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

Sunday 1 June 2014

dinghy cruising: Meandering up the River Tamar Part 1

Some pictures to start with and more to follow over next week or so. This blog serves as an on line diary of our voyages together, Arwen and me.

This was our 75th outing and three hundredth hour sailing together. It was rather fun!


the face of a man who has no idea what he's getting into!

Our journey took us from Jennycliffe Bay and Drakes Island in Plymouth Sound, up the Tamar as far as the mighty viaduct at Calstock and back down again. The tides were morning high water springs around 8 - 8.45 am and afternoon high tides around similar times - perfect for going up on the incoming tide and going down on the outgoing tide. Winds were gusty on day one from east giving us a perfect beam reach up as far as the Tamar bridges. Winds were non existent on day two and so we motored gently back down river at around 3 knots, a perfect speed to chill and appreciate the landscape and wildlife.

Up past the mighty ships at Devonport Dockyard

Into another world of tidal river
the home of canoeists, kayakers and rowers
of sweeping broad meanders, valley slopes and farming land

I'd heard tales of mythical vineyards and orchards in the tamar valley
here is the proof they exist

Negotiating the river channel; one eye on the charts; one eye on the ever changing channel flows
Deep water on the outside of bends; mudflats on the inside....and watch out for half submerged trees!

Up past Haldon Quay with the small church in the UK on its edge

Having a break at Cotehele House and Quay
In the background is the old Tamar sailing barge, Shamrock.

The final approach to Calstock and its mighty viaduct for the railway line

Looking towards the Calstock Boatyard from our mooring mid channel



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