Dinghy cruising

'Mud larking at Midnight day Two' In this video we depart Redshanks beach up the river Lynher after a 'tricky' night on the beach. We head back down river to Plymouth Sound and get a fast enjoyable sail up to the breakwater and back before heading home to the ramp.
Part One can be found at • Sailing up the river L... Part b of day one is found at • Sailing up the river L...
You can find out lots more about Arwen, a John Welsford designed 'navigator' day sailing and cruising dinghy by visiting her blog at www.arwensmeanderings.blogspot.co.uk
Use the search bar to find posts on everything to do with dinghy cruising, from building galley boxes, to safety gear carried on board, sleeping arrangements and passage logs about our microadventures along the SW Devon/Cornwall coasts and their rivers. The blog has been going for fourteen years now.
Our KZbin channel is conveniently arranged into playlists covering topics such as west country rivers, maintenance projects and more. Primarily a visual diary for my future '80 year old self', it also promotes dinghy cruising around the Plymouth Sound Marine National Park area.
We proudly fly the burgees of the Dinghy Cruising Association and the Small Traditional Sailing Boats group - both of which can be found on Facebook.
We look forward to you joining us on our cruising adventures and we welcome any constructive, positive comments and tips. Arwen's skipper is primarily a self taught sailor and both he and Arwen think we can all agree she deserves someone with much better intuitive sailing ability, skills and knowledge, to do justice to her incredible design and sea worth properties. :)
Take care now and fair winds to you all.
Steve and Arwen

[@johnbiddal5951]

Looking forward to the next video. My open cruising boat is 14 feet, Gunter Rig, it's nice to pick up tips and ideas from others.👍

[@plymouthwelshboy]

It is and also to learn from others and to get their evaluations and constructive positive comments on your own approaches

[@mikeu5380]

That shot at 5:40 nearly looks like a Turner painting... Another enjoyable cruise. Thanks for all this, Steve!

[@plymouthwelshboy]

Most welcome. Glad you enjoyed them take care now

[@DinghyCruisingTrim]

Thanks for making this series Steve. Anchors, ergh... I nearly lost Trim once when my 10lb plough anchor didn't hold in sand, and I was off doing other things on shore. Good samaritans saved her. I now have a little danforth aft and the big plough anchor forward, and not shy about throwing both in even for a short stopover. Don't feel bad about the mistakes, only the brave put them on camera for others to learn by. You looked pleased as punch belting home again, you have to love a Navigator.... Josh.

[@plymouthwelshboy]

Kick myself because it's the first time I have ever not carried the huge plough anchor that I have. Have never had to use it up that beach before...🙄...I'm always pleased if I manage to show how well a navigator can go.....most of the time my poor sailing skills just don't do the boat justice....you well Josh?

[@DinghyCruisingTrim]

@@plymouthwelshboyYes, all good my end. Was just in Europe for a bit but now back home and planning some trips. Stay tuned!

[@plymouthwelshboy]

looking forward to seeing the videos josh. hope europe tour went well.

[@timingersoll1257]

Mud Larkin indeed😅 Thanks for Steve!!

[@plymouthwelshboy]

Most welcome. Will catch up with your latest tonight. Hope u r well 👍

[@markdarley3825]

Tamar and Lynher; the greasiest mud I have come across. But beautiful rivers!

[@plymouthwelshboy]

It is foul stuff I must admit. Great exfoliating potential though ....must have done wonders for my legs 🙄😱😆

[@paulathomas4944]

From my very limited knowledge of anchors it's not simply a matter of size. The design matters too as some anchors are better is a given substrate than others. For mud a favourite amongst East Coast yachters seems to be the aluminium Fortress. It's a bit pricey though at around £330 and the lightest weight seems to be 4.5KG.

[@plymouthwelshboy]

Yeah....I used a Danforth which in the past has held up there no problem. But this time ....wow. Interestingly as I am replying to you now, I am watching a live report on local news about the spring tide flooding in looe. Flat calm, no wind, no rain and no surge and yet the most water they have seen across the harbour and town streets for some time. It seems to be getting far worse

[@peterwatson6975]

Hi, just a thought. Anchor design has moved on from the Danforth to focus on loading the pointy bit. Apart from poor mud holding, I guess yours didnt want to reset after releasing either, possibly initiated from the shift in the current and rode loading. Rocna, Mantis and Spade offer alternatives and prices can be reviewed via Jimmy Green. If you think of an effective anchor as a safety item, their cost is low in comparison to what can happen in the wrong conditions with an inferior model. Regrds, Peter

[@plymouthwelshboy]

Hi Peter. I do have a huge bruce anchor which has never failed on any ground but I didnt bring it on this trip. in all the times i have visited this beach I have always used the lighter danforth successfully. So it came as a bit of a shock!!!

[@dirtywetdogboatsandsailing6805]

That'll be mud then !

[@plymouthwelshboy]

And ridiculous spring tides

[@dirtywetdogboatsandsailing6805]

@@plymouthwelshboy it's one reason i'm a bit of a fool for big n heavy anchors

[@plymouthwelshboy]

me too after that debacle

[@dirtywetdogboatsandsailing6805]

@@plymouthwelshboy I know that people get very 'het up' about anchor types and weight but few it seems have much actual experience of anchors simply not setting or dragging through soft mud. There are several places in our rivers where he have the dual problems of soft silty mud and strong tides. Just near where you were is one place where I dragged a decent sized ( I thought) anchor and the same thing again just downriver in Sandacre bay on a very windy day. Many of the modern anchors seem to 'float' in the soft silty 'soupy' top layer of silt/mud and won't bite through to the harder layer below. Worryingly I used to find that even among the JW members there were some very fixed opinions about anchors where actual experience was lacking. The way I got around anchor problems with my 3 and 4 Ton Frances and Deben (with high keel area) was to go up one or 2 sizes just to get the weight needed.

[@plymouthwelshboy]

Taught me a lesson. Carry my oversized anchor as standard 🙄👍

[@mikeu5380]

"Everything revealed; lots up for discussion." A Teacher's Motto...

[@plymouthwelshboy]

True 😆

[@wandererdinghysailingchann6917]

Bouyancy aid is so loose at the shoulders,may rid over your head if you go in. Nice video

[@plymouthwelshboy]

Yeah depends on sailing conditions. I get easily seasick and so tend to keep it loose in benign conditions and tighten it up if it gets choppy. Not best practice must admit