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

Monday, 26 May 2014

glorious weather

as it so happened today has been glorious........it would have been fantastic cruising back down the lynher .......blue skies, lovely sunshine and real warmth. Rats!

Still 'ce cera cera' and all that!

I took the opportunity to go help a friend sort out his braked trailer; and then I came home, did some stuff in the garden and then took the opportunity to fashion a tent of sorts from an old white tarpaulin. It will sort of work although the 'windage effect' could be an issue I suspect. Having made a boom crutch as well, the tent is roomy and high. Not quite standing room. It also allows a breeze to pass down through the tent. Given I sleep inside a gortex bivvy bag - this shouldn't be an issue. It has worked in the past with a darker green tarp.

Well we'll find out at some stage! My hunch is it should be much lower but then you are sat cramped on the side benches. Trial and error; trial and error!

I also fitted another mast halyard to take a small anchor light as well.

Steve

Got to sort out and trim to shape
I didn't cut where shrouds are - I just removed shrouds and tied them to mast
 
the back closes across by use of elastic ties but leaves some gap for air flow
It is also easy for emergency access to outboard should need arise; although I envisage taking the ground on most of the occasions I use this tarp tent
 
I haven't quite sorted out how the front works yet
The ties do pull the ends in around the mast and there is 'quick release' access to get at the anchor if need be
 
it will suffice against light shows and gentle breeze nights
and that's its primary purpose
 
 
 
 

2 comments:

Bursledon Blogger said...

Steve the best laid plans and all that. If it's any consolation Saturday was wiped out with really serious jet lag (took til Monday morning to get straight) Sunday was glorious but with forecast of rain all Monday cycling and a picnic seemed easier and less hassel than getting mk the boat out for a few hours and as predicted it rained all day - so goes another bank holiday!

steve said...

Hate jet lag! I remember flying back from New Zealand non stop
Ugh!
Hate to do this to you but we have had brilliant sunshine here all day........and I could have been sailing down the Tamar!!!
Good to hear from you max

Steve