A pleasant picnic and a broken mast

I go on a day out with a group of local friends - sailing down an estuary in our dinghies to land on a beach for a picnic. But our short cruise has unexpected consequences...
The boats are three Ilurs, an Aber and a Silmaril. All of them were designed by François Vivier.
MUSIC
Lonely River
Footsteps in the Sand
- by Roots and Recognition
La Marseillaise
- traditional
All from Epidemic Sound
www.epidemicsound.com
INTERESTED IN DINGHY CRUISING?
Read my book, "The Dinghy Cruising Companion"
www.bloomsbury.com
And join the Dinghy Cruising Association:
www.dinghycruising.org.uk
AVEL DRO
Do you want a boat like mine?
Avel Dro is an Ilur designed by François Vivier, and built of clinker plywood by Les Charpentiers Reunis of Cancale in 1994. I bought her in France in 2003 to import her into the UK, and more recently returned her to France again. The design is based closely on the traditional inshore fishing boats of Brittany in the early years of the twentieth century - hence her simple boom-less lugsail rig and lack of a mainsheet horse, (sometimes controversial among my viewers). Although rare in Britain, Ilurs are relatively common in France. Modern Ilurs are however slightly different internally from mine, as they have more built in buoyancy. The name Avel Dro is Breton, Avel = wind, Dro = to turn - so it means a whirlwind.
Length 4.44 m
Sail area 12.2 m²
Beam 1.70 m
Draught 0.25 / 0.86 m
Displacement loaded with camping and sailing gear 400 kg
Design category C3
François Vivier's website (in English):
www.vivierboats.com/en/
Similar dinghies can often be found for sale on the website of the French magazine Le Chasse-Marée:
www.chasse-maree.com/revue/
Or try Le Bon Coin, (where you can buy anything in France):
www.leboncoin.fr
BREXIT AND BOATS
Since January 2021, when Great Britain (but not Northern Ireland) left the European Single Market, if you buy a boat in France or elsewhere in the EU with the intention of importing it into the UK, you are liable for VAT and other duties on the import - even if it is second hand. Similar charges will be due if you take a British boat the other way. This does not apply to a boat taken to another country for a brief holiday, however.

[@fogwarning101]

I see so much news on YT with the world coming unglued, and then I watch Roger, the sailing, the music and my world becomes peaceful again. Thank you Roger for posting these videos, loved seeing your renovation videos too. Please keep them coming, help to keep a little sanity in an insane world.

[@quarlow1215]

I'm a 60 year old guy and the song "footsteps in the sand" makes me cry every time. My absolute best little bud passed on in February and he I were so connected that I still get upset when I think of him. He would cuddle in my armpit in the evening when I was watching KZbin. He always lifted his head when this song came on. I love watching your videos and hope you never stop playing that song. I can take the tears. 😢

[@oscardakota2876]

I understand and agree, condolences

[@rapido2963]

God knows what Lord Nelson would have said regarding an English ship raising the tricolour. That blighter Barnes has truly gone native!

[@keshermedia]

@10:30 🤔🍪🥛🙏👍 Jan is the friend you want to take on a picnic or outing... plenty of good food!!! 👍👍👍

[@geraldtrumpp2340]

Not sure if the mast didn't want to wear the tricolore or if that was a protest against the seagull ^^

[@einfachich1096]

I had exactly the same thought.😂 @Roger: Good luck for the repair!

[@geraldtrumpp2340]

@@einfachich1096 German humor, always a little nasty *highfive*

[@thewanderingbox8253]

😂😂👏 gotta love the seagulls 👍🏴‍☠️⛵

[@deewight9040]

My first "big boat" 50 years was a 14' penguin class catboat. I still miss the simplicity and and serenity of sailing such a boat.

[@liyachts]

Inspired by you and other likeminded channels promoting the joys of small boat sailing I started adventures with 17 ft boat in 2022. In Finland we have a beautiful archipelago to explore with a tiny boat.

[@ryder6070]

Motor sounds happy and healthy. I know it's a huge contrast from the sounds of sailing. One begins to appreciate what that noise means. Safety, control, options. It looks great too, fits your boat nice. Great videos, very relaxing. Awesome

[@soupedujour]

All i can say that your videos just enchant me …thank so so every much…what a beautiful life on on these coastal waters of Bretagne.

[@canalemdar3772]

Hi Roger, I miss your beautiful adventures. I built a beautiful Dinghy boat by watching you. I had a great time on the boat all summer long. Thanks so much for your guidance. Love from Amasra...

[@robstevens5503]

Taking a snapped mast like that in your stride really shows your experience. My mast is aluminium, but had it snapped on me like that I would have had so many different thoughts going through my mind that I would not have looked that relaxed. I would have been dismayed about the breakage, worried about the return journey and much more, but you just shrugged it off and enjoyed the rest of your day.

[@sailoutofagarage6212]

Nice one, thank you!

[@davidpoots8362]

Thanks for helping me feel better about having an outboard.

[@sailingamagi]

Love your videos ❤

[@rossbarnett3759]

Geeezzzz your onto it. You capture the essence of the whole concept of dinghy cruising miraculously in harmony and perfectly balanced with excellent video work.

[@aNaturalist]

He sure does capture it so well!

[@thewanderingbox8253]

AWESOMENESS Seagull saves the day again 👏👏

[@Tintenfinger]

Another wonderful video, Roger, thank you so much! Your remarks on the effects of stepping on a boat reflect exactly the experiences of my last 55 years of sailing dinghies and, later and to this day, my twenty-seven footer. Neither pills, drink nor drugs can match that effect. It is all about complexity reduction and, in using the sailing craft, about submission to natural forces larger than me, forces that temporarily free me from acting as the apparent master of my circumstances, when in fact and obviously the wind is the master , the waves, the tide, the currents and the topography of where I am and where I want to go. That even you, a master at sailing and an experienced sailor of many decades, should remark on that effect after having worked on houses so much for a longer period of time struck me as especially noteworthy.

[@tobyCornish]

The acquisition of an engine was timely.

[@Theoriain1]

Interesting fenders at the end of the video

[@derrickburry1788]

So envious. Whenever I sail, I go by myself as there's no one in my area who sails small boats. Nearly finished reading your book, the 2nd edition. Lovely read, thank you. Good luck with your mast repair. From Newfoundland, Canada.

[@aNaturalist]

Central Texas guy here. I feel lucky there's a handful of small boat sailors around. Kudos to you for still sailing that way, even without others sailing small. Have you read the first edition of his book? Is it much different? I have the first one.

[@derrickburry1788]

Thank you. Sailing alone has it's benefits too, but it would be nice to share the passion for small boat sailing with other like minded individuals. No I haven't read the first edition. @@aNaturalist

[@pauls8456]

Invite someone and turn them into a small boat sailor…

[@firebird2]

The world is certainly different from a boat! Each adventure adds skills and perspective. Thank you for your wonderful videos. Salute de Detroit!

[@garrymartin6474]

The sound of wind, waves and Seagull outboard would make a lovely sleep app sound track, well for me at least .

[@rogerwileman9965]

Sorry to hear about the broken mast I hope you can get a new one or repair the old one GOOD LUCK

[@katej3z715]

I don't know why but the mast came as no surprise, the sail had been so whimsical. Good to see you looking so very 'chilled' as ever.

[@ramseybarber8312]

Hi Roger glad to see your Seagull behaving itself ,sorry to see your mast broken can it be repaired or is it more serious and what,s more what caused it to break, old age springs to mind, Cheers

[@gregsmith7142]

In one of my favorite movies they say, “The adventure doesn’t begin until things go wrong.” Here’s to “Adventures in Boating”! Thanks for another good one, Roger Greg Salem, Oregon

[@delukxy]

Saved by a Seagull! New mast or repair, I hope we get to see the update on that.

[@fawnmalone410]

@Roger Barnes I think I've seen all the videos now. 💙 More please 😊

[@P61guy61]

Thank you for the video. Love your style of presentation and appreciate you sharing the adventures.

[@ThePorridgeGobbler]

Ah the gentle slapping of the waves on the hull and the purr of a Seagull outboard, very soothing it reminds me of being out in my Dad's Mirror dinghy. I currently have seven Seagulls ranging from featherweight, fortyplus long and short shift with without recoil and a century short shift in different stages of cosmetic refurbishment but all are running.

[@troytreeguy]

Fantastic adventure!

[@shempdoll]

No air, tangled in sail and lines, bashing into the white boat. Wind comes up and mast comes down, Seagull noise. Even the way you get sun at the end of a gloomy day. It is all classic sailing stuff.

[@stephenhenion8304]

Adaptable to Any Situation!! Job well done, Roger.🌊🌊🤙

[@derekperkins7343]

You were in mighty good humour Roger! A spot of something in that coffee?

[@davelawrence6777]

Thanks for posting in spite of the mishap and day on the water is a good day

[@dreamtimesv]

Loved it

[@philiporourke7896]

Great vid, thanx.

[@WallaceLivingFree]

love it, you make me jealous. cheers and have a good life.

[@graeme-sailingskeptic]

looking forward to the mast rebuild video!!

[@ricochetrabbit4618]

Such a beautiful channel...

[@oliviertirilly1650]

Plougastel 👍

[@maxwright1565]

Hi Roger. Thank you for the videos. I discovered your channel courtesy of the algorithm, went to the start and watched them all in order. Lovely! 👍 Waiting with 'bated breath for the story of the mast repair. Also a big an of Melanie Bell. Cheers Max

[@clydelindsay6657]

I just hit the Like button and enjoy the video. I don’t think I’ve watched and bad one yet, Great Job Roger…cheers

[@robinengland5799]

Very much enjoyed your video as usual, sorry about your mast. Great little engine!

[@maxboonkittypoison]

I'm sorry your mast broke. Hope you stil had a fantastic day. It looks like it was fantastic.

[@phantomtrijder6493]

Wow! There are sailing videos and other sailing videos and then there are your sailing videos. Roger... Thanks.

[@whyisthissuddenlyathing]

Great video and a treat to watch with a Sunday morning coffee :) I liked that when you said "suddenly" in English at 4:44 you just kept your hands still but when you said the French a second later you gesticulated :)

[@user-ti9ef7fv1v]

thank you, Roger, very interestin !!! ЛАЙК !!! 😊👍

[@pepepoo2432]

I don't think i would have taken a broken mast so well as you..Goodluck with a fix .

[@romantiachristiana5147]

Indeed a good job you had the outboard! I imagine you could make a new mast with your friends in one of those workshops in Douarnenez. I'm sorry this happened to you.

[@johnstride9642]

I thought your famous hat was going over the side at one point!

[@jasonreid611]

Great video. Enjoyed that. Not a big fan of the motor but it has its advantages.

[@seajay09]

I have always regarded an outboard motor as a safety device on my lugger, and for me, this contingency has proved valuable on a number of occasions. Looks like Roger would agree ?

[@RogerRoving]

Rowing out of l’Auberlach against the wind would have been impossible. I would have had to drop down wind away from the fish farm, anchor and set up a jury rig by lowering the mast and lashing a block to it to take the main halyard, reef the sail and rehoist it. Perfectly possible. The outboard was a lot more convenient though.

[@paulgreen8996]

I was hoping to see a John Walker & Captain Flint jury rig

[@gregwood3380]

Thank you Roger.

[@stuartmenziesfarrant]

That coffee looked good Roger! Shame about the mast!

[@donsilsbe6134]

A broken mast? Oh no! Thanks for the sail, and best wishes on fixing or replacing the mast. Btw, clipping a small piece of cassette tape to the foot of the sail will help to determine wind direction.

[@JoseGarcia-wg7zu]

Hola Roger!…Una copia de ese motor FB lo hicieron acá en la década de los 80,con el nombre de YUMPA 5,eran defectuosos,arrancaban bien,pero después de unos minutos,si los detenías,no arrancaban más.Tuve uno,y el día que lo pude vender,fui el hombre más feliz del mundo!Gracias por el video!

[@billywhizz6483]

Wonderful, although sorry to see your mast go... something for the winter maintenance list!

[@canyonhaverfield2201]

Shame Mary's not along..she'd be insisting upon water skiing behind that bloody 2stroke,& I'd enjoy seeing her covered in dazzling goose bumps🎐 Yet you are free to boast you had the most unusual sail boat that day..you deserve that distinction🎐

[@harleyjune1233]

that aft row is going to keep you young and strong :)

[@redjacc7581]

Nice one RB

[@petreamccarthy8635]

Remarkable illustration of the difference in motion brtween sailing and motoring. Hope the mast wasn't too hard to fix.

[@Gary-wb8qt]

Boy, the wind broke Mr. Barnes dry wood mast off like dry wood mast on an old Lightening sailboat!

[@josephblansjaar5871]

Finding one's place of peace and happiness, yes? Mucking about in a lugger, a fickle breeze but who cares? I'm sure that mast will be replaced and star in your next exploit. I can't speak French but I can hear it spoken with a thick English accent? :) Cheers

[@MaritimeMustang]

Watched the videos, bought the book. Now joined the DCA. All I need is the boat.

[@RogerRoving]

I’m not certain you haven’t done all that in the wrong order!

[@christophe6065]

Thank you for this video. A little engine can be usefull... sometimes...🙂 On our side, we had no wind on the Canal and we crossed two locks (unexpected...).

[@mikefriend7570]

Domage! C'est la vie.

[@vaunmalone3064]

Hoist a Breton flag! 🥰 well of all the days to have the motor! The Gods were with you! Will a steel mast be better??

[@tomjeffersonwasright2288]

As a Seagull fanatic (have 12 of them), I found your past comments about the Seagull a bit dismissive. I trust your mighty Seagull will get a bit better press in the future. Mine have powered everything from a canoe to a 28 foot cruiser, and never let me down. Indeed, I have towed much larger boats home after they broke down.

[@AndyJarman]

Roger I noticed you mixing the sound at the end with the wispering wind over the top of the outboard. Thank you. The Seagull does snarl a bit! The little modern four strokes are a lot less intrusive - they do look a bit too slick for an Ilur. I quite understand your reluctance to go for a contemporary styled outboard.

[@williammillard687]

Brings to mind the Buckie Luggers...🤓 (fishing vessels..)

[@harryadams5651]

Love seeing small boat sailing. Just how did your mast break. A sudden gust of wind? Good you had auxiliary powerl

[@kimroberts155]

No doubt you can scarf on a new top. What luck you had the Seagull.

[@AndyJarman]

The colonial govenor of Sydney (Lachlan Macquarie) allowed the construction of sailing dinghies up to 14' 6" without having to be registered with him. I think this was to ensure convicts couldn't steal them to sail off in. The Ilur is 14' 6".

[@mwallace2922]

Really. Didnt know that. Thanks. 👍👍🇦🇺

[@stewarthunter8793]

Oh Roger, please don't worry, everyone feels very sorry for you.....keep your chin up and don't let matters get you down.

[@julanesutton9626]

5:02 "might put me hat on". LOVE IT ... are you suree you haven't visited NZ lately? Joy from down under...😊

[@ildut4921]

Salut Roger, désolé pour ton mat, en même temps il fera peut être l'objet d'une belle vidéo de plus pour sa réparation dans un atelier de charpentier de marine ou pourquoi pas dans l'association de vieux gréements le long des quais du port Rhu... A bientôt, et merci pour tous tes magnifiques partages 🙏

[@jeffmack4995]

Simply said, I always feel better after watching one of your films, Roger. Thanks so much! Jeff and Julie s/v OoLaLa Westsail32 #81

[@donotwantahandle1111]

I can see the advantage of a no boom rig. Less thumps on the noggin!

[@AndyJarman]

While you have the top of the mast off, have you ever thought of putting some coaxial up the inside to boost your VHF?

[@TomTremayne]

Interesting video Roger. Love your videos & watch them on 'heavy rotation' while I work. I find the head-space they put me in is very nice but in this one (& acknowledging that they're sailing films) I'd liked to have known more about the people. We met Jan for example, but then he vanished! Was he French (in the UK Jan's known as a more Northern European name, 'Jean' being the French)? Did you consume the nice things he brought? Had you maybe drank the beers when the mast broke?! Tiny bit more explanation would be nice at times & don't be afraid to interview people, you can always dump it in the edit if it's not working. The new house video before this one was fascinating.

[@RogerRoving]

You met him again later on. But perhaps you didn’t recognise him in his cap!

[@TomTremayne]

Everyone loves your videos Roger.....well done for being you.@@RogerRoving

[@damoog5985]

Looks like it split under the axle of the sheave by the force of the down haul, just where Vivier says to reinforce with 10mm ply each side

[@Burvedys]

Testing the engine is a good excuse to avoid sculling, of course. 😁

[@rboutside]

Roger you a lot more out of sorts and stumbly this time. Jan has brought lots of nice beer and beer. 😂

[@lincolngrove2808]

I'll have no truck with anthems and flags, but I always enjoy your channel. It makes me wish my Peanut 'Daffi' was just a bit bigger....

[@nyshkominternational7085]

What a shock. How on earth did that happen... you took it rather well. As if you had not enough work just now. Bon chance pour la rèparation

[@rockykoast7065]

Nice, Interesting little adventure. I'm curious about the cause of the mast breakage & how you will deal with it. (I believe you're still busy with house refurbishment so I'm guessing you've got a lot on your plate at present!)

[@plonk6174]

Excellent that your trusty boat will shortly be flying the tricolour. I am available for adoption from Blighty - I will come over in a small boat.

[@b.loedsinn4110]

Super video as always. How will you fix the mast? Jim.

[@jctothel]

Sarky owner of the Vivier!

[@Ultramesh]

That boat at 18:10 might be a Ebihen 16. Vivier offers quite a few variants, so they are not all the same.

[@topoirier]

Je préférais quand il n'y avait pas de moteur, ça change toute la façon de naviguer et de se débrouiller quand le vent tombe ou quand "the shit hits the fan". Mais toujours de belles navigations dans de jolis coins !

[@flt528]

Woah, how did the mast break???

[@chrisdenning9540]

Still have the trusty seagull then, Roger.

[@_dev0chk4_]

Damn! you think fix the mast yourself? with the scarf technique ?

[@2010katak]

Where did you launch from?

[@OldManGlitch]

Where did you keep that motor? Do you always have it with you for such circumstances?

[@bernardboulanger898]

Have you fixed your mast yet? Or are you wrapped up in your home renovation?

[@skellingtonmeteoryballoon]

These things they happen. I broke the tiller before so don’t feel bad

[@jacquesdussol3525]

Bonjour Roger, serait-il possible d'avoir le plan du système de bouts utilisés pour la barre ? merci et bravo pour les vidéos.

[@RogerRoving]

Prochainement je vais faire un vidéo au sujet.