JennyMorgan

A charming picture of a delightful corner of Broadland, in my opinion!

Pre WWI, shame to see the abandoned 'lighter' rotting away but nevertheless interesting in that the church is unusually the secondary interest within the picture.

Some insurance policies exclude salvage, worth checking.

Steve, if you fit an all round white ahead of the steering position then you might ruin your night-vision. Better a stern light and a forward facing 'steering' light that can not be seen by the helmsman.

Just a thought, ​Watershed, if you feel the need then you could take the traditional route and haul a paraffin lamp up the forestay. You will need an anchor light for when you go along the coast.

I use a 28 pounder on a 21 footer and have never had a problem, yet. It always amazes me just how much folk can see at night without the aid of lights. Being on one of two sailing boats, Drascombe or River Cruiser and with neither having battery charging facilities, I do keep battery use to a minimum hence no anchor light for me. Mind you, I wouldn't recommend mud weighting in the main navigation channel, it does happen! If other folk can't see the silhouette of my mast, or masts, or those of other boats, then perhaps they shouldn't be out at night .

Thanks for the compliments, folks, but it is Him upstairs who created the pictures, I just clicked the button. Can hardly go wrong on The Broads!

Took this during September, nice time of the year for sunsets but December takes some beating.

What happens if you don't look after your boat! Seen on Oulton Broad. Not sure what category toll the owner pays or whether it has its safety certificate!

The weather has been quite variable this winter!

This evening's offering, end of a very changeable day:

It's looking good right now, cheerio, for a while at least.

Am glad that some folk found acceptable weather, I didn't. Wind was either nonexistent or excessive, I suppose the same can be said of the clouds too. Had looked forward to a Christmas sail, didn't happen this year although we did have several pootles around the manor on a day-boat, Weather bound when it came to long walks across the marshes too. Still, darn good Christmas, even if it didn't all quite go to plan!

Like you, Steve, we used to go to the show at Earl's Court. We'd go go by train which, by the time it arrived at Liverpool Street, was crammed with week-end sailors, many of which looked as if they had been onboard for a month long cruise and had modelled for a Giles Boat Show cartoon. Great atmosphere, often meeting folk that we had met somewhere or other during the summer. The infamous Guinness stands were a great draw! During the evening we would do a show before climbing aboard the last train home. Great memories.

Pricey, maybe, but professionalism & the right gear costs money. I have seen some appalling outfits being used when attempting to shift boats on the cheap. There is a cruiser in a local boatyard for repair after inadequate spreaders were used, the hull and deck having been split close to a bulkhead.

Another Potter Bridge shot, my guess is either side of WWII. The black wherry, what a lovely shape! The yacht on the left has what looks like a wherry style rudder, a wherry yacht perhaps but one I am completely unfamiliar with, any ideas?

It raining like there's no tomorrow right now, if it turns to snow then I'm staying put. Turkey & sprout soup, turkey curry, turkey marengo, mince pie & sausage roll soup, well, I'm sure you get the picture!

The above picture, 1930?, shows a not very special sailing boat being sailed badley! Skipper is sat behind the tiller meaning he will be in the way if he needs to turn left. Both the crew are sat on the 'wrong' side. The jib, albeit it probably a small one, has not been rigged meaning that the balance of the boat won't be as good as it might be. Okay, a few hire sailing boats only had the big sail but I suspect this one had both. All in all, probably not the most experienced of sailors but I suspect that they enjoyed their holiday. Back in the 1960's sailing boats retained their popularity with the hirers but not the yards. Sailing boats cost less to hire so there were people who hired them and then used them as motor boats, often hammering the smaller engines that sailing boats tended to be fitted with. Turn-round days were harder work with sailing boats, both the sails and the motors needed checking and servicing. Lots of people thought that they could sail, but really couldn't, lots of sailing boats went into private hands.

I remember Madie in the 1950s and 60's being painted green, the old picture above shows her hull as being dark, I wonder if she was green back then? Madie in 2014.

Not a remarkable snap in any respect, other than the notable lack of plastic pop-pop boats. 1920/30ish. 30 or 40 years earlier:

1920? I feel quite certain, but I might be wrong, that the sailing boat in the foreground of this shot of Oulton Broad is Maide, still immaculate and sailing the Broads.

Thanks, Grace. I feel slaughtered right now! Every year I say I won't eat or drink as much as last year, but I do. Now, where is that stollen cake?

2014 has not been an entirely great year for me in some respects. Mum in law is in her autumn days, has alzheimer's, and spent many months in our care until we could manage her no longer. She's now in a very comfy care home but we still spend many hours with her. Without her I wouldn't have met my Lyn so I do owe her a big thanks. In 2014 I met up with Aunty Pauline, alias Polly, at the Three Rivers race. Memorable for the lack of wind, Griff's (BA) chronic jokes and the warm welcome into the confines of Brilliant. Thanks, Polly & Co. In 2014 I made a move that I never expected to make, to the Bright Side, NBN. A big thank you for the welcome and the tolerance, it means a lot. 2015, I have high hopes, many more hours off the mooring. I hope the Broads gives you what you want in 2015. Take care, have a good new year.

If you go, and grow tired of the acres of gleamin jelly mould pop-pop boats, then take a peep here: http://www.drascombe.co.uk/ It has been said that you get more fun for your pound with a Drascombe / Devon boat than any other type of boat! I'm inclined to agree, but then I'm biased!!

I saw one other sailing boat out this morning, the crew of one dressed as Santa!