JennyMorgan

Not for me to say but competent research might suggest it should. Was a time when DEFRA made a grant of £1.5 million to the BA in order catch up on their dredging backlog, about the same time as dredging the Yare was tactically abandoned. That money was then largely frittered away on the failed Broads National Park Bill, the subsequent Broads Bill and the ill advised move to Dragonfly House. What I will say is that I do believe that the BA was wrong in cutting back on dredging the Yare as it has but whether they should restore it is a question that I shall happily leave for others to decide.

Didn't her sail go over a post on that occasion and was it not badly damaged?

The purpose to allow coasters to access Norwich is now consigned to the history books, agreed, but there are, or were, consequential purposes. The Lowestoft to Norwich navigation had existed for well over one hundred and fifty years and during that time had impacted on the very character of the river and adjoining broads. I think that there is a sound argument to suggest that the hydrology of the Yare had progressed from being purely functional to one of important conservation considerations. The Yare was very much an industrial river, for example the stones that were used to build Norwich Cathedral were imported along the river. The very character of the river was the result of mankind's intervention in the name of industry and commerce. Not only conservation from a wildlife perspective but also one of conserving what man has both built and created. The depth has a purpose, it provides a scour as well as drainage.

I raised that very question with Trudi Wakelin, but in regard to the Waveney, and was met with very direct eye contact and an equally direct reply, 'don't ask'! I did ask, raising the question of tidal models and was told that they did not exist. A year or two back and whilst such models might exist now they obviously didn't when it was decided to allow the Yare to become more shallow. My feeling is that back then, and probably the case today, the Authority did not fully understand what it had authority over, namely the tides and the waters that governs the very nature and character of The Broads.

Or not have capsized in the first place!

And take your cuff-links off so they don't rattle!

Catch him on a good day then he's very personable.

Glad that you found it open! Mind you, I always think it looks closed even when it's not! I often hear good reports about the place. By the way, Labone, very good.

Welcome back to the real world!

I'd say no but now she is. Basically an oversize dinghy with a lid on it.

I'm not convinced! Until a few years ago, if we take Oulton Week as an example, there would be plenty of old boats out racing. There still are the old boats, generally rebuilt and really not much 'old' about them. Have a look at Topsail (brokers), plenty of the old girls for sale. The class is well and truly alive but I can't help feeling that it is leaving its heritage behind. The ex hire boats that were once the backbone of the class are still out there but literally being left behind now and I think that that is regrettable. The more humble boats of the past are rare competitors now, a pity. Very much a development class now, it always has been in some areas. The build and design of seagoing boats has gone way beyond just being radical to being absolutely revolutionary. Carbon aloft is now very apparent on the Broads & we do now see the offshore quest for speed as already permeating RCC thinking, the question now has to be as to how far that will go. Hydrofoil wing keels are surely entirely possible. We have RCCs that plane, Storm for example, so why not encourage that? There are RCCs with centreboards, Luna for example, so why not a lifting, adjustable wing keel? Personally I think the RCC people need to look very carefully as to where they are going before someone jumps the gun. As Vaughan has rightly said, rules are subject to interpretation. The Thirty Knot River Cruiser might be going past you sooner than you think! We already have it in dinghies. Foiling a Norfolk Punt, now there's a thought!

If we take Raisena as an obvious example then it's becoming increasingly clear that more than a few RCCs are wholly impractical cruising boats. Cruisers are fast becoming out and out racing machines. I don't envisage Hugo Boss style foils but I do see a 30' maxi Moth with a cabin as being entirely feasible if not exactly practical.

Some might argue that they control too much as it is!

I'm sure that it will have bunks onboard!

I would imagine that it would only race on Wroxham, Oulton and Barton Broads, as is already the case with one or two of the more extreme boats. There are one or two foiled Moths on the Broads and they fairly hoss along!

I understand that there is a Broads RCC being built with foils for next summer. Can just imagine that going through Horning during the Three Rivers Race.

As is said in London, 'mind the gap'!

With the water temperature dropping fast Yarmouth's famous crabs move into deeper water thus are harder to catch!

Especially when using power tools!

The deck drains on 'Jenny Morgan' had become blocked with leaves brought down with the rain thus the water had to go elsewhere, namely under the cover and into the bilge, grrrrr!

Mustn't forget the Wherry Albion, she;s been similarly honoured!

All the best boats have an ale named after them!

It's down to the curvature of the earth. I often wonder what foundation that bridge has, if any.

And there lies the problem, the BA itself, which generally means the CEO, is empowered to decide for itself/himself as to what standards it maintains the 'navigation area', wherever that is. For those of us in kayaks it really is anywhere with more than four inches of water!