ExMemberBobdog

I’m a Norfolk man, plain and simple. My home county has always been a place of warmth, friendship and welcome, and Broadland a key part of that, something of which I have always been proud. This forum has for some time been slowly degenerating into a place of nastiness, led by a highly opinionated and intolerant minority. The many people I know and share time with on the Broads are friendly and gentle, caring of others. I have no time for the bitterness I see expressed here, and I truly hope, in the many days I spend on the rivers, never to meet any of those who express such vicious intolerance. I’m gone, I won’t be back. There are better things to do.

I entirely understand, even though I disagree with, the safety concerns argument. That’s a reasonable debate and I respect the views of those who disagree with my perspective. What I can’t come to terms with is the extent to which this discussion has degenerated into a torrent of bile and invective, much of it directed at the motivations of the organiser of this event, and some of it perpetrated by moderators who should be setting an example. I’m amazed at this on the so called ‘friendly forum’, and deeply ashamed, as many of you should be if you re-read what you have posted. I’m even more amazed that the moderators have not locked his thread permanently; they temporarily did so when it was far less offensive than it has become now.

Saw her heading upstream between Horning and Wroxham yesterday, Good Friday, before the rain set in.

It has been made abundantly clear by Mel Holland that there will not be any closure of the river. She also made clear that the RNLI charge a commercial fee for providing support cover to events such as this, a fee which will be paid out of receipts. I’m all for reasoned argument, and I accept that others have safety concerns which I don’t share, or at least that I think are overplayed, but at least deal with the facts.

... and even the most experienced and skilled amongst us occasionally make a complete pig’s ear of it.

Don’t worry. The idea that the Earth is round was unpopular once.

He started it sir!

Some members. Some of us are perfectly happy with the use of the term, and we have the right to express that view, however much some members try to shout us down.

But that works both ways. Your right to do your own thing on a boat could be seen as interfering with others right to enjoy their chosen lifestyle of wild swimming. Why should your pleasure always take priority?

Sounds like a great and well thought through event. I wish it every success and hope that it becomes a regular fixture in the Broads National Park calendar.

I don’t.

Would that be the organiser who has organised, and completed, swims across the English Channel, amongst other events? Isn’t that a bit risky, getting somebody on here who might have a clue what they’re talking about?

EXACTLY! Which is precisely why I am confident that the BA would not be allowing it unless they were satisfied that adequate control measures were in place to mitigate risk.

I know enough about the BA to know they would not have permitted this without them.

Not sure that you can, but damned sure that when the organisers asked for permission to stage an event such as this that the BA will have required them to submit such, will have reviewed them and made any approval conditional on changes that they saw appropriate. That’s the way the BA works, they are safety obsessed.

Lots of idle speculation about closing the rivers. Lots of speculation about closing moorings. Lots of nonsense about plans not being thought through. All based on what? My guess is that it’s been very carefully thought through, that swimmers will be advised to keep close to one bank, that safety boats will be deployed, that one of the inshore Lifeboat teams will be at hand, and probably a Ranger launch and rib. My guess is a small section of the mooring area may be roped off for the swimmers, but most of it left available for boats. No real difference to other fun events in the Broads National Park, such as the highly successful Stand Up Paddleboard race that has taken place on the Ant, Bure and Thurne for several years. The Broads National Park is for everyone to enjoy, not just old crusty killjoy boaters. Good luck to them! Personally I’ll be staying warm and dry; I gave up dinghy sailing because I got fed up of swimming in the rivers!

Yes. I’ve heard that from a friend who has taken advantage of the delivery service, and recommends the pizzas. I live outside the delivery range so cannot personally verify.

Goes to show that the loud voices on here who think they’re the voice of the boating community probably aren’t. They certainly don’t in any way speak for my interests as a boater.

Good.

Outside still looked really tatty today, but somebody told me there’s a thriving delivery service of pizzas and burgers etc operating from the kitchens for several months; people phone and order and they deliver. Also heard the story of at least one private event there recently, and that the target is to open for Easter. Hopefully the tatty outside will not put visitors off.

That’s my understanding too.

Hmm

Some people seem obsessed with trying to prove a conspiracy. He has stood down from the BA, and his role in the Planning Committee, purely and simply because he has served the 8 years in office that he is limited to.

Not so cold inside the shed.

My boat is supposed to go back in this week. Hope the boatyard decide to hang on a bit.