RobinBennett

I've been building Gary Dierking's Wa'apa outrigger sailing canoe for the last few months and finally took it sailing.

My blog starts here: http://sussexwaapa.blogspot.co.uk/2015_01_01_archive.html

It's not very long, but you can skip to the sailing photos here: http://sussexwaapa.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/sailing-at-last.html

The thing that really attracted me to this design is that I could get it on the water fairly quickly, but there are loads of options for future development - for example I can build another 8 foot section for the middle if I want a bigger boat, maybe with seats long enough to sleep on and a tent, or I could try a traditional shunting rig, or I could just build a rudder

Sailing in sea-boots and oilskins is warm and comfortable (until you capsize) so why do dry suits just have thin rubber socks?

Last year I borrowed a set of chest-high fisherman's waders for launching dinghys and driving the RIB for our club's youth group, and they were also warm and comfortable but clearly not really suitable for sailing a dinghy that could capsize.

I guess there must be a reason why people wear rubber socks inside wet-suit boots, rather than warm socks inside waterproof boots, but I can't imagine what it is!