The inaugral cruise continued;
Day 3
Well, isn’t it odd how often you find yourself in a pub to reminisce about the days’ sailing. The only huge disadvantage at present is that this particular pub has bloody Morris Dancers in it!!
Anyway, I disgress. Today has been eventful to say the least. We had a moonlit evening on our personal island, and awoke to a surprise – sunshine!
We played about on Barton with full sail for a while before heading to Stalham for provision. In the end, we sailed around the Punt Club pontoons, with a camera man snapping away. Some fantastic photos of ‘Corsair’ were got, with an exciting moment getting Chris the photographer back onboard!! (he survived, see illustration)
Our personal island 
Going for it!!
It was here the day started to go awry… Whilst lowering the mainsail, the gaff capsized – striking me VERY hard on the head. After mooring in the basin at Stalham, with blood now flowing freely down my face, we sought medical attention.
Never have the volunteers at the Museum of the Broads been so startled, at the dishevelled, bloody faced lunatic who shuffled in. Thankfully Stalham Doctor’s surgery super-glued the cut closed, although I do have a large lump on my head.
Leaving Stalham in the company of steam launch ‘Falcon’ we motored/sailed and double quanted down the Ant. Using 2 quants to propel a vessel is a fantastic way of covering ground easily in the calm.
Eventually we motored through Ludham Bridge, and turned upstream toward Horning on the Bure.
It was here that ‘Zoe’ (hire yacht) collided with a moored motor boat who unfortunately had a VERY bad-tempered skipper (enjoy your holiday!). ‘Dorothy’ (S/N331), one of our neighbours from Oby Dyke was also seen.
This evening (Day 3) sees us tucked up in Salhouse Broad, we’ve selected an idyllic spot, nestled amongst a tree. Other local highlights include the tree-seat island, and how I managed to procure a mudweight (and rope) for £5!! It had been lost by a hire boat, recovered by an enterprising local and sold to another!
Very much in the spirit of Arthur Ransome, there is ‘Hustler 3’ tucked up onto the ‘beach’ at Salhouse tonight. All that remains is for us to drink a fair selection of Woodforde’s Ale.
Falcon 
Falcon 
Lucent 
Tree-seat Island 
Hustler beached
Goodnight!
The photographer’s leap! 
Our route
As a postscript, re-reading the log book (2019) is making me realise how much I was learning at the time. Being aboard ‘Corsair’ was very different, being able to accommodate 4 crew and their bags, which stayed dry when it rained! Luxury!
Also – the sailing was so different, having a full crew means you can pretty much dispense with the engine, everything takes so little time. Getting the boat ready for sail or putting the awning on would take less than 10 minutes! Very different to my singled-handed sailing.
Although, the lack of a proper cooker, and certain other domestic equipment did mean it was ‘rough and ready’ accommodation. (!) Plus there is a certain element of Editor’s discretion, some memories remain unpublished!!
A Broadsman 