum won’t have in the house. Of course, Dad can’t actually get in the shed any more but that is a mere detail (or a sore point, depending on whether you are discussing the shed with Mum or with Dad). It is an example of meticulous organisation and two days onboard Arwen with the way I stow things will drive him mad! So I suspect a tidy up is in order and soon!

So where to go?

Choices! On the list for a cruise with Dad are

• Up the Tamar as far as we can go over two days

• Around to the River Yealm

• Trailer the boat down to Fowey

• Trailer Arwen down to Falmouth and sail the Fal and Helford river areas (quite like this idea – we could camp on land each night and do day sailing)

• Launch at Totnes and sail down to Dartmouth in to Slapton Bay and back again (quite like this one too)

So over the next few weeks once my exam groups have left and I have a little more time in the evenings, I can research venues, tides, launch ramps etc and I’ll let you all know.



Now, the second question, why does Arwen always seem so untidy?

Um! I am sadly, one of those naturally untidy people. Don’t get me wrong, I know where everything is......but organisation is not one of my strong points. Part of the problem is that the forward hatch is pretty much inaccessible because it is directly behind the mast. When I built Arwen, I had the old version of the plans and I didn’t have the confidence or ‘nouse’ to deviate from the plans. Truthfully, I didn’t think through the implications of the location of various hatches carefully enough. Offsetting the forward bulkhead hatch to one side would have made so much sense. I keep meaning to correct this by filling in the hatch and cutting a new one but I never get around to it and there is some reluctance to mess about with the forward bulkhead in-case I mess it up!

By the same token – putting in top mounted hatch covers on the forward thwart instead of side mounted would have made a difference too. Then there are the sand bags that I use as extra ballast which rest on the floor – I’m fed up of them. However, the new 10 Lt water containers should sort that out. Four of them clipped either side of the centre case area will give some extra weight when I am single handing. I need to rearrange the centre lockers as well so that I can store more in them. They contain spare tools, equipment, radar reflectors and drogues etc at the moment. I think putting them to the forward thwart lockers will help as I rarely access need access to them at sea. The centre lockers can then hold my food, day stuff and the grab bag contents. The small fuel bottles can also be stored there as well. So all is easily accessible.

I’m thinking of removing the various pockets that go along the side of the coaming. They only hold odd bits of rope, sail ties etc and I can better places for those too. That will give a less cluttered feel as well.

I am interested in how others pack their dinghies for cruising. Steve Early has it down to an ‘art form’ on ‘Spartina’. He has lists, specialist crates and a packing plan. I quite like that level of organisation.

Someone I know has a scuba divers bag for all wet gear or anything that can stand getting wet and he keeps that on the floor in his cockpit. Like on Arwen, he stores spare clothes, sleeping gear etc in waterproof bags under deck on forward thwart. He stores valuables, camera, keys, money, and whatever may be needed for the day in a large plastic bucket with a sealable waterproof lid. I have a plastic canoe bin with lid that I could use but it is very bulky! My issue as always, is that I want an emergency grab bag which will go with me in event of a capsize but I also want easy access to the things I will need during the day.

When on cruises for a couple of days – I have waterproof expedition sacs, one for food and cooking gear; one for spare clothes and sleeping kit. Both get stored under the deck on front thwarts. The tarp which forms my tent also gets stored behind the netting on the port front thwart as well. Stern anchor and warp are in a box on the port forward cockpit floor – bungee corded to the sides and internal frames so in the event of a capsize it can’t break free. On the starboard side are two very large white fenders for putting under Arwen should we ever dry out on a beach; or putting between us and other boats should we ever raft up (something I try to avoid as I’m anti-social). Charts get clipped under the bungee on starboard centre thwart; spare fuel 5 Lt jerry can up front on front thwart port size.

I think I need to think this through again!

Steve