Gaffer – A Broadsman

2012 season; – we go to the seaside

The remainder of 2011 passed without much incident, although ‘Corsair’ did over-winter somewhere quite unusual…. Inside a pub carpark! Yes, really. A group of us formed a collective where a good idea sadly failed to flourish. We experimented to see if you could use spare land to keep boats on, and subsequently boost the takings in the pub over the quiet months.

Sadly, as ever with good ideas – the red tape brigade came marching in VERY quickly, and after 1 winter, we learnt it wasn’t to be repeated, we were all very naughty & that whoever thought of keeping boats next to a river anyway. Tsk, tsk & go sit in corner…

Some things do stand out that winter – firstly the cold. Jeepers Creepers it was a hard winter – planks were cut, hollowed & fitted, often in sub-zero temperatures & at least one day saw me roving up in the snow! Not ideal, but it got us ashore & ready for the season ahead.

For 2012, we had definitely found our ‘rhythm’ – we partook in the YSC May Day cruise, which included a tricksy little tack up through the trees from Brundall Gardens to Bramerton Common… where upon we (as a fleet) occupied the pub moorings, must to the consternation of a few Gin Palaces – unable to stomach the short walk from the common itself. Poor darlings.

‘Corsair’ & her pals at Bramerton… prior to GP upset.

Strange what sticks in your mind, my only defining memory of that weekend is that tricky tacking, and hearing (upon reaching Bramerton) that I’d made “not too bad a job of that” from another skipper on a much lighter, faster boat. Praise indeed!

Equally, we completed the Ray Perryman without a hitch, in uncharacteristic sunshine. Obviously the atrocious weather from the early May BH had been shamed into a ‘U’ turn! I didn’t know it, but we were establishing a pattern for the events which suited us, and eventually became our ‘season’.

The RP memorial race is run with a ‘gate’ start (you can start between 10-10:45am for example & you are timed from the moment you cross the line, rather than when the gate / start signal is made). This adds a little twist to your tactics… you juggle the vagaries of when the swing bridge will let you through to the start line – and also make a judgement of how much favourable tide you’ll need. My personal preference is always to get through (less rude letters to B.R.) then get going to maximise the flood tide helping you to Beccles.

This year, the photographic gods were also kind to us, if you don’t know our eventual position (7th)… you’ll see us momentarily leading the fleet! I think also, to keep the excitement going, at the post-race curry I ended up accidently eating some peanuts, and mid-way through allergic reaction, I looked up to see a close-friend sharpening a knife/dismantling a biro (for the emergency tractotomy – thankfully not needed!).

For those Ransome fans – Beccles is always a delight to visit, with the new bridge it’s hard to imagine the scene in AR’s day, but the thought of a Thames barge weaving it’s way up the Waveney, through the same trees as us always makes me wonder, just how did they do it? I know in the pool of London, they’d employ ‘hufflers’ to move them along. I suspect ‘Come Along’ had a say in moving them.

But yes, sorry. Without question the highlight of the 2012 season was our foray to the seaside. To my knowledge ‘Corsair’ had never been salt-side of Mutford Lock ever, and it seemed too good an opportunity to miss. We left ‘Corsair’ safely tucked up at Geldeston for the week before, and ventured carefully down to Mutford Lock…

Succinctly – what a BRILLIANT weekend. Sadly unlikely to ever be repeated, with the building of the 3rd crossing in Lowestoft harbour – our racing area has been cut in half. Heyho. Going to the seaside though is something I highly recommend for any Broads yacht. Go, dress overall (the boat!), make sandcastles, play mini-golf & generally have a break from all that nasty yachting (!)

‘Corsair’ spent the 1st night in the basin, learning that a southerly inexplicably causes alot of ‘surging’ / banging & crashing for moored boats. Particularly when you’re the 4th boat inboard of a raft up of many…

Poor sleep aside, going out into the outer harbour and pitching/diving up around in the swell (rather than join the log jam in the bridge channel) proved excellent fun. Our borrowed 2hp outboard screamed like an egg-whisk, we dunked our bowsprit into waves, rocked/rolled, felt abit scared but generally very courageous. ‘Corsair’ might be little, but at times she’s got a great big heart. We got to the point where the RNSYC rescue boats discretely came to ask if we were okay (!).

The racing itself was definitely memorable, the wind got GUSTY, the rains came & those bloody grain silo things caused huge wind shadows… But it was brilliant fun. All those Broads yachts, terrorising the harbour. There were many broaches, our bilge pump rattled throughout each time we got laid onto our beam ends & the waterproofs proved themselves not waterproof (it’s always the way!)

As an aside, if you want to see true fear… Gather together a load of old Broads sailors, all of whom start on a 10, 5, GO system. Then casually announce you’re going to use 5, 4, 1, GO. The air became thick with panic & mutterings of ‘how do you reset this stopwatch?!”

Eventually, the rain/cold got to us, and we rigged the 2hp egg-whisk before then dipping the mast & scuttling back to the safety of the yacht basin. Despite it now being a f7, with torrential rain, we were hooked!

The rest of the weekend followed similar lines, lots of laughter, careening around in a small boat where maybe we shouldn’tve. All too soon, the weather cleared & we returned to the Broads, towing a friends yacht – who’d sadly been rushed to A&E. The only comparison it gave me was how rinky-dinky ‘Corsair’ is, when you compare her to even moderately larger Broads yachts…

So yes, ‘Corsair’ & the day we didn’t go to sea, but very nearly…

2011 Cruise – Days 7 & 8

So. Waking up & discussing our criminality, we decided the best option was to reef down & take a ‘brisk’ SW tack out of the Thurne.

In retrospect, catching ‘Polly’ in Kendal dyke wasn’t out best plan, so with much spilling of wind we waited until Simon kindly sailed into the reeds allowing us a ‘gap’ to get past. Much to their annoyance, we also then stormed past a hire boat, tailgated the local bin lorry (it’s a barge running up/down Potter) & scattered several canoeists like startled ducks before we moored at the bridge.

The usual drama then unfolded, as we were navigating the old bridge, a day boat & a motor launch caused us to execute a rapid slalom!

Leaving Potter with a double reefed mainsail proved a sensible decision, as before the arrival of yet another rain shower – some strong gusts forced us into rigging the backstays & praying… once at Cold Harbour however we eased onto a broad reach that lasted until Acle.

Thankfully, conditions changed, and we set full sail from Acle bridge for the gentle run upriver to South Walsham dyke. Once there, we located the elusive ‘Polly’ & moored. A curry & cider set the spell for the rest of the evening… Except I’d only bloody bought poppadum’s which required DEEP-FRYING.

If you want to learn fear, true fear. Fill a large frying pan with an inch of oil. Bring it to red-hot temperature on a roaring Primus & then try not to get burnt to hell & back whilst you cook poppadum’s on it… (oh & be inside a wooden boat for good measure)… Eff me.

Later, a world-record was set – with 7 people all getting into ‘Polly’ for a drink… we estimated the freeboard was 2inches.

Night.

Day 8

It rained…. A lot. Again. ‘E’ was forced to vacate her bunk in the middle of the night as a waterfall had appeared. Relations were ‘restrained’ later than morning over breakfast…

We identified full cloud cover, and with no obvious respite from the weather we swiftly decided to motor upriver to Ludham Bridge, seeking solace in the Dog Inn PH.

Having ‘forgotten’ my waterproofs, I retired into the cabin to sit things out. Once through Ludham Bridge, conditions had deteriorated into a bleak, gusty, viscious SE gale. Obviously we reefed, hoisted sail & ‘took off’… (!)

Take off seemed appropriate, never before has a faster passage been recorded for the Ant. Surging upstream like a water-borne helter-skelter, we surfed along, ‘Corsair’ giving her best death roll into the bargain. The main was eased until the knot was in my hand (on all points of sail!!), the crew sat on the weather deck & the boom lunged skywards threatening a chinese gybe at any moment.

Eff me. We overtook, we undertook, and sometimes we plain bullied out way past boats and tried not to think what’d happen if the mast broke. At How Hill we observed a ‘twister’ running down the marsh – which mercifully avoided us.

The single photo of our down-wind melee – this is a backstay tackle.

However, we practiced aplomb (or blind fear) – within the hour, we had moored at Stalham staithe.

Strangely, our arrival coincided with opening time at ‘The Swan’, allowing us to calm our nerves with a leisurely lunch. Sometime later, we slunk back to ‘Corsair’ where unfortunately ‘L’ had had to return to work. The remainder of us motored to Sutton Staithe in a brief spell of sunshine. (it wasn’t to last).

Within minutes of mooring, we dodged YET ANOTHER deluge of rain & fled into the Sutton Staithe hotel, which accomodated us for the most random game of darts… Alas it was only spoiled by the overly creative scoring that ‘Nina’ displayed (for her score only!)

Returning to the boats, we found a welcome late-visitor in the form of ‘Polly’ – Hooray! much, much alcohol was then consumed to celebrate this, and we fell into a stupor, under the steady monotone of rain on canvas…

Night.

2011 Cruise – Day 6

Light rain (seeing a pattern here?) removed the chance of a decent view at the top of the capanile , although this didn’t deter us all from climbing the stairs to ‘admire’ the dank, grey landscape (24th August!).

An old hand had joined us, & was found to remark that somehow I always managed to get people on holiday, in the rain. (the clever b&^%ard). After breaking down the tents, we swiftly tidied up after ourselves & thought no more of it, as we set off in the blazing sun heading back toward St Benet’s.

(how wrong we were!)

Just upriver from Horning Hall, we were lured into thinking that 2 fenders idly floating by were discarded… RIVER TREASURE! We wasted no time, performed an all-standing gybe & lurched into the reeds gleefully.

Firstly, they were balloons. Secondly, we’d also gone hard aground. (Bugger). Thankfully both ‘Polly’ & ‘F’ were very supportive.

By 2pm, we were safely moored in Potter Heigham alongside the famous H.W yacht ‘Ladybird’, and were preparing to navigate through the bridges, without being attacked by any hire craft (!)

HW Ladybird – c.1930’s looking magnificent.

‘Ladybird’ is quite special, being built as a double-ended racing yacht, and subsequently then being modified & put into hire… (!) She was ‘transformed’ into this;

What followed, was absolute champagne sailing, we headed up the Thurne & onto Horsey Mere, where the sea-breeze kicked in, and we all got to charge around the Mere just messing about in boats.

With thoughts of the evening’s BBQ, we motored back out of Meadow Dyke, navigation being punctuated by;

Tea (good)
Jeremy the dog walking off the stern of ‘Polly’ (less good)

Sadly, we’d managed to burn the only non-burning disposable BBQ in the world, so we set about to get quite pissed… However the day was not over!

9.30pm… it’s pitch black, and we’re quietly winding down… A motor boat is heard, heading up Heigham Sounds towards us… with a searchlight scanning the moorings (!)

A VERY surreal experience followed… We were questioned (at length) by 2 river inspectors who refused to show ID, or approach us. It would appear that morning at Ranworth our tents were reported (by some morally righteous twerp) – which had precipitated a largescale ‘boat hunt’ with every BA launch mobilised for several hours, just to pursue us!

Despite the ridiculous nature of being told that we shouldn’t have done what we’d done quietly, without damage – we reached a stalemate & had a nightcap to digest it all…

The outlaws hide-out… White Slea Lodge moorings.

Night.

2011 Cruise – Day 5

Rain. Lots of it. A brief, but dense shower woke us all & peppered us throughout breakfast. There was a fierce competition as to how many people could fit inside ‘Corsair’, under cover. Eventually we realised it was futile, broke camp & set off to Wroxham.

This week, it seemed every S.o.B & his wife was out on the river – it was mayhem. As we approached Wroxham bridge, we were VERY glad to have stopped & left ‘F’ on a mudweight on Salhouse Broad.

As a side-note, ‘Corsair’ has an ingenious folding bracket which holds the outboard motor. Sadly this also means that it folds itself when you go hard astern… so in confined manoeuvres we go VERY slowly & hope nothing pulls out in front of us.

Teaching the tourists some anglo-saxon – we made a swift stern mooring, and were safely tucked up outside the coffee shop (oh no, of all the spots to pick!)

Hot showers suitably revived us, and special attire (lord knows what that means – Ed.) was donned in advance of ‘PollyWog’ joining us.

One brief & quite shouty evasive manoeuvre later, both ‘Corsair’ & ‘PollyWog’ escaped un-scathed despite the best efforts of ‘Queen of the Broads’ (!)

On the way to Horning – ‘F’ was recovered, whilst ‘Corsair’ went on, and moored outside the sailing club again – to allow us to raise sail, before leisurely heading to Ranworth. Almost immediately the wind fell to a flat calm. (bugger).

30 mins of quanting later, we’re huffing/puffing past the Ferry Inn, when Billy (in search of baccy) discovers he’s left his jacket at Horning Sailing Club. (Groan!).

Ten minutes of full-chat outboard later, we’re back at the sailing club, thankfully someone has kept the jacket safe having spotted it. (phew!) We’d left ‘Polly’ & ‘F’ to complete their slow drift to Malthouse Broad. We, on the grounds of likely mutiny chose to motor…

As the evening drew in, with a choc-a-block staithe, we simply waited until the ferry stopped running before putting all 3 craft in the dayboat dyke. (simple!), before scarpering to the Maltsters.

Mostly uneventful, we went to bed, gratified by the sound of a tourist falling in…

Night.

2011 Cruise – Day 4

With sun pouring in through the cabin windows (expertly cleaned by Nina & Billy) at 4:30am, E & myself made a resolve to prepare some curtains before tomorrow…

Another stunning morning! Brilliant sunshine & a fair, but light breeze we slipped down the Broad, with ‘Corsair’ chuckling to herself as Nina helmed.

Several photographs later, we exited the Broad & headed up the upper Thurne toward Somerton to inspect Martham ferry, whilst ‘F’ caught us up.

Shortly after passing ‘Clipper 1’, we moored both craft upstream of the bridges before motoring through. Our entertainment for this bridge-transit was hearing the strident advice ‘C’ gave some tourists regarding their mooring technique…

Such amusements aside, once again we slipped off on a broad reach with Bill helming, whilst I busily prepared lunch (beef/mustard sandwiches).

At the confluence of the Bure & Thurne – ‘Corsair’ spent a minute or two before ‘F’ joined us. There followed an idyllic sail up river to Horning, following wind, sunshine, bliss!

Nina & Billy were both v.impressed with St Benet’s abbey, we delighted in all the ghost stories (some just for their benefit) as we passed.

Until Horning, things were peaceful, then the usual melee of day boats, tour boats, hire boats, swans, fisherman & miscellaneous craft provided a hair-raising sail for both boats!

(Scenes of ‘The art of coarse sailing’ – aiming for a point 4ft ahead of the stem of a tour boat raises the pulse!!!)

Once moored outside HSC – we returned to the mainland for a restorative ice-cream. Honestly, we looked like a bloody postcard scene! After some more posing, it was a short, if challenging sail downwind to Salhouse Broad. This section is pretty, but very tricky to sail with such heavily wooded banks.

Exhausted by our impressive mileage today, not one of us ventured upto the ‘Fur & Feathers’ in the evening (we’re all ‘kin knackered) Instead, the playground, woods & 3-hour walk to the toilets occupied us until our respective sleeping pits were found.

Night!

2011 Cruise – Day 3

We woke slowly (for some reason), with mist lazily rising from the water. I set to the duties of tea-making for the crew. Some of them were more ‘perky’ than others the Skipper notes… (!)

A brief quant later, both vessels were moving quite nicely onto the Thurne, with ‘F’ sporting her new, oversize Cornish ensign. Several infuriating windshifts later, we had tacked our way into Potter, and temporarily moored alongside a Richardson’s bathtub.

This gave us a brief refuge to catch our breath, before we all piled into ‘F’ through the bridges, Haiwaii 5-0 style!

Unfortunately, during this manuevre ‘Corsair’ was struck (hard) by an incredibly unpleasant, brain-dead knuckle dragging dickhead who piloted a hire cruiser with about as much aplomb as a wrecking ball. Fruitless discussion with them left negoiations in the hands of the hire yard & myself. Even now, as I write this I remember what a complete & utter person of questionable parentage he was…

However, ice creams, quiche & a quick cuppa soon removed such issues from our minds, and we set off on our voyage to Hickling. Unusually, with no sea breeze, light airs continued, allowing Nina to helm, with Mr B & Billy crewing.

Why let a glorious day with friends get in the way of a petty tacking duel though?! Once on Heigham Sounds we set about with a sweet-looking ‘F’, swapping tacks & exchanging insults as we progressed up past Deep-go-Dyke.

Once on the broad itself, the sea breeze did appear (finally!) & allowed us some decent long tacks with Mr B helping the jib over. Keeping pace with ‘Corsair’ though was a very sprightly dinghy – known as a bugle – it looked nippy!

We moored on the staithe (expertly helmed by Billy) – and all set about cleaning/smartening ‘Corsair’ in advance of ‘E’ arriving.

So, finishing early – I can only note that I am sat in the blazing sunshine, listening again to a live-band, feeling totally content.

Night.

2011 Cruise – Day 1

Throughout 2011, I perfected the art of leaving ‘Corsair’ on a convenient mooring between sailing, rather than necessarily slogging back to Brundall each weekend.

Mostly – this worked well, I did occasionally take a ‘flexible’ view of the Broads Authority 24 hour moorings to facilitate this, but at this point of course I’m duty-bound to point out all fictitious references to that sort of thing should be treated as baseless rumour…

Anyway – the cruise for 2011 was to be a Northern rivers affair, especially as we’d covered a significant portion of the southern rivers in our ‘normal’ sailing having moved to Brundall.

Day 1

With news of the Reedham riverside beer festival ringing in my ears – ‘Corsair’ motored downstream in cool, calm conditions. Typically – we’d be gathering crew / boats today & tomorrow.

Meeting RCC S/N219 ‘Farthing’ moored up en-route – exchanging muted greetings across the river & above the engine noise (!). Maybe they were shouting? Who knows… Anyway. We moored just upstream of the BA hut on Reedham quay, to await the arrival of Binky on the 20:00 train.

Duly aboard – we agreed a quick dinner was the best approach, lets get at the beer!

There was however much consternation from Mr B – he’d not yet had the ‘pleasure’ of being upclose & personal with a primus stove… and I was still learning!

To be fair, the flames did die down… but he’s still twitchy from our last fire onboard. (another story!)

Before we could get ashore however, with shades of Michael Green… we’d found ourselves in possesion of a cat! Quite how the bloody thing got aboard is one mystery we’ll never resolve. The ‘shadow puppet’ theatre for the quay-side as the awning buckled/bulged/swayed to the tune of “bugger off! Come here, whose fucking cat is this anyway!?” Must have been popular.

Order restored, we swiftly walked to the Lord Nelson to calm our nerves…

The music festival – pre the Kazoo solo.

Much later, nerves calmed, we were ‘treated’ to some solo kazoo playing, from ‘The Harvs’ band. Wishing them great fortunes, we retired to the boat.

Early tide tomorrow.

Night.

60th birthday party

Thinking back – I can’t quantify how lucky I was, in terms of the friendship & support I enjoyed through the sailing fraternity – and there’s no better example than ‘Corsair’s’ 60th birthday weekend. I’m truly lucky in that respect.

As you’re aware, sadly I had started the weekend by leaving ‘TOG’ on Reedham Quay, her impellor was knackered & sadly the parts just wouldn’t arrive in time for her to race. So ‘Corsair’ headed to Somerleyton, complete with her birthday present from Joe & Julia; 36 pints of gorgeous local beer complete with our personalised pump clip!

Conditions weren’t ideal, this race is always a passage race from Somerleyton to Beccles, and sadly this year both wind & tide were set to be ‘foul’, strong SW & a prolonged ebb tide. Undeterred, we set off having prepared a nourishing breakfast of strong cider (just the thing for a crack racing team, all the America’s Cup lads do the same y’know!)

Sadly although our entry to the R.P race itself was stylish – having started stormed upriver in a strong breeze which saw ‘Corsair’ surging along, we had to retire at Burgh St. Peter, due to an increasing amount of water in the bilge – and it became apparent that the bilge pump wasn’t doing its job. Until that point though, she looked fantastic, and was powering upwind;

(later it turned out the battery was a dud. Dull to mention it, but for me it meant another big outlay, I remember the £80 for a new one dug me a little deeper into my overdraft)

Falling on our sword, we instead defaulted to party-mode – by the time we’d reached Beccles we know longer knew or cared that much about the race. The celebratory keg of beer proved a big hit, as the party grew so the waterline dropped lower & lower, eventually spilling people out onto neighbouring boats.

Our party continued upstream to Geldeston, and then for another 24 hours. I’ll admit that the log-book is ‘light’ on detail (!). I do remember an absolute champagne sail downstream from Beccles – that BH Monday. The tide was fair (even if the wind wasn’t). A friend managed some fantastic photographs of us just downstream of Beccles heading toward Aldeby stumps.

By using the quant through the more tree-lined section, you can cover a reasonable amount of distance that way even with just 1 person. Co-incidentally it’s alot less work than lugging the engine onto its bracket for a couple of reaches.

Using the quant, and every last puff of air – progress is certainly not quicker than the outboard, but it’s far more satisfying, giving you time to focus. Not to mention its incredible rewarding!

By late afternoon, we’d convened at Somerlyton again, and I realised what a perfect weekend it’d been. I was just doing what you should, celebrating an old boat in the sunshine with good friends.

Coming back to earth with a bump, the weekend finished with Joe & myself reassembling ‘TOG’s’ engine on Reedham quay, celebrating of course… with more beer!

It looked like the move onto the southern rivers was going to be a great success – ‘Corsair’ certainly seemed at home. Our season stretched ahead of us with a full calendar of regattas to enjoy.

2011 – 60th year

2011 saw us winter at Upton again, with further repairs being made in an attempt to keep the port sidedeck waterproof (largely unsuccessful – in the long run) – but we were tucked up at the Northern end of the yard, in good company.

For this period we were ashore adjacent to a Woodbrige-builtcraft, a Ranzo 4 ½ tonner designed by William Maxwell Blake – built by Robertson’s yard. She was (is) a beautiful yacht, very different to anything local to the Broads, and both us owners could enjoy chatting away – avoiding real work.

nb; she is for sale – here; https://www.topsail.co.uk/boat.php?refnum=2207

However, 2011 was an anniversary year for ‘Corsair’ – I thought I would do all I could to make her look good. Her cabin sides had been stained last year (the eagle eyed amongst you will have spotted no chrome trim last year).

In fact – that wasn’t entirely an aesthetic choice – I was finding the financial implications of owning a wooden boat really tough. This photo from late 2010 shows myself & a girlfriend heading out to St. Benet’s abbey for the day (November, some beautiful sailing can be had in Autumn) – and you’ll spot where I rain out of masking tape applying the boot top that year!

November sailing – 2010 excuse the lack of boot top!

So, for 2011 I was determined to do better – I’m not sure I necessarily succeeded, but ‘Corsair’ did make it into the water fully painted, with a cove-line, and some more varnish on the cabin sides. Our launch caused a certain amount of concern – as ‘Corsair’ did her best to take in as much water as possible in the shortest time…

The night before I brought both boats south – I stayed on ‘TOG’ in the basin at Upton. Whilst during the winter often this is an exposed spot – by spring the trees are in leaf & it becomes a snug little mooring which if I’m honest, gives you the best seat in the house to have your dinner.

It was chilly, but you can’t beat being afloat – or eating in the open air (IMHO). But yes, back to ‘Corsair’

The extra attention that winter wasn’t in vain – I had plans! ‘Corsair’ was moving south to a new mooring on the southern rivers in Brundall, and was to celebrate her 60th birthday in style, competing in the ‘Ray Perryman’ race over the late May B.H.

The journey south wasn’t without ‘incident’ – it has to be said, having completed the winter work on both ‘Corsair’ & ‘TOG’ – I was expressly forbidden to exit the dyke with both vessels at the same time, by the then yard owner. Well… what can I say??!

It was genuinely abit tight in a couple of places… we rubbed fenders twice with moored boats & then set off for our tidal window at Great Yarmouth.

Coming to the southern rivers, the ebb tends to run alot longer in the Bure than it will the Yare – so you can come down much later than you’d think & be guaranteed a good flood tide up Breydon. Today was no exception, as I turned at the yellow post, both craft found themselves whisked up the channel nicely, thank you very much…

Except. The exhaust note had changed from its usual tone, to one more redolent of a dirty phone call… ‘huffahuffahuffahuff’. Quick check over my shoulder. No water from the exhaust. Sod it! Shut down the engine pronto.

Leaping from boat to boat, whilst digging an outboard bracket out of the forepeak, putting it on, repeating that process twice for the engine & fueltank. Well I won’t bore you with the details, but needless to say I am confident I’ve set a world record. Both ‘TOG’ & ‘Corsair’ were gently pirouetting their way to the mudbanks – I had to move fast.

Some minutes later, with my 5hp outboard roaring its head off, we began the slog trek up Breydon. Phew. Wooden boats eh?

Next time, we celebrate ‘Corsair’s’ birthday.

Cruise 2010 – the final day

Phew. Well after a particularly long evening, the skipper can report his safe return to ‘Corsair’. Miss Jalil & I also managed to spend a pleasant night on relatively dry bunks!

I’m not sure of the details now, writing this 11 years later, but I can see that I’ve changed the crew names for today to “Binky, my faithful Binky, Wiggles & Pol-Pot” – no doubt they were testing my otherwise charming nature.

As it’s the last morning (or meal) – we dined on an ENORMOUS breakfast which for the others was on top of their own feast at the pub last night. But yes, last meal – usually ‘lob in’. Despite the sheltered nature of the staithe – we could tell it was bloody windy, another 3 reefs & storm jib job.

We quanted out, raised sail & blasted across Barton just once to feel the breeze. That dealt with we started on a passage which highlighted just how crap a sailing river the Ant can be! Initially we struggled with the tricks & schemes of the trees at Irstead.

Only then, we got clear of that bloody lot & found ourselves in a long tacking sessions whilst dodging a myriad of hire boats, and getting somewhat (ahem) frustrated in the process. Honestly I’ve never met so many retards.

Just downstream of How Hill, there followed 10 minutes of the most vicious, horrible sailing. We caught a ‘roger’ from the marshes, which ripped the mainsheet out of my hands. It took both hands & all my strength of the tiller to keep ‘Corsair’ from rounding up into the bank.

We spent then 10 long, scary minutes surfing down the Ant, huddled in the cockpit (it wasn’t safe to go forrad with the way the mast was bending) before luffing into a sheltered spot behind some trees.

n.b; trees are your friend on a day like this, I never say a bad word about them!

Sails lowered in record time, we put the outboard on & motored to Ludham Bridge. At which point… WHOOSH. Biblical rain! Everyone hid in the cabin, except me…

At this point, cold, fed up & being given the gift of feedback from Wiggles & Pol-Pot, we accepted the inevitable and motored back to Oby Dyke. To all our disbelief, the Land Rover started – so we drew our holiday to a close!

Next year – ‘Corsair’s’ 60th birthday cruise.

Night.