BroadAmbition

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1960s-NORFOLK-BROADS-CRUISER-BROADLAND-SWAN-RIPPLECRAFT-BOATYARD-POSTCARD/254513406054?hash=item3b422e6066:g:x4oAAOSwWF5XLcma £40:00 for a postcard? Really? You have gotta be having a giraffe! Griff

Correct ChrisB, never happened in thirteen years. I will continue to lower on the Ant whilst underway with enough crew onboard, or with just two of us if wind strengths are 'Normal' That Tuesday, wind strength was exceptional to say the least, and only two of us onboard, and exceptional high water levels. All three issues were exceptional and combined together all at the same time - That in itself is really exceptional. Normally we don't need to bother lower owt apart from the mast for Ludham Bridge Griff

Steal of the century, I have just bought on Ebay a 'Windboats' enamel cap badge - Never seen one before ever. It's on it's way to me including the Postage costs for the princely sum of £7:99 - Well chuffed Griff

I think some owners and builders are frightened of making a trip or just cluttering the side decks but the answer I found was folding ones like these. Mine came from Force 4 or Mailspeed Marine.It goes without saying that if retro-fitting you must ensure the deck has adequate backing before bolting them in place. During 'B.A's restoration period, I did look at the 'Pop up' type of deck cleats but discounted them. I also considered fitting Deck cleats midships Port and Stbd but discounted them too. Never really missed not having them. Fitting centre deck cleats now of course it is not an option as I would need to brace / strengthen under the deck before fitting them. That, although possible is not really feasible, it would have to be done from underneath. That is where the problem lies, I would have to remove the Port and Stbd fresh water tanks, that's a big job, especially the port one as it's huge then again i am usually on a shorter boat, where the bow and stern ropes will reach either end of the boat. 'B.A's headrope is long but short by about a foot of being able to foul the prop so around 37ft. The stern ropes are as long as I had room to stow them on deck safely, so about 28ft I would guess Griff

What has recently impressed me is that at last they have Spotted Dick on the dessert menu. My favourite Griff

Understood. Well then as I see it you have two options, raise it up and insulate it to death in the winter and / or take it home. Raising it shouldn't cause any problems as the head of water in the fw tank will always be higher than your pump by the look of it and besides these fw pumps will lift a fair way. The newly installed extract shower pump I put on 'B.A' last week will lift ten feet! Griff

On hitting the grass, my first fooparr dawned on me I had my lightweight soft soled trainers on, should have been my boots. I grabbed the headrope whilst MrsG took charge of the stern rope. 'B.A' was sitting parallel to the bank, broadside onto the wind about 6ft off. In seconds she was squarely making her way out to mid river, my trainers were failing to purchase and I was slipping on the wet grass. I noticed the slightly raised quay heading, foot ware firmly engaged, headrope round my back, forget using back muscles (Dangerous and asking for injury) engage leg power - ALL of it. I was at full strength, had no more to give. 'B.A' stopped her parallel march for the far bank BUT was not responding to my heaving by coming back towards me on my bit of port bank. By now she was a good 15ft away from us. Glancing to my right I didn't quite know whether to laugh or be horrified. MrsG was valiantly hanging on for dear life to the stern rope. She did have her boots on, not that they made any difference, she was being pulled inexorably into the river, boots and all I had visions of 'B.A' being blown over to the Stbd bank, nestling against moored craft, head and stern ropes in the water, engine running, out of gear with me on the wrong bank AND MrsG in the wet and crinckly stuff. This was already serious and getting worse by the second. Some quick logical seamanship thinking was required with a fast solution, immediately if not sooner I bellowed at MrsG - 'Let go of the rope RIGHT NOW' there was no gentle please or thankyous besides the wind would have vetoed that, this was a direct order MrsG did as instructed. This did two things. Firstly it saved her from getting pulled into the river, (I do wonder if she would have let go without being told to?) secondly it eased the strain I was experiencing and reduced my 100% effort down to about 70% as the stern immediately swing out into the river enabling 'B.A' to go bow into the wind, between us we were then able to pull her bow closer to the bank, get a rhond anchor in and the head rope made fast. Her stern was well out at 90d to the bank but she was safe. My legs were on fire, MrsG was doing the tears thing, she got a major fright and also thought I was going for a dip too. (No chance, us Yorkies can walk on water if no one it watching). My legs were on fire. We had a quick hug then I got set to again, we were not out of the woods just yet. Joining two ropes together I made the stern rope long enough to get ashore with it, every time the wind took a pause I heaved the stern a little closer to the bank. MrsG couldn't assist as I had her standing on the fwd rhond anchor to stop it being pulled out of the ground. Little by little 'B.A' came back to me and was soon alongside where she should have been ten minutes ago. Canopy / screens down - after stowing below all gear that could have been blown into the river, casting off was a 'Breeze' (Pun intended) and in no time at all we were through the bridge, a Stbd bank mooring was safely achieved by simply disengaging drive. Canopy / screens etc back up, all gear returned and relax - Wow. I was in so much shock I almost forgot to put coffee in my Rum (Almost, I did say Almost) Debrief - Just how the hell had I not taken account of the wind FFS ? It's not like it wasn't obvious. That mistake could have resulted in damage to 'B.A' and other craft, ok so realistically me and MrsG weren't in serious danger although both of us would have aches and pains for a couple of days. With another male crew member onboard things would have been easier, full crew - no problem but that is no excuse, there was just the two of us. It just goes to show, even with the experience I have gained of approaching 60 years visiting the Broads, 24 x Yrs in the RN - I can and did, still get it wrong, badly so. Three days later, I brought 'B.A' safely first time alongside the moorings at St Benets prior to entering the Ant. One does learn and is never too old to do so Griff

So what exactly happened on Tuesday 11th Feb? Since we sailed on Sat 09th it became immediately apparent that the river levels were much higher than normal. That Sat I was able to pass through Ludham Bridge leaving the windscreen / canopy up, this a normal scenario for us, we need 7ft8". it was somewhat tight but no great drama Tuesday, we had sailed from Horning, destination was to be the 24 x Hr moorings at Irstead overnight, preferably on shore power. (Which happened) The wind although no longer gale force was still strongly present, the river levels were still abnormally high. Entering the Ant I was proper concerned that there would be less that the 7ft8" we required to pass through Ludham Bridge without having to lower the lot. I was to be disappointed. Approaching Ludham Bridge boat yard I could see that the Stbd bank had too many boats without a large enough gap to put 'B.A' alongside. Lowering the canopy whilst underway on the somewhat narrow river Ant is not normally a problem even single handed but in these windy conditions with just the two of us onboard was not a possibility, we needed to go alongside. The wind was coming straight off the port bank, the grassy one with the low quay heading, it would just have to be the port bank then. In hindsight I should have turned her about and high tailed it off to St Benets moorings. Turning her round in that particular reach would have been a challenge but no doubt do-able Eight attempts, yes EIGHT it took me to get 'B.A' along side close enough for MrsG to make it ashore followed smartly by mysen stern rope in hand, we had already thrown the rhond anchors onto the bank. I had made a serious error of judgement here which immediately became apparent. Griff

Really nice looking tupperware, I have always liked these. Condolences on losing your mate Griff

came to a head the other day when I nearly fell headfirst into the bilge. Sorry, shouldn't laugh - (But I did ) Why not just open all the domestic taps and / or drain down, then fit a 240v tube heater 80w-ish via a thermostat adjacent to the pump? - Then leave it in situ. We have never removed any of 'B.A's pumps, we rely on a couple of 240v tube heaters. Being in a wetshed helps tremendously of course Griff

Sunday 16th Feb - 'Lazy Sunday Routine' - If I had been at home I would have been clay shooting this morning, can't be in two places at once. This Sunday somehow got away from us, did all sorts of little jobs here and there, cleaned through, packed up our gear and eventually departed somewhere around 1530. So finished 'B.A's first outing of 2020. The first time she has been out in four months - which to be frank is just not good enough. Still, for me and MrsG it was a long overdue time onboard, much needed for both of us, although that incident on Tuesday at Ludham Bridge was far from much needed - never to be repeated again (More on this later) 'B.A' is due out again in April, before then I hope to get another one of those maintenance weekends booked in to address a few issues that have come to light Griff

Had dinner for three of us last week. 1st class as always Griff

Aren’t they just Griff

I get and agree with the above. But what I want to know is, what would have happened if I had pressed ‘One’ ? Griff

Got home safely. Listening to land-line voice messages quite a few, one particular potential client left a message but no contact number - She will be disappointed then. Apparently there are now TWO warrants out for my arrest issued by HMRC. I'm supposed to 'Press One' on the keypad to speak to a case officer. Obviously it's a very weak and unconvincing scam, however, does anyone know what happens if I had of pressed 'One' ? Griff

Oh, awesome, respect yet again Griff

Saturday 15th Feb 2020 Sailing preps, by 1030 we are in the wetshed. Jason n Sonia Hatch visited. I then commenced a low level deep clean through all fwd from wheelhouse, below decks, bilges, under bunks and drawers. Took me hours n hours. All done, well chuffed. Plugged Tv into our shoreside aerial - works well. Dinner onboard again from Stalham chippy, his time one large fish n chips between us, no mushies as they had ran out. Easily enough for the two of us. Still £10:05 though. Watched tv, then dvd. The wind and gusts outside were doing Dennis proud, I did not give a jot Griff

Safe here in t wetshed, somewhat noisy though. Have had to turn up the volume ont TV. Oh, and we are warm as toast, dry too Griff

Correct. Goodnight Irene used to berthed here in t wetshed just down from ‘B.A’ for many years Griff

Storm Dennis is making itsen felt here at Sutton, wind picking up. Stuff this, I’m getting ‘B.A’ into the wetshed before the rain and the gales arrive Griff

Friday 14th Feb - Valentines Day Steve left for his Lincolnshire home before 0800 (collected his car from Stalham previous day). I ditched the gash noticing that the public toilets were locked shut. We had coffee n a catchup in the pub with Phil n Ness before they opened We sailed at 1100, nice morning with only a stiff breeze to Womack Water as MrsG needed sommat or other and Womack was the nearest facility that is open. Left WW bound for Sutton Staithe. The wind had increased slightly but still a nice day. I was aware of the high water levels. There was no way I was getting caught out and repeating the nightmare we experienced on Tuesday on the Ant getting the top down approaching Ludham Bridge (More on this later) We came alongside St Benets quay, the river was close to over topping, tide still on the up. Got top down safely, only 7ft3” airdraft, at The Bridge, wise move stopping at St Benets Thereafter a pleasant cruise to Sutton. Did the diesel n pump out at the Yard as they are closed on Saturdays till April time. Shore power connected. Visited pub (well I did) had dinner and the evening onboard for just the two of us bliss Griff

It’ll always be special. Anyroadup the Bypass Bridge will stop the really big uns, Griff

Now when we left Irstead I had put far too much credit on t meter, we left 78p behind, not well chuffed. However on arriving at Ranworth Staithe there was 87p on the meter - Bargain, what goes round comes round. We spent from 1430-ish right through to 2200 in the pub!, but we were pacing sensibly so no issues. Thursday, sailed for Wroxham via an in / out of Salhouse & Wroxham Broads, just cos we could. Plenty of Pike fishermen on the river. Arrived at the Bridge to find only 6ft2” airdraft available. B.B were toppers, the likes of us not permitted into NBD so Hotel Wroxham moorings it was. £10 fee. Visited a few shops, flowers for MrsG, well it was Valentine’s Day. A few drinks in the hotel bar - v. expensive. Nearly £4:00 for a pint of coke n ice. I went back to the bar, asked for a pint of San Miguel, asked if it was £8:00, a regular overhead and quipped ‘Don’t give them any ideas’ Sailed after 1500 for Acle Bridge, St Benets, on Nav lights, had to change the Port red Led whilst underway as it had failed. Arrived in darkness, alongside on a very high tide. Dinner for three in The Bridge Inn Griff

I was talking to a resident of Acle today. The resident informed me that the majority of residents are hopping mad about the National Park lying signs being displayed Griff