johnm

Short answer - yes Long answer - If properly prepared with intact night vision (see Grendel's description about astronomers) this should be perfectly possible in the conditions you describe if done slowly and some prat doesn't shine a bright white light anywhere close to your direction!

For years I’ve watched it and talked about maybe doing it in my own boat but always with the proviso that I do it at least once with someone who knows what they are doing! Well this year 3 of us got together and decided to give it a go … The mighty Clipper (H1) achieved an excellent start under the expert guidance of Skipper Churchy – we were the first hire boat for all of 30 seconds! As we rounded the corner the enthusiasm fell somewhat when greeted by the sight of what seemed like all the members of the second batch of starts locked together in The Street There followed a “short” period of good-natured interaction and banter as what seemed like 100, but was probably about 40, boats drifted gently down the river against the tide with no wind and being herded back into a solid log-jam by various stinkies (hire and private, dayboats and cruisers) whenever any gap seemed likely to open and allow the fleet to start to thin. We finally cleared the Waterworks at about 16:30 (the hire cruiser start was at 12:10!) and drifted gently on, revising the original plan as there was now no way of meeting Skip’s cunningly devised schedule. New plan – push on! Acle next stop. Proceeding with the tide and now just enough wind to actually feel as if we were sailing, the only dampener was the rain. At least there was variety: light spitting; gentle persistence; occasional clearing; irregular downpours – such fun! South Walsham was a shorter leg than expected and rounded at about 1830. Still too early at current progress for the turn of the tide at Stokesby. Did we have time to head back for Ludham? Yes. New plan duly executed and managed to squeeze around the mark inside one of the production cruisers and just behind Martham Boats’ new cruiser “Jacinda” (launched on Friday, first sail Saturday 12:10 start!) who seemed to have been royally stuffed in the turn by lack of wind and a hire cruiser shooting the bridge at the wrong moment. After a ‘tense’ stern chase with Jacinda back down the Ant we sneaked ahead on the turn down the Bure. Jacinda turned off for South Walsham and we were then on our own for what became a very loooong time as the wind died away again. Stokesby plan for 22:30 eventually became 00:30 after losing all but the slightest (lol) breeze and crawling downwind over the early flood. Back towards Acle and the slight breeze could now hardly even be termed a zephyr but the tide was at least doing its best to help. I had never realised just how long that stretch between Thurne Mouth and Acle Bridge is until last night and this morning. Having shot Acle again - tense stuff at 1mph - crew rest started with Skip heading down first for a pair of hours, followed by our other crew member at about 03:00. Yours truly attempting to keep us moving and out of the reeds which was no easy thing in the mist with no moon even with many years of night watch-keeping experience to fall back on. At about 05:00 on the stretch before Womack and now making very slow progress, it was my watch below What seemed like 2 minutes later and movement on deck and a comment about crutches woke me – OMG had we reached the bridge already? Why had no-one woken me? Appearing as quickly as possible after wriggling back into various layers, boots and foulies – no easy thing in a space that seemed somewhat smaller than the average a rabbit hutch – I discovered that, in fact, nearly 1 ½ hours had passed and we had achieved the massive distance of 150 yards! Skip and Julius had done the maths and worked out that there was about the same chance as a snowball surviving in hell as us making Hickling and then back to Horning in the next six hours! 06:24 and the trusty iron topsail was coaxed into life and we ended our 3RR challenge. Disappointed but pleased with our progress having managed to get and stay ahead of pretty much all of the hire boat start (only Jade was actually ahead of us and we knew she still had to do the legs) now was the time for a nice hot cuppa – note to self: next time, take a lighter as matches don’t seem to like being stored in a damp hire boat cabin! Coffee/Tea had to wait until we had formally informed the Potter Guardship of our retirement, handed over our ID boards and headed on upstream towards Martham to roust out SWMBO and our other crew member’s better half who had, for some reason, not remained on the quay-heading all night waiting to cheer their heroes on but retired to bed after much Prosecco and Gin Overall, it was a shame not to finish but we are in good company as only 15 appear to have made it! The organisation was fantastic and the atmosphere was excellent. The spirit of the race seems to be summed up in that 4 hour stretch from the Swan to the Waterworks with not a cross word (that I heard anyway) between any of the boats (both racing and not) and plenty of good humour being a pragmatic replacement for the letter of the racing rules! Roll on next year ... maybe

Above the bridge at Potter generally (so I'm told) has good fishing and, to balance the advertising of local rental agencies, Riverside Holidays is another option: https://www.riverside-holidays.co.uk

Feel free

I was passing today and noticed their own opening schedule displayed on the wall

Plenty of sensible advice above and much depends on the size/type of the boat and your skill set. However, having planned and costed the trip by sea, it might be worth comparing the option of road transport in terms of cost, timings and ease.

Robin, Thanks for the update. Great fun working out where in my old stamping ground you were! Just one small point, did no-one else notice the keys being in the "wrong" holes? Would've played havoc with my OCD seeing that all day

Vaughan Yes and yes. The 3rd and 4th would be covered by your "X and Y openings" but are: Assume Nuclear, Biological, Chemical and Damage Control State 3 Condition Yankee (These days they tend to leave off the NBC bit) Close All Screen Doors and Hatches Hands Out Of The Rig Of The Day Clear Off The Upper Deck I might have queried Pots' order of things but ... different ships, different cap tallies

What! System not tagged out and isolated with warning pipes every 30 minutes - you're slipping Pots

You do get better transit sight lines going upstream which makes it easier, although not for downstream traffic. The ones I was shown by one who knows are: Upstream - keystone and the corner angle of the Potter bank support of the new bridge. Downstream - keystone and a telegraph pole (2nd from left if I remember rightly but the old memory always lets me down so always have to have a look at the time to check) just to the right of the bungalow beyond Herby Woods. The key going downriver is to set up well back by the end of the Bridge Green moorings adjacent to the big unused () dyke by the new bridge support, as this gives you the ability to both line up and get as good a view as possible of what awaits - it is also the reason why the no fishing signage was in place along there!

Hard work, but not impossible! In fact, I do it fairly regularly, you just need to choose a day with the right wind, keep a paddle to hand and be prepared to let the mobos past by holding up in the reeds if necessary. The time to be afraid is when you are gently chugging up in your mono and meet another one coming the other way with a proper boat towed alongside

Well, when someone has managed to identify the "Braods", could they also manage to explain to me what an "initaitve" is? As MM seems to imply, maybe the powers that be at Archant started their "journalistic" careers at the Grauniad!

Unfortunately the peacocks have been there for years making a dreadful racket and depositing on cars as well as scratching paintwork with their blessed claws They are meant to live at the house between the bridges (where the daft old fool will insist on emptying bin bags full of stale bread into the river daily ) but seem to gradually be spreading themselves out around the bridge area - the temptation to try out some Tudor recipes is growing stronger by the week

I know it's over but just a quick note to say what a fantastic weekend was had by all on Horsey. Hopefully the pictures available on Flickr give a good flavour of what went on: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ladylouise2/albums/72157680436206353/with/34387142251/ Moderate to Fresh (occasionally Strong) winds made for some exhilarating sailing and (so I am told) a great spectacle from the shore. For those that made it - great to see you all! For those that didn't - see you next year

Just a reminder that Horsey Regatta is this coming weekend and the staithe and mere will be busier than normal!

I believe this is the latest pilot cutter out of Godchild Marine out on trials (and jolly runs ) before heading up to go on station in Liverpool.

This is one that comes up fairly regularly in various guises and different places. The Environment Agency Hotline tucked away in your contacts list (alongside BA Control) is what you need: 0800 807060 http://apps.environment-agency.gov.uk/contact/

Cherries would be good. As for the duck house, if you add a couple of levels and a thermostatically controlled fan you can ensure a nice even 200 degrees which is perfect for both the duck and associated roast vegetables!

Horsey Mere Open Regatta 6-7 May 2017 River Cruisers, Production Yachts, Half Deckers and Dinghies all welcome to come and join the Regatta and sail in the picturesque setting of Horsey Mere. Regatta mooring in dyke included in race fee. Excellent viewing possible from shore for non-competitors Light refreshments available from the staithe shop. Enjoy Saturday evening with good food and ales available at the Nelson Head, Horsey. The fifth running of this re-incarnated event - last year was warm and sunny with light winds, unlike the first offering in 2013

Don Quixote springs to mind If you're looking to come out on top in this one, I hope you have very deep pockets!

Jasminum at the Horse and Groom, Rollesby: http://www.jasminum.co.uk/home I believe that they will also deliver to the bridges at Potter and Acle

Friday 14 April - Good Friday - 1330-1500 (ish) Reedham Passion Play - the story of the Passion of our Lord, performed at five outdoor locations in Reedham Village. The re-enactment features a cast of over thirty and is is a free non ticketed event. As a guide the five scenes take place at these outside locations :- Reedham Village School - School playing field on New Road - Station Road - Gospel Hall opposite the war memorial on The Hills and Ferry Farmyard on Station Road. http://www.abychurches.co.uk/whats-on/reedham-passion-play/ http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/the-story-of-the-crucifixion-to-be-performed-in-reedham-1-4942182

SteveO, Poppy, Bobdog, Andyfish - So much for a "Friendly Forum" Comments displaying intolerance like that in relation to race, colour or creed would have had comments moderated and the posters vilified. There are many folk who seem unable to work together to promote enjoyment of the countryside around us and, in my experience, schooling has far less of a role in intolerant behaviour than self-interest and greed. Unfortunately, the peddling of ignorant stereotypical views such as yours seems to be seen as fair game these days and is both unfair and rude to the many thousands of hard-working families that forgo many things that others see as "essential" to give their children the best possible start in life. Rant over, I'm off to enjoy the weather...

With the shorts and wellies (interchangeable with sandals depending on the likely amount of standing water/mud), I thought it was the de rigueur rig for small boys out and about well into the 70s

Easiest way to find out about the vent ... cross the dyke and ask the guys on the other side!