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

Wednesday, 12 March 2014

I'm liking this book!

I try to avoid reviews and recommendations - what one person likes, another dislikes - it is all personal preference at the end of the day - what works for me may not work for others.

However, so far, and it is early days, I am really liking this book


Written By Roger Barnes, President of The Dinghy Cruising Association, the style is warm, good natured, informative without being arrogant or over bearing; it gives sound advice and lovely cameos of his experiences and passion for dinghy cruising. I genuinely can't put the book down. And I have been learning such useful little snippets that I never knew...mainly because I'm inexperienced.

Now at the risk of looking stupid......I never realised I was supposed to reduce the downhaul tension on the luff when on a broad reach; and tension it up real tight when close hauled. I just kept it permanently tight.......well go figure......dur! (God must despair with me - I really am quite thick aren't I)

I hope people find it a good and useful read. I am definitely glad I bought it.

Roger at the helm of his dinghy
copyright Rogerbarnes.org
 

4 comments:

Joel Bergen said...

Curious why the downhaul tension should be reduced. That's a new one on me too. I know the clew tension should be eased (or outhaul tension in your case) on a reach to but more belly in the sail, but downhaul? What would that do?

steve said...

Yeah it's sort of got me puzzled and I don't even understand what I'm doing half the time. He does hint at talking more about rigging and sail control in a later chapter so I'm hoping it becomes clearer and I haven't missed the point somewhere

Steve

Bob said...

Not sure, but wouldn't easing the downhaul also put, or help, put more belly in the sail? Just a thought.

steve said...

Hi bob
I'm sorta guessing that was what he was hinting at but being a new sailor I'm not always sure about things like that. However it will be fun playing about in Arwen to find out what does happen to the sail when I do ease the down haul!!!!!

Steve