Warp

Longer term I think propane fuel would be better on the broads. Diesels can be (non-trivially) converted: http://www.greencarcongress.com/2004/09/retrofitting_di.html But if we start moving in that direction now then over time (say 20 years) things could be much better.

Lack of budgie grit can lead to smuggling issues...

The traditional alternative is to wet your whistle as they say.

If you loiter at Potter Higham for 2 minutes your horn should get blown. It's a local law apparently...

50 In or near an area of restricted visibility, whether by day or night, the signals prescribed in this Byelaw shall if the circumstances require be used as follows: (a) a power-driven vessel making way through the water shall sound at intervals of not more than two minutes, one prolonged blast; 84 The master of a vessel shall not permit the vessel to emit smoke or fumes or make any noise or nuisance which gives reasonable grounds for annoyance to any other person.

Hmm 27 litres perhaps the 109 was 29? Nope - no idea why I thought 29 litres...

If it's a supercharged 29 litre V12 then it fits to my mind. But that said even that's not enough for some - see pylon racing. You can be certain that if those that built them back in the day would have done anything to make them more powerful too.

Well congratulations to Clive on his new rig. I hope the pic does not offend but I think shows that there is always a place for pushing the boundaries. Not for the feint hearted!

I don't know how much time they are stuck behind a desk or how many they are but anything they can do to maintain or increase presence out and about would be a good thing.

One thing that occurred to me on Ranworth earlier today is that sailies all have a really useful device for getting out of various spots of bother that I have never seen on a mobo. It can get you off when you run aground and it can stop your bow drifting into the hunters boat next to you when you are mooring, it makes a very good depth gauge, it can even help you out when your motor dies. Yet I have never ever seen one on a mobo. There is no reason they couldn't have one they just never do. Why not have a quant pole on a mobo?

That would look so much nicer.

At sea I remember it as 'port to port to go to port'. I modify that thought on the broads to mean upriver. The problem with this is that the yanks had some sort of anti imperialist moment and did the exact opposite... http://www.rya.org.uk/cruising/navigation/Pages/tips.aspx

The port and starboard markers should be kept as they are the correct markers for anyone coming in from the sea with even the most basic RYA or equivalent training. That said some friendly arrows with 'stay this side' on them as Robin suggests might help the uninitiated or failing that help boatyards make negligence claims against the more outrageous types.

My boat is one of those boats on account of her age (1929) and that that there is nowhere to put a tank so she has what many would call a sea toilet. Hence you will often find me on the nice path to the public toilets at Salhouse when I am there possibly walking with some urgency... I believe that most of us with these boats make use of the on shore facilities... I would be more concerned about encounters between the kids and large boats helmed by people that may not expect swimmers or even be able to see them. That and what the ducks and geese leave.

No that's the original land line, if you look closely you can see the tin cans on each end. If you go to Horning you can still see the old ways are still in use and are still the best. I could not possibly comment about the social dynamics at play there that lead to this situation.

The cell tower that carries the '3 Mobile' signal.

This is slightly surreal none of us can crew aboard a fantastic boat with a great skipper? Robin you should sell tickets as a 'weekend broads experience aboard a skippered boat'

Really? I hardly would have thought those types would desist when presented with a mere sign.

There's a nice coffee shop near the bridge. HW keep their yard looking really nice. I think PH is a really nice place hidden by some tatty bits that could be fixed with a bit of pride (and admittedly some money).

To loose weight I avoid carbs as follows: Avoid bread, potatoes and cheese. Eat steak and salad. They will usually swap chips for salad if asked/necessary. Drink spirits rather than beer (e.g. whiskey, rum) if they don't have any tasty spirits then use a diet drink as a mixer with vodka or gin - watch out for tonic water it has more calories than you might think. Snack on cold meats. If you are British you were probably brought up to eat/drink the full portion you were given not to waste it people starving in the world etc. This is very dangerous when combined with Norfolk food portions or Polish hospitality re vodka. So break with tradition and when you have had enough, leave the rest on the plate or in the glass. This is not strictly speaking what I would call a 'healthy food' diet but it gets the job done without getting depressing!

Perhaps crushed fruit would be a bit insensitive in the circumstances?

I would imagine that the issue with moving the pickup further away is that the pilot ends up a plod-a-lot and the throughput goes down at busy times.

My only real issue with bright signs is that they are not the most picturesque things to be placing on the broads so should be kept to a minimum. The air draught signs on the helms I'd imagine can't be mistaken? I'm guessing that it's the gauges that are being misunderstood. As Swift says people do read the gauges incorrectly. I think because 'up is less' and 'down is more' or something. If they are fouled too as Robin says then that's going to make it worse. I'd say that inches are important and should probably be marked in addition to feet as I think that will help people key into which way the numbers are going better. Especially for us younger ones who grew up with decimal divisions. I think this is a good place to discuss and inform ideas before taking them elsewhere? There are some really knowledgable people on here who can set one straight from their experience at the sharp end!

Likewise and have met other members of your clan out sailing, good ambassadors they were too!

I can understand why a pilot service was set up at potter I don't understand why it was done at wroxham. Was it explained at the time?