Hickling Broad, Drascombe Association Rally 23-25 September

Drascombes gather at Potter Heigham for elevenses

In the several years since I've been involved with the Drascombe Association, this remarkable corner of Eastern England has hosted rallies on seven occasions.  Hickling was the venue for the inaugural event seven years ago, and this is now our third time here.

24.4nm Overture: red (Sunday 18th September); Symphony: green (Saturday 24th September); Encore: yellow (Sunday 25th September)

Overture - Sunday 18th September

Daisy II moored at Hickling awaiting the following week's rally

It made sense to head over the Hickling a weekend early, rig and launch Daisy II, ready for the following weekend.  If it were not for work commitments, I'd gladly have spent a week cruising around the many waterways, but that pleasure will have to wait for another year.  For this year, it was good to be able to spend a couple of hours, this afternoon, reaching across the broad, exploring its nether regions.

By arrangement, Daisy II spent the week moored on the staithe adjacent to the very conveniently located Pleasureboat Inn.

6.5nm

Drascombe Association Rally: 23-25 September

The previous time we rallied here with 25 boats.  This time, 8 boats gathered for a rather less busy but no less enjoyable event.  The participating boats were:

Drascombe Driver: On y va

Drascombe Lugger: Rita May

Drascombe Longboat: Jenny Morgan

Drascombe Coasters: Daisy II, Blue Peter, Dottie Two

Drascombe Drifter: Damson

Winkle Brig: Cockle

The weather for this event was, as might be predicted for one of my rallies, rather testing and this made action shots almost impossible.  In addition, the lens on my camera phone was dirty so most of the fare on this blog entry is pretty poor, even by my standards.  However, Peter Waller, as ever managed some great shots which ended up on this thread on the Drascombe forum.

Symphony: Saturday 24th September

The main day always involves a return trip to Horsey Mere.  Winds were southerly F5 gusting F6, so this was a day for reefing.  Nonetheless, it was quite remarkable how well our boats stood up to the conditions.

Blue Peter guarding against F6 gusts with jib and mizzen on Hickling Broad

On y va, a Drascombe Driver - happy family preparing for sailing on Hickling Broad

Lugger Rita May and Winkle Brig Cockle easing along Meadow Dyke before it opens into Horsey Mere

Drifter Damson reaching across Horsey Mere

Cockle on Horsey Mere

Coaster Dottie Two running back to base across Hickling Broad

Daisy II, sporting a double reefed main and reduced jib, spent time reaching across Hickling Broad, waiting for the fleet to assemble.  We then sailed through to Heigham Sound where we used motors for a while, until turning into Meadow Dyke.  It was good to throw up a jib and drift along the dyke to Horsey Mere.  We then enjoyed reaching across Horsey Mere in increasingly gusty conditions prior to stopping at the staithe at Horsey Mill for lunch.
After lunch, we returned to Hickling.  Daisy II had picked up crew in the form of the in-laws!
That evening, a welcome supper was enjoyed in the pub.

9.9nm

Encore - Sunday 25th September
Plans for the Sunday always depend on who needs to travel where.  Dottie Two left at 7am, returning to moorings in the Stalham area. 

Drifter Damson with lowered mast ready for the bridge at Potter Heigham

Jenny Morgan and Damson departed soon after 9.30am, bound for the southern Broads. 

There are some delightful riverside properties -  I attempted a clever reflection picture but without a great deal of success.  That's Daisy II in the living room!

 The remainder of the fleet headed out into Hickling Broad, bound for Potter Heigham for elevenses, prior to returning to Whispering Reeds boatyard, intent on doing battle with its famous crooked slipway!

8.0nm