Hockham Admiral

We've sat at Acle Bridge for the last three years for the race and had great times with pretty good weather. When we saw the weather pattern for this period now we decided to give it a miss............

Barry, Hi. Welcome aboard the Net from us. What an interesting and informative first post you bring!

Oh, Jonny............. if all hirers were as conscientious as you.................

On the unfortunate times we've been hit either the yatd has cheerfully (yes, honestly!) repaired the damage or the owner's insurance has coughed up... That's when we've been around to see it! And on one occasion it was a hull respray by GCM.... not cheap........

You show bloody amazing restraint, Clive..... It would make me weep...

Are those the pod thingies Luke has got on Job Done?

Dave, Hi. Two final tips on arriving and departing stern-on... when you're against the mooring just pop her into slow reverse and this will hold you there until the ropes are tied off. Likewise on departing, put her in slow reverse before you untie and then she won't drift away. If you've got a strong able-bodied spare hand it's worth getting them to throw the mud weight overboard just before your stern approaches the bank; this will then drag the weight into the mud and hold your bow fast. If it's difficult to pull up when you depart just go slowly forward until the boat pulls the weight out of the mud's suction. You can then stop and pull the weight onboard. Whatever, have a Great Time! (and the Lowestoft Airshow is on the w/e 23/24th June... huge enough crowds to lose anyone!)

1976 was a really fantastic Summer!

Where were you, North or South?

If you can afford it then it is! Personally I feel so sorry for the hundreds of hirers and their kids who are booked out for this half-term...

We'll be there from Thursday/Friday, Paul, if you fancy a last glass or three!

1. Goodchilds, Burgh Castle 2. Waveney River Centre 3. Derby's, Beccles 4. Numerous along the Chet at Lodham 5. Brooms, Brundall 6. Norwich Yacht Station Personally, we use Derby's, Brooms and the NYS... cos they all come out and do it for you! Buit if you're a hire boat then most yards have a reciprocal (free) agreement.

We're spending the weekend at Oulton Broad over the Lowestoft Airshow. Anyone else coming? If so I suggest you book a slot pdq as it will be a very popular event!

Not to mention the danger of those bloody old Merlin engines!

6ft6ins or thereabouts but at anything other than High Water Springs you'll be fine.... then on to Geldeston Locks!

Its just been re-opened after the Winter re-fit and is now heated......................

And here's a link to what's going on........... http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog ... ee-pageant

They're turning the webcam on on the 3rd June for the procession... http://norfolk.iwitness24.co.uk/en/phot ... tilla.html http://www.thamespageantlive.com Some deal, guys, you're now part of history!

It's all changed! Beccles Lido has just reopened and is a heated outdoor swimming pool now! If you can get under the old bridge you can moor right outside on the floating pontoon! (just below the church) http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/picture_gal ... _1_1389935 http://www.beccleslido.com/

Carrol, Hi. Of course, you're correct! Off to the boat in a couple of hours and we've booked a meal in the New Inn at Rocklands for later. Don't miss this pub when you're down South!

Reedcutters at Thorpe, Carol.......... WRC very expensive. about £6 a day..... All the pubs in Loddon

And with the number of boats they put out I just can't see how much more they can do.... problem is (and it's NOT their fault) that up at the top of the Ant there's just no current and they're well sheltered from the wind.... but again there's little they can do about that... So back to the topic... Paul had a particularly bad experience on the Yare..... if you are fortunate to own your own boat then you either don't ever go out in her on the Broads or you put up with Privateers and Hirers alike.. both have bashed us..... in about equal proportions

Oh Dear, Jonny.......... bang goes his insurance waiver!

There's just that little 'H' on the reg disc, Clive! And the -4, -6 or whatever number after the stern reg number!

Poppy, Hi. I'm afraid you've taken my quote a bit out of context... SetFair wrote:Not sure if this still applies but back in the 80's I hired a boat (Broom 30) on the Caledonian Canal. The minimum tuition was 4 hours on the afternoon that you arrived, 2 hours if you could prove you had previous experience. If, after 4 hours of tuition, the staff felt you weren't competent, you did another 2 hours on the Sunday morning That would be impossible with the sheer number of boats... and isn't really a "hackneyed old argument"