Arwen's meanderings: Charlestown near St Austell

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 between 2009 and 2025.

Arwen has an associated YouTube channel so visit www.YouTube.com/c/plymouthwelshboy to find our most recent cruises and click subscribe.

Although 'Arwen' has now been sold to another family and is sailing in new water, this blog will remain a source of inspiration and information for those interested in dinghy cruising and sailing the local waters around Plymouth Sound. So, continue to drop us a comment or ask a question and happy sailing and fair winds to you. Steve and Arwen

Steve and Arwen

Went for a stroll with a good friend around Charlestown this morning - plenty to see and admire

Four boats in today for maintenance

Harbour entrance looking away across towards Fowey

Winter rigging

About me

Arwen’s Meanderings is my long‑running blog about dinghy cruising around the rivers and coastal waters of the South West. For many years I’ve explored these shores in my home‑built Welsford designed ‘navigator’ dinghy - sharing trip reports, coastal passages and the realities of camping aboard a small open boat. I also focus on maintaining, modifying, and adapting a small cruising dinghy for comfort and safety — from rigging tweaks and storage solutions to onboard camping systems, reboarding aids and practical seamanship. Alongside the YouTube channel ‘Arwens Meanderings – Plymouthwelshboy’ this blog is a resource for anyone interested in small‑boat cruising, DIY boat improvements, and quiet exploration under sail.

John Welsford's 'Navigator' design

The 'Navigator' is a 14' 9" yawl with a beam of 5' 10". She weighs 309 lbs and has a sail area of 136 sq ft. Rigged with a standing lug sail, she has side, centre and front thwarts and space for four although she is an ideal single hander. There are a huge number of locker spaces. For more details about the design of navigators go to www.jwboatdesigns.co.nz/plans/navigator/index.htm

I have added two portable galley boxes, a collapsible sleeping platform, boom tarp tent and outboard bracket along with re-boarding straps. Details of all these adaptations can be found in various blog posts. Use the search blog facility.

Arwen's meanderings