Baitrunner

Thanks for all the responses folks. Lovely day for a run on the boat. Passed Malanka this morning. Reedham bridge played ball and opened on time. 2 runs over Breydon with no other boats in sight and engines running sweet. refuelled at Goodchilds £368. Ouch but £100 cheaper than brooms!!! (£1.198 per litre) and Martin on the pontoon was a gem. moored up for the night at St Olaves lovely moorings as I had been advised. Enjoying the sun and a beer before we light the BBQ. Is this really mid October?

Have used fender boards at southwold. The only problem is they can occasionally get stuck on a falling tide!!!! Never thought of them for the Broads if I'm going seaward I leave the super oversize balls in the car. The mid size balls I can just squeeze in the lockers.

The piling at the fishermans leaves a lot to be desired as fenders tend to sit in the gaps and leave you banging. several years ago I found out about those pilings around breydon. Got myself some big balls. Ball fenders that is. Work a treat, but a pain to store!!

Good point about the pub moorings. Hopefully that will be plan D. Smoggy, I'm coming from up river (brundall) and need to get back there Wednesday lunchtime. Late season blast and refuel at goodchilds. Oh, and a couple of Days with some mates and a beer. The winds and rain at the weekend pushed the trip back.

Well, we plan on burning some perfectly good food on a BBQ!!!!! So hopefully won't need the pub. I can't see the alcohol running out either. not really helping the local businesses am I. the original plan was to get up river of reedham bridge and moor up, but I am working on plans B and C in case we are running late.

Thanks Mr Nog. Good picture. Very helpful. Im used to the rise and fall as a regular at Polkys and Bernie, but it has been years since I've been the other side. Of course turning round is always fun if the tide is the wrong way by the way is the fishermans any good?

Thanks everyone. Will let you know how we get on. If we get on

I know Polkys Mill. Wanted something the other side. Is the fishermans moorings by the pub of the same name? Would prefer the free 24 hr ones as well.

Where are the fishermans moorings please? Not familiar with those.

Hi, does anyone know if the free moorings the Breydon side of the bridge are all usable please? I think I am correct in that the Burgh Castle moorings are closed.

I do sort of agree James and appreciate you sharing everything with us. And this is not aimed at yourself. But in many committees etc like that sometimes personal interest/greed can overcome doing the right thing or burning your bridges. I whole heartedly agree that the BA need an advisory panel made up of all Broads based interests. That way personal or business interests can be shared. But any committee that has any voting or say in BA policy should be made of a group of employees who can be held accountable. Now if you have a dictator in charge then you may as well save the time and money. it does also seem that to get on the committee you need to know the right people. So it becomes a bit of a cartel. Especially when they get rid of anyone who doesn't agree and stands their ground like James has. Just my opinion anyway. Ps. I have seen first hand what goes on in council planning committees so it's not just the BA who are like this.

Everyone has their own priorities, and most of them are sensible enough not to do anything which might cause them problems in their other dealings with the Broads Authority. Such as planning. sounds like a conflict of interests with the other members to me!!!!

Looking on Amazon was surprised to see a 3.5hp 2 stroke for sale. Look at the link and expand the full description. It's hilarious. This bit I love :- .The machine itself is lightweight, it can use on boat weight of 100kg or less , load-bearing 4 people, but the speed is certainly not the same whenone person on it or 4 people on it . Customer who has high expectations on speed, please be noticed. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07GZCPYXJ/ref=sspa_mw_detail_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have seen the spray and wondered how good it was. Anyone tried it? I wonder if it contains conker essence?

Think it was out of action Saturday as it affected the trains. They were running by about 9pm Saturday I think. Network rail site didn't indicate it was not operational for boaters.

It's a shame if people ignore this because of those 2 little words. I think it's fair to say, like it or not, you won't change it. I'd like to hioecwe can focus on the issue instead.

Ah so it went in as an eel and came out as 2 halves of a pike! The magic stern thruster. How can you get a Pike when I struggle to catch them?

How big was that eel?

Thought I would share this in case anyone wants to show their support to the work Mark is trying to do. I know not many people may be concerned about what happens past "that Bridge", but if you are then feel free to contact Mark.Mark Wakelin, Ex Chief Navigation Officer of the Broads Authority has been applying pressure in various appropriate areas regarding the lack of safe mooring provision at Hall Quay, Great Yarmouth. In addition he has involved himself in the consultation regarding the third river crossing for Great Yarmouth Harbour which is due to be built in the near future.Mark has issued the press release below and would like to hear from you if you are prepared to show support for his efforts. His email address is at the bottom of the press release. Just let him have your details, ideally including what boat you have and where kept and he will keep you updated.Clearly the more supporters he has, the more weight his arguments will carry.Now if only he could sort those other bridges out........Consortium Launched!A new association for the owners of seagoing boats based in the Broads is being launched today: Broad Sea Consortium will represent the interests particularly of boat users who need to gain access to the Broads from the sea via the ports of Gt. Yarmouth and Lowestoft.Broad Sea Consortium has been developed by Mark Wakelin, the former Broads Authority Chief Navigation Officer, himself a keen owner of a seagoing yacht based at Reedham.Mark Wakelin said: “Its easy to forget that the Broads are a tidal public navigation historically open to seagoing vessels, including cargo ships. Boats arriving from sea, or going to sea have to pass through Gt. Yarmouth or Lowestoft, but their interests fall into the yawning chasm between Broads Authority and the Port Authorities. In Yarmouth, in particular, the port authority effectively seeks to deny that recreational and small craft exist. Broad Sea consortium intends to do something about this!”James Fraser, MD of Norfolk Yacht Agency which is the largest private yacht dealership in East Anglia said “We are seeing an increase in interest from owners of private motor yachts in cruising at sea. Our NYA Cruising club which organises club cruises is more and more popular, and going to sea adds interest and excitement to our members boating activity. Owners are keen to learn the skills of seamanship and coastal navigation. But getting to or from sea via Yarmouth is becoming increasingly difficult and stressful. We welcome Broad Sea Consortium and its efforts”.Initially Broad Sea Consortium has been campaigning to get something done about the dangerous and unsatisfactory moorings at Hall Quay, Gt. Yarmouth, which are the only moorings for small craft in the harbour. It has been involved also in the planning for the new Third River Crossing bridge, seeking to ensure that a sensible operating regime is included for recreational and small craft.Said Mr. Wakelin: “ There are historical reasons why Gt. Yarmouth seems to have set its face against small craft, but it just isn’t right that the safety of harbour users today is being put at risk by dangerous mooring facilities. I like to think that Admiral Lord Nelson, up on his column, must be appalled at the way small boat sailors are being ignored in the port. It seems that the only thing the port authority has learned from the Admiral is the ability to turn a blind eye on its responsibilities!”“ We realise that Broads Sea Consortium caters to quite a small and specialised target audience, but we believe that these are important issues. We intend to be flexible and light on our feet and to use internet and social media to keep contact with our membership and respond quickly to the issues and threats which affect our activity. We intend to see the Broads and Gt. Yarmouth in particular restored to their rightful position as jewels in the crown of the British boating scene. Too long has the sorry situation in Yarmouth deterred boating visitors in their thousands from visiting a fascinating historic harbour or passing onwards into the Broads National Park”Broad Sea Consortium can be contacted via emwake01@gmail.com, tel 07747 604344. Broad Sea Consortium is also keen to hear from boatowners and harbour users in the ports of Gt. Yarmouth and Lowestoft – there are many matters where there are common issues and concerns with Broads seagoing boat owners.

Probably for the best Scrumpy. Ive seen your helming Robin, reedham and somerleyton seem to have been playing ball recently. Now it's not so hot. You probably have it covered, but rush hour I have heard they won't open for up to 1.5 hrs if you time it wrong. Can't remember what time you were casting off now. my tip of the day (the only one in fact) for anyone departing brundall and needing a bridge swing is to leave on the hour. If you stick to the speed limits you should get there for opening time. Obviously at rush hour this may not work.

Stand on the platform at Brundall and they have the same joints. So they already use them on the line.

In Bequia in the grenadines they have the local radio on ch16!! With news, items for sale and items wanted. Mind you never heard anyone else on ch16!!!!!

Dunks34 spot on. If it gets to that stage I know a heap of boats that are off. The marinas., repairers and BA will all be down.. has anyone seen the latest from NYA? It sounds like there is a plan afoot to replace the bridges.

Maybe the BA have dredged it to provide more navigable cruising and additional moorings? Nah, I reckon the sign fell down. Only been a short way up there in my dinghy (12" draft if that) and it seemed shallow. Was a few years ago though.

The shell garage at brundall is only just cheaper than motorway service stations. I never understood why they are so expensive.