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

Thursday, 29 May 2014

sailing up the river tamar

this page will go active tomorrow when you will be able to track my progress up the River Tamar. I have decided to seize the moment and head for Calstock, a fair way up the river Tamar.

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0fRv9UKCFqtHFtIBBsuLASrYcm1j9HrK2

this link will take anyone who is interested to the RYA pilotage notes for sailing up the Tamar to Calstock

http://www.rya.org.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/cruising/RYA%20Guide%20to%20the%20River%20Tamar.pdf


The weather forecast isn't pretty but beggars cant be choosers can they and this is the last opportunity I have to do it before starting back at work on Monday.

The winds are around 10 knots dropping to 5 knots during the afternoon with short, sharp showers predicted between bouts of sunshine. on Saturday, the weather is better - it wont rain but winds are very light and from the north - backing around to the east which is pretty much perfect for what I need. tomorrow they are from the east most of the day - again this is perfect - over the starboard beam.

I have taken a mooring at the Calstock boat yard and I will be able to moor alongside their pontoon for around 2 hrs either side of high water before having to retreat to a mid channel mooring - sounds perfect.

For the first time, the IPAD will be accompanying me along with one or two navigation apps I want to try out. We'll see how they go.

I intend launching around 11.15am from QAB and will have a little shakedown cruise first around the sound before heading in to the mouth of the Tamar around 12.30ish.  I aim to arrive at Calstock around 6pm just enough water there to moor alongside the pontoon.

I suspect I will be able to sail as far as Weir Quay and then after that probably resort to motor although if there is sufficient wind from the east and sufficient water on the bends - I may be able to sail up past Pentille Castle and Haldon Quay. Who knows - we shall find out tomorrow!

Steve

3 comments:

Bursledon Blogger said...

Good luck, been a frustrating week weather wise, takes away the appeal of overnighting on board so i think we're taking the kayaks out today

Bob said...


Checked on your progress throughout the day. Looked like a successful outing... Looking forward to your accounts of the trip.

steve said...

Hi folks. Thanks for checking in.
It was a great sail; motor up the Tamar. Feeling refreshed and invigorated. Hope you enjoy the forthcoming accounts and videos

Now I know the lay of the land so to speak, the next trip up will be under sail as far as possible.

Steve