johnm

I was wondering what it was when I sailed through it over the weekend. There was an odd smell but not particularly 'sulphuric'. I had wondered whether it had something to do with weed cutting as there were loose bits of weed mixed in with it.

That's ages away! In the meantime, a good week (preferably 2) of freeze might go some way to thinning the weed on Hickling so that navigation outside the channel is possible this year!

OK, painting little tiny resin/plastic/metal models is delicate work BUT this stuff is bonkers!!

I don't know why the second image is inverted but I can't seem to correct it . At least it gives the idea...

I have something similar to the link in the OP and have used similar magnifying lenses to the ones Grendel has. However, I have found that, whilst they work well for objects that can be held fixed in place, depth perception gets really tricky if the object needs to be moved whilst working on it. I recently (well about a year ago now when getting back into hobbying during lockdown) acquired a pair of these from that well known online emporium. They work well and my only complaint is that they are quite heavy across the bridge of the nose over time and the headband is the way to go rather than the arms over the ears. The plus side of the weight is that it forces fairly regular breaks to move away from the desk. Whilst I am not the best painter, they at least allow me to see and get pigment onto models like this (For scale, the base is 1 inch diameter)

I sail the Broad regularly and the weed on Hickling is dominant anywhere outside the main channel. I would not advise fixed shaft motor boats to go outside the main channel unless they know the area - outboards at least have the opportunity to lift the leg to clear the weed. Most sailing craft will also struggle outside the channel, yachts especially but even half deckers struggle. Even many of the performance sailing dinghies won't stray as the results can be spectacular as my son has proved! As an aside to this topic, do not stray outside the channel in the Heigham Sound area!! Luckily, the visible weed is showing and acts as a deterrent to those unused to the area but the shallows come right up to the line of the posts and regularly catch some of the hiring yachts out.

Michael McNamara - McNamara Sails

6'6" at 1100 this morning. Low tide was about 1400 so not sure what the maximum got to. The boards are well out (showing less than available by about 4") not that I would ever trust them anyway, I just call the pilot and ask ... there was a slight delay this morning as he had to move a chair to be able to see it!

This with tongue firmly in cheek as I am really amazed by the skill shown here. I'm afraid it's just not good enough! Those sidelights should have an arc of 112.5 degrees from right ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam and the stern light an arc of 135 degrees and showing from right astern to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on either side. 90 and 180 respectively is just not good enough!

The Parish of Limpenhoe, Southwood and Cantley conducted a short ceremony in the churchyard of St Botolphs's Limpenhoe this morning. Several people out for their morning exercise stopped to 'observe' (suitably socially distanced) as allowed by the published rules. It was also nice to see that users of the Village Hall car park also recognised the time when they saw what was happening. FWIW, the Churchwarden will be in attendance on Wednesday morning in case any locals should be exercising in that direction and care to take a breather at 1100! For those who have been unable to donate as they would normally, there are several ways that you can still support the valuable work of the RBL: You can donate online at - https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/ways-to-give/donate or by: Phone You can always call their friendly fundraising support team on 0345 845 1945 to make a donation by phone. Text To donate £2 text POPPY2 to 70545* To donate £5 text POPPY5 to 70545* To donate £10 text POPPY10 to 70545* *Texts cost £2, £5, or £10 plus one standard network rate message (typically 97% of the donation amount goes to the Royal British Legion). RBL will contact you by text on the mobile number you used to allow you to let us know how you would like to be contacted in the future and to find out whether you would like to add Gift Aid to your donation. Post Print off a donation form and return to Freepost Plus RTZT-ATBH-RGBZ, The Royal British Legion, Bumpers Way, Bumpers Farm, Chippenham, SN14 6NG.

Just make sure the slots are all nicely lined up fore and aft 'Bristol Fashion' to go with the raised fenders and cheesy ropes insisted on by the Griffmeister

Martham Boats 91p/ltr the other day - Oh was I a happy boy

Call that cabin top clean?! Filth, Griffin, filth! Clean it up or do we need a dose of No9 puns? Sorry for de-railing, Grendel

The models predict all sorts but the second wave is the consistent spectre in every piece of operational planning that we are doing, even that aimed at re-opening services recently limited by the need to respond to the first wave!

Glad to see the Colonel had his little stick Wouldn't do to risk meeting Jerry without your little stick! With apologies to a certain Captain Edmund Blackadder

For those with children in primary school, National testing (SATs) commences on Monday 11th May and the GCSE and A Level programmes traditionally start in the same week as well.

I touched bottom at that point in our half-decker at about the same time that ECIPA was up there. I would estimate that there was about 2' 6" - 2' 9" judging by the amount I had to lift the plate to get free. That said it was a lovely sail

Talking of those lovely bins, how confusing do they get? Our 'green - save the world one object at a time' recycling bin is grey and our 'horrible old landfill general waste bin is ... ... you've guessed it ... green

A canoe like that is actually not very heavy. My home built ply one is a similar size, possibly slightly larger) and weighs in at 22kg. His looks to be a professional build strip plank which would probably come in at no more than 20kg. With the carrying yoke at the balance point and with the right technique a portage like that is no problem at all - his technique is evident in the dismount from shoulder to ground on arrival at the waterside at Salhouse.

A whole thread? Only one word needed - springs! (Steps back and waits...)

That's one heck of a cable!

On leaving the dyke today I took the attached which shows the temporary pontoons that have been put in place. I have also been told that visiting boats will be able to moor stern on but I'm not sure where.

The sign says that temporary moorings are provided on the mere but the ones that I saw with all the local boats that usually moor in the dyke had a sign saying private moorings. I'm back up there tomorrow recovering the boat, which son is using as lodgings whilst working the Nelson Head beer festival, and will try and discover what arrangements are in place for visiting boats.

Just been up to Horsey and spotted this sign announcing the closure of Horsey Staithe 2 September - 23 November 2018. Work commences on Monday morning with the dyke being netted to remove fish before it is dammed either side of the works area and that section drained to allow access. This is to repair/replace a drainage culvert that runs under the dyke and has been on the cards for some time but it looks as though all the stars have now aligned! Local boats are all moved out onto temporary pontoons just outside the dyke.

I also have a Mk3 and was told by the pilot (Patrick Richardson) that they come through at 6'3" on the pilot's gauge unless you have had stuff added on top. I chickened on my first passage and got the pilots to do it but picked their brains for advice on how to approach and what to look for - everyone has their own way of doing it but they are the experts on that particular narrow hole! Definitely always use the pilot's gauge as the boards are next to useless even if you can guess what they are showing.