I started building a John Welsford Pathfinder in July 2008. The boat was completed in Oct, 2010.

This blog now records our use of the boat, but documentation of building the boat can be found in the archives.

Monday, March 14, 2011

River Sailing

Finally got the boat back on the water for the first time since December.  Decided to sail around Pace Bend on the Colorado River feeding Lake Travis.  It is fairly narrow, so the trip required a lot of upwind sailing.  The Pathfinder seems to me to be easy to tack.  In any wind less that about 5 mph, I have to leave the jib backed for a little while to help move the bow through the wind.  Any wind closer to 10 mph and this is unnecessary.  Jibing this boat in wind 5-10mph is very gentle and easy to do.



The red track shows leaving from the ramp, up around the bend and landing on a muddy beach for lunch.  Green shows the trip home.   Total of about 14 miles sailed, though probably a lot less distance made good.

Here is a clip from the boat and a few pictures:







2 comments:

steve said...

nice one jon - good to see you back on the water - a great looking boat; glad the family are enjoying - one of mine loves sailing; the other avoids it like the [plague!
steve
arwens meanderings

Jon said...

Thanks Steve. There was a little grumbling this time about the "cold" wind as we tacked up the river, but the mud beach made it worthwhile for the kids....I now know to keep some extra jackets and winter hats in the boat just in case. Extra bottles of water stored in the boat seem to be necessary also, as I found out when my wife handed me the tiny bottle of water that would be my ration for the entire afternoon.