River sailing - tips and techniques

   Watch out for the trees overhanging right where you'd like to put your mast - gets expensive in burgees otherwise!

And learn to spot the minute windshifts and eddies.

Old Merlin Rockets under 6ft wide are popular river boats on the Thames - they were first designed at Putney so suit local conditions.

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patj Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 16 Jul 04 Location: Wiltshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 643	Post Options Post Reply Quote patj Report Post Quote Reply Topic: River sailing - tips and techniques Posted: 27 Apr 15 at 6:24pm
	Watch out for the trees overhanging right where you'd like to put your mast - gets expensive in burgees otherwise! And learn to spot the minute windshifts and eddies. Old Merlin Rockets under 6ft wide are popular river boats on the Thames - they were first designed at Putney so suit local conditions.

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 27 Apr 15 at 9:19pm
	Getting stuck in the trees is certainly a river pass time. There is a particular favourite at Bristol Avon, but I suspect where you'll be sailing has a bit more space.
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

ASok Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 26 Sep 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 739	Post Options Post Reply Quote ASok Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 05 May 15 at 9:48am
	First sail on the river this weekend. Breezy and gusty conditions. Sailing in a borrowed laser for the first time in about 10years. Good fun sailing. Totally different from the cat sailing I've been doing over the last few years. Gusts were difficult to manage, but the lulls and shadows were worse. I seemed to go so slowly at times whilst others ghosted along. River traffic was also entertaining - and its early in the season. Looking forward to my next outing and knowing that windy weekends on the river don't come along often enough.

Riv Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 23 Nov 13 Location: South Devon Online Status: Offline Posts: 353	Post Options Post Reply Quote Riv Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 10 May 15 at 8:48pm
	If there is a footpath on the other side best thing to do is to follow the best sailor on foot taking a note book and a camera, you can soon get a reasonable idea of where to go in the prevailing wind. The wind also changes direction as it crosses the bank, always shifts to try and cross at 90degrees so can produce a usefull lift very close to the bank. Lean to surf cruiser wakes it's fun... Edited by Riv - 10 May 15 at 8:49pm