Sunday, 9 September 2012

Broads Rally, 7-9 September 2012

Wonderful to be back on the Broads again.  This year, we launched at Reedham Ferry on the River Yare.  The pub here serves great food and beer and there are handy moorings from which to launch a river cruise.

I had crew on Saturday, which is unusual, but reverted to single handing on Sunday.
Drascombes moored at Reedham Ferry

Reedham Ferry in action (Drascombes yonder)

Krykkje launching at Reedham (LW = mud!)
The slipway is technically fine for use at all states of the tide, but we found it muddy at or around LW.  There is a charge for use, and for parking of car/trailer; this is payable to the ferry operator.
Jenny Morgan sets the pace
On Saturday, before setting off, we were waiting for the annual Yare Navigation Race, which consists of a large number of Broads cruisers working their way down the Yare and back again.  Unfortunately, light winds meant that we never saw them pass Reedham, although I think they eventually did reach here.  Instead, we set off and met them en route.  It was all very good natured and they all managed to pass, by and large, without incident.  I heard a few raised voices towards some holiday cruisers who couldn't get out of the way.  These racing boats take their races seriously...
Where Jenny Morgan sails, other Drascombes follow, not necessarily falling into line, though...

Dabber Baffle

Deben Lugger Debutante.....

....going faster than Daisy II

Bashful Baffle

Coaster Dottie Two

Short Dyke, leading to Rockland Broad and lunch at the New Inn, Rockland St Mary

Lunch at the New Inn
We stopped for lunch at the New Inn, Rockland Broad.

The fleet sailing along a dyke aptly named 'The Fleet', leading from Rockland Broad back to the River Yare
After lunch we continued upstream, working our way into Bargate Broad and past the entrance to Surlingham Broad, before rejoining the Yare and stopping for the night at the pub at Surlingham Ferry.
A sumptuous supper with beer was enjoyed by all.

Jenny Morgan sets the tone, mooring stern-to; other Drascombes unconvinced...

A rare sight: Jenny Morgan under power...


On Sunday, we left at 9am and worked our way back to Reedham.  I chose to sail for substantial sections, even though the wind was very light initially.  In any case, my outboard motor was making some strange whining noises - which is not particularly good news...  The track shown below suggests three main chunks of tacking, the middle one of which was motor sailing.  In the final section - about a mile before returning to Reedham, the wind increased and the tide had turned, so I furled the jib and sailed using main and jib, managing to moor up at Reedham without engine or major incident.

The fleet waiting for wind on the return trip down the Yare
Red track on Saturday, White track on Sunday, including 133 tacks!  Distance travelled: 20.8nm over the weekend, season's total 390.3nm
Daisy II motor sailing in light winds, Sunday, snapped by Sue Hines (see comment below).

2 comments:

  1. It was fascinating to see the Drascombes sailing upriver through the big river cruisers (who incidentally turned at Hardley Mill on a shortened course this year). What a glorious weekend it was ....

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  2. Thank you Sue. We had a wonderful time; sailing through all of those cruisers was interesting, to say the least, but I think we managed to pass through without incident.
    It was an unexpected bonus to see your photos, so many thanks for sharing them. I've had a look at some of your other pictures - a fascinating record to which I hope to return again and again...

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