BroadlandColin

Growing up Norfolk boating holidays with Blakes were out annual family holiday. Usually in October we preferred wooden boats from Herbert Woods as they were warmer! (remember the Light boats?). As a young married couple 40+ years ago we hired a 2 berth sailing boat from a Stalham boatyard (can't remember which one). The boat was very basic - no hot water and an over the side loo. Being part of a network of boatyards we were able to call in at many yards to exchange an ice pack for our cool box (no fridge), use the boatyard loos and showers and moor for free. With modern boats many of these things are no longer needed but it would still be nice to see the A flag flying in lots of places and know you'd be made welcome. We've recently returned from a holiday on the Thames and had a lovely boat from the former Blakes boatyard of Kris Cruisers. Kris Cruisers were great - service was excellent and I would recommend them. What was sad was that the network of Thames boatyards is gone. Moorings were not as easy to find as I remembered and places to have the boat's tanks pumped out were limited. Perhaps one day an association of linked boatyards might re-emerge. I hope so.