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 5 August 2019

North Sea to Black Sea - an interesting adventure

I came across this interesting adventure today - worth following I think - good luck to them both - I like ambition in young people.

Their blog is

https://totheblacksea.com/

One of their YouTube videos is this one...


5 comments:

Devon Ann said...

Hi Steve,

This reminds me of a book a read about an Australian teacher who sailed, rowed and dragged a Mirror dinghy from Chester to the Black Sea. The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow. Its a good read. Shows what you can do in a small boat.

Nick

Devon Ann said...

Hi Steve,

This reminds me of a book that I read. The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow. It was written by an Australian teacher who sailed, rowed and pulled his Mirror dinghy from Chester to the Black Sea. A good read. And shows what you do in a very small boat.

Nick

steve said...

ooww - i'll look out for that book - sounds like a good read. I have always wanted to do something like sailing the rhine or the french canals down to the med in a very small boat - what an adventure that would be

Finn said...

Hi Steve, I am the guy in the video (finn)
We have completed the journey, it was quite the trip! Appreciate your post :) I am looking at doing another trip this summer, do you have any thoughts on the Atlantic coast of France in a small dinghy ? Or maybe through France ? Thanks

steve said...

Hey Finn - congratulations on an amazing voyage - absolutely outstanding. My tip for you is to join the dinghy cruising association here in the UK. Then introduce yourself on the closed members forum. I've never sailed out of my home south west waters but there are a huge number of dinghy cruisers in the association who have sailed the french coast, many times. Their knowledge is extraordinary and they give it freely. Very many of them would be very interested in your voyage - it is such an achievement. I suspect that the journal editor Keith Muscott might be interested in an article as well if you were up for it.

Where are you based - UK? This weekend is the dinghy RYA show at the Alexandra Palace in London. Roger Barnes the president of DCA will probably be there with the DCA stand and he is the man to talk to about sailing the french coastline - particularly the waters of Brittany. DCA members will also have someone who has sailed through France, I'm sure. If you join the dinghy cruising association facebook group - that is an open group and you can enquire there as well - hope this all helps - let me know and well done - you are so inspirational.