lincan

BroadsAmbition, That's a good, original idea!

Hello All, Thanks for the interest, some good points too! BroadAmbition, that's a good sturdy job you've done there, and it's already proved it's worth. Not having much idea about morse, what do the security markings say? We've not really given much thought about this kind of emergency in the past, just always tried to be extra safety conscious getting on and off the boats, and our idea has also been the long loop of mooring rope tied round a cleat if needed. But getting older and less agile, plus seeing the emergency ladder on the other hire boat has made us rethink. After all, it only has to happen the once to end in tragedy. It's interesting what MBA Marine says, that all new builds have to have some form of emergency ladder. Was that decided the same time as having emergency ladders built at B.A. moorings l wonder. Perhaps the H & S rules will catch up with the older boats eventually.

Hello All, Wondering what boaters thoughts are about hire boats having emergency ladders provided. All boats have life rings, so if one is used it will be for someone in the water. But then how does the unfortunate person get out if the boat is either on the move and may be mid-river, or is tied up where there isn't an easy way out. Also, what if other crew members are not able to pull them out or it's only a two berth boat. On a previous holiday we saw a hire boat who had their own emergency ladder that was folded into a bag similar to a first aid pouch, and was tied to the handrail ready for an emergency. l have seen some on ebay made of rope with plastic treads, so presume it would be looped over a stern cleat at the side, away from the prop [if it's still turning] or at the bow depending on the boat. A lot of the newer built boats have small fold-up ladders built in, or dropped sterns that make it easier to get out of the water.

Hello All, l understand that the Lancaster was recently having a trial flight after it's recent repairs. Word is, there are hopes that it will join the Vulcan on one of her last flights.

Hello All, Libertys' original post says to convince hirers that there really is mud and that the posts are not just for decoration. As you may know, we had the misfortune to find ourselves on the wrong side of the posts on Breydon a few weeks ago. Sometimes there have been a few comments on this site and the other one that seem to suggest that the assumption is it's always through inattention, mistakes etc. ln some of the pictures that are shown, the mudweights have been thrown over. Are there any numbers out there showing how many of those that get stuck are actually through breakdowns? Just a thought, it's also been suggested there appears more incidents than in the 70's. l don't know about that far back, but for quite a few years past, boatyards were discouraging hirers from going south because of the 'dangers' and the possible consequencies going down to, and through Yarmouth. Having spoken with the bloke who owns the Stracey shop a few times in the past, he wasn't at all happy [naturally], and l believe he even had a meeting with some of the Fleet owners about it. Recently there's been a lot of encouragement for hirers to go and experience the south and all it has to offer. Could this be a reason why there are more hire boats going across Breydon than there used to be? Lastly, ls it my imagination or are most of those shown that go aground are the older type boats and it's the newer ones that argue with the bridges?

Hello All, Thanks for your comments and understanding. The original report on here didn't have much detail to it and the photo just showed us tied up. Usually the photos are of boats on the mud laying at an angle, which is where we didn't want to end up. Heron: The private boat that you mention being outside The Fisherman, that was for sale at Potter Heigham, had moved forward onto Goodchilds' frontage by the next day. Perhaps it had been sold. Wussername: As l put, and like you ask, we were hoping to get back to Berney when the light came on, but as soon as the alarm started it was a different matter. JanetAnne has given us an idea of what could happen. JanetAnne: Thanks for your detailed explanation. Shows why it's important to heed the alarms quickly. Lastly, for all you SOB watchers, if you look at the bottom of the photo of our boat tied up, you will see it was taken from the stern of SOB, which was just leaving Goodchilds.

Hello All, Having now returned from our holiday, perhaps l can add some information to this thread. We had asked the Yacht Station for the best time to get to the Bure entrance on tuesday morning and was told around 7.30.a.m. About 15 minutes after leaving Berney Arms in the morning, the battery light came on. We immediately turned the boat around to see if we could get back to Berney, but the alarm then started. The engine was turned off and the mud weight was dropped while we were still well inside the channel . Unfortunately, the mud weight was useless. The wind was blowing across that area of Breydon, and we soon found ourselves being blown sideways towards the mud. The tide was still ebbing too and would be for at least another half hour, so we took the decision to phone the Coastguard. The ILB arrived very quickly, but we were around 30ft outside the nearest post by the time they arrived. l cannot say what a relief it was to see the team. They towed us to The Fisherman where we waited for the engineer who found that the fan belt had shredded. We have always had the utmost admiration for the people who voluntarily man the lifeboats around our coasts and are prepared to give so much, they are a special breed. Our family have supported the R.N.L.I. over the years and made donations. Another one is already in the post to Great Yarmouth & Gorleston with our grateful thanks. There may be some who will still criticize us for calling the Coastguard, but in that situation we had to make a quick decision. We had planned to come back across Breydon on the wednesday morning but realised there was going to be a spring tide. As we needed 8ft clearance, we decided to play safe and go the day before. lf we had left the crossing until wednesday, the fan belt would have shredded while we were on the Waveney or Yare and we would have been able to deal with it without having to call the emergency service. As we were unable to cross until the next day [with the spring tide], we phoned the Yacht Station again for advice, and they were spot on with the best time.

Hello All, ChrisB, it sounds as as though it was as good as it looked! The were a few occasions when a plane would have to abort its' landing at the last knockings, that must have been exciting too for those onboard!

Hello All, Google map City Airport and see its' proximity to all the housing around it. Planes come in to land at the river end and take off towards the O2 and Canary Wharf. When it first came into operation, it was the STOLPORT [short take of and landing airport] and is sited on the old docksides. The planes were all props and it was something to watch the way, on landing, they would come along and virtually drop down onto the runway. Must have felt like being on the 'big dipper'! But the take off was just as good. The plane steeply rises and banks to the right, very quickly over thousands of houses. At the time of it's opening, there were assurances given to the airports neighbours regarding noise etc and the planes were props, but are now all jets. Not jumbos etc but much bigger than the old ones. Sorry to drag on, but my point is, although in the approximately 25 years that City Airport has been open, there haven't been any crashes, the risks must have been very closely assessed before allowing it to go ahead, but the risks must still be there. Apart from the surrounding population, there's also the possibility that a plane could come down in the river or the dock. Also, just been reading about the six people killed at a car rally in Spain when a car went out of control, lncluding a pregnant woman and eight year old child, the toll is expected to rise. l know it's in Spain, but will there be calls for rallying to be stopped etc? Many 'experts' have been on the media with their thoughts on the tragic crash, but we do need to wait for the results.

Hello All, Last evening as it was getting dark, there were two Richardsons tupperware moored in the two spaces to the right of this one [as you look at the picture] and another unknown boat was trying to reverse into the same place this one is, with people ready on the side to help take their ropes. Luckily for the small private to the left, there was the small landing inbetween otherwise it could have sustained a few bruises. They gave up trying to reverse in after a while. All three boats were about the same length as this one.

Hello All, The Water taxi is an excellent idea and looks good. Anyone know how much they charge and if dogs are allowed please.

Littlesprite, l think l'll get my coat too! l believe some of the filming was done at the derelict Beckton gas works in East London. ln its' day, this was the biggest gas works in Europe and had loads of buildings etc to play around with which looked very real in the film.

Hello All, Slightly off post, but l was wondering what other peoples' thoughts are on the trend for new boats to be all or mostly white. Personally, l like to see some colour. Wether it's uniform such as Summer Craft or Royalls etc, or rainbow like Richardsons 'classic' fleet.

Hello JimG, Thanks for your reply, but as you suggest, l am already registered to log in. When l click on the 'control', it tells me how many people are in front of me and how long it will be. Then when it's my turn, it tells me to click anywhere on the screen and how long l've got, but there's no drop down box to control it. As l've said, up until a while ago there wasn't any problem, and l am able to operate the Wherry Hotel web cam ok. I've noticed that sometimes it doesn't move when someone else is operating it and wondered if others out there are having the same problem. Hey ho!! Saying that, l'm still a sado who's happy to watch what someone [anyone!] else is watching. Get a bit miffed though when something's getting interesting at the bridge say, then. . .they move the camera! Thanks to those who have tried to help anyway.

Hello DAVIDH, Thanks for your reply. Doh! That's what's missing. The thing is, l'm not getting the drop down box. There's no problem with the Wherry Hotels' webcam.

Hello All, For a while now, whenever l've tried to use the webcam, it tells me to click anywhere on the screen to move it, but nothing happens. Could anyone advise me what to do please. Many thanks.

Broad Scot, Yours was a really good idea, but as you say it would need someone with very a very big wallet to carry it out. The outlook at the Keys would be a lot better than the yacht station, and it would be so much closer to tie up there, perhaps overnight and wait for the right time to get under 'those bridges' and round the corner early the next morning. The idea of building a marina there might also add to the entertainment, somewhere along the lines of Wroxham Bridge. Watching boats entering/exiting when there'd be a strong tide flowing. l say that thinking about a couple of times we've closed our eyes and crossed everything when entering the River Chet with the wind blowing a gale!!

Hello All, Just a thought regarding Marina Keys. While it would be an excellent idea revamping them for the reasons already put, would it not be a bit too far from Yarmouth front for some people? When it was in use many moons ago, we would always stop there, purely because of it being a bit safer getting the kids on and off rather than the Yacht station. Horse and carriages were stationed outside to ferry boaters down to the front, but wouldn't like to think how much it would cost now. ls there a bus service that runs past the Keys?

Thanks ranworthbreeze and BroadScot. Feel very welcomed.

Not sure of the time, but around 8.30 l turned Barnes webcam on and the boat, which was a Barnes Brinkcraft, looked to be stuck under the bridge, mostly on the other side with just the pointy bit showing. 4 Brinks men came along on small open boat, tied it to the front and managed to board by the front of the boat. After a short time, it emerged, but then someone moved the camera!! Short time later the boat entered Brinks basin, but there didn't seem to be any damage.

Hockham Admiral, Thanks for your welcome, sounds like you have many interesting stories to tell. While your video is an excellent one, with good close-ups, just what happens after take off is not so clear [ the slight 'sideways slide'!]

Hockham Admiral, The general consensus on the day was that this was the best display the Vulcan has done since her return. As has already been said, maybe because she's retiring at the end of the flying season. In fact the Vulcan display was voted the best display of the three days by FRIAT. Unfortunately, the pilot, Kev Rumens, who did the display on the saturday, [which l think is the one shown on here] was called into the tower and given a 'telling off' and someone else flew her on the sunday.