A Rogue Mariner on the upper Thames
Roger Barnes
672,401 views
This video is about dinghy camping on inland waters. It was filmed on the river Thames 29-30 September 2018, launching at Lechlade and sailing eastwards down the river. But I also describe a visit to the Marais Poitevin in the Vendée region of France, earlier the same month, as well as sailing on the coastline of Charente Maritime. With a small trailerable dinghy you can visit many different sailing waters.
Links
My book, the Dinghy Cruising Companion
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dinghy-Cruis...
The Dinghy Cruising Association:
http://dinghycruising.org.uk/
The Ilur dinghy, by François Vivier:
http://www.vivierboats.com/en/product...
The vexed question of my mainsheet
Many viewers have suggested I fit a rope horse, rather than unhooking the mainsheet on each tack. A horse does not work on a boomless sail though. It tends to hook the leech into the centre line. My rig is pretty much how a traditional inshore fishing boat would have been rigged. Yes it has disadvantages, but also numerous advantages, which is why fishermen stuck with it until engines came along.
20 Comments
They had a great time by all accounts.
Norway and Britain - Friends forever.
Rule Britannia.
"The more stuff you have in your boat, the less room there is for fun."
Thanks for the insight Mr. Barnes, my horizon's expanded just a smidge more now.
All the best.
This all got me thinking, and I am working on an essay about it, that, to your point, as folks get older and often have more money, they buy these big impressive things… but how often do those things get used, and how much fun are they? I see the marinas up and down the lakefront all summer and they are mostly filled with boats sitting in their expensive slips, not out enjoying the gorgeous weather. Beautiful boats, but it is quite the chore and expense to keep them up and use them. I have a small city lot, only about six meters wide, the back alley side taken up by a two car garage w my workshop and a four ft wide arbor. I don’t really have space for a trailer. So for me, this tiny, lightweight boat is just right. In the future, during retirement, perhaps we’ll move to a house with a bit more space. But a small trailerable dinghy is all I think I’d ever want.
It’s gotten me wondering about other hobbies and activities, things middle aged folks loved doing in youth. What if they picked those up again? Sometimes, people are not physically capable anymore, but often, we might be able to modify something or go slower and still get the joy of that activity.
A Rogue Mariner on the upper Thames
Roger Barnes
672,401 views
This video is about dinghy camping on inland waters. It was filmed on the river Thames 29-30 September 2018, launching at Lechlade and sailing eastwards down the river. But I also describe a visit to the Marais Poitevin in the Vendée region of France, earlier the same month, as well as sailing on the coastline of Charente Maritime. With a small trailerable dinghy you can visit many different sailing waters.
Links
My book, the Dinghy Cruising Companion
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dinghy-Cruis...
The Dinghy Cruising Association:
http://dinghycruising.org.uk/
The Ilur dinghy, by François Vivier:
http://www.vivierboats.com/en/product...
The vexed question of my mainsheet
Many viewers have suggested I fit a rope horse, rather than unhooking the mainsheet on each tack. A horse does not work on a boomless sail though. It tends to hook the leech into the centre line. My rig is pretty much how a traditional inshore fishing boat would have been rigged. Yes it has disadvantages, but also numerous advantages, which is why fishermen stuck with it until engines came along.
She wanted experiences not possessions.
Following her way definitely the way for me now, yes being free like you to go places meet people and being able to get on the sea/rivers etc is what its all abt not impressive boats no one really cares abt
Live your best life ❤