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 1 January 2013

A New Year Year day sail.........well sort of!

The day didn't start as expected that was sure. A 10.00am launch plan was somewhat delayed by the flat battery on the car! Fortunately AA home start came to the rescue and from call to driving away with new battery took 35 minutes; which I feel is pretty impressive......so Happy New Year to the AA man Steve (THANK YOU Steve!).
Then poor old Arwen jammed on her trailer at the launch ramp. It took 15 minutes to get her moving (as opposed to the normal 60 seconds launch). That was when I also discovered a leak in my yacht boots; yes that's right; boots plural........now what are the odds on that eh?



The swans seemed pretty calm and unfazed by it all; and Arwen did float very nicely at her pontoon mooring. It is the first time she's been in the water since August 2012!
Anyway the forecast did say wind speed around 11 knots and gusts around 20 kts.
Below is a little taster of  the afternoon. Suffice to say it was a wee bit above 20 knots!



Steve 

4 comments:

Bob said...

...coming to a theater near you... Wonderful video! How much fun did you have putting that together?

steve said...

Happy new year bob
Hope you are well
Did it all on iPad using an app called iMovie
A doodle!

Still getting to grips with iPad but some of the apps are amazing

Steve

Anonymous said...

Hi Steve

Well done for getting afloat in mid-winter! - our little sailing group were well inland on New Years Day - see www.hostellerssailingclub.org.uk.

Wondered if you might like to come to our DCA winter meeting in Wembury in March, not far from you I think - send me a message for details or check the DCA bulletin if you have it to hand.

John and Josephine

steve said...

John! You are one spooky gent and please take that in the nicest way possible. I have just this minute put down he latest DCA bulletin/magazine. I was thinking about attending the meeting. I have always held back because I' m slightly nervous. I'm a bit of a fair weather sailor as you will have gathered from he blog; and also somewhat inexperienced. For example, I have never actually sailed Arwen onto and off a beach; I often resort to she motor; I still have sail trimming and steering by sails to master. Consequently I have often been worried about holding people up or causing safety issues when out on a rally....silly I know but it is a confidence/ experience issue
I think I would like to come along justto meet people I guess so let me lo at the diary and school commitments and I'll get back to you soon if hands ok. And thanks for getting in contact. Much appreciated