Oby Makes A Passage - Edited Highlights

[Broadsword]

Well, the first extended stay on our new boat 'OBY' has taken place!

Our little ship would seem very tiny to some of you - but we bought her so that we could stay aboard more comfortably (!) than on the Prelude... And reasonably comfy she is...

Day 1 - Friday - a slow start as we finished packing, Mrs Broadsword revelling in the anticipated extra space, attempting to squeeze the kitchen sink in, but we finally arrived at Potter around Midday.  First surprise, looking down from the Bridge was that the boat wasn't visible on her mooring!  Momentary panic gives way to relief as I remembered that Harry May was going to fix the wobbly stanchions on the starboard side.  James May was at the staithe to confirm that they had indeed nicked the boat and made up for the offence by ferrying us and all of our luggage downriver to Maycraft.  We sat and watched as he finished fitting the 'Stornshuns' (his preferred pronunciation!) and finally got away at about 4 p.m.!  Had a pleasant little sail in light air down to Thurne and then back to Womack Dyke for our first night aboard.  Passed Bob (Bob48) on the river, who was accompanied by a young lady, presumably his daughter? 

Womack Dyke, or cuckoo land as we now think of it... Lovely and peaceful. I tried to see the cuckoo through my bins, but only heard the little blighter... beautiful, almost non-stop call!

Visited our friends at Hunter's Yard and got the code for the showers... Cooked Mrs Broadsword a nice supper of Chicken in White Wine Sauce, with rice and veg... Bottle of Poachers Choice to wash it all down with... Ridiculously early night...   Decision 1... Get the bunk cushions sorted, the foam inside is fairly old and flat - and, as I am fairly old and fat, the combination is not a good one!!

 

[Broadsword]

Day 2 - Saturday....  Cuckoo!  What a nice way to wake...  The pups don't stir until we do, which is one of the odd aspects of being on the boat - normally, at home, they wake us much sooner. Still we are up early in the morning light and the dawn chorus is superb.  We see yellow-hammers, chaffinches, reed and willow warblers, hear the cuckoo(s), geese and ducks and, thankfully, very little engine noise.

However, we are still cooking breakfast as most of the cruisers begin to leave - One of the problems living on a little yacht is that you have to approach life one thing at a time.  Wander off to showers and loos, come back, boil Kettle, make tea.  Frying pan out, cook bacon, eggs etc.  Kettle back on for washing up... and so on.  All the time, moving about one another in a confined space!

We are managing without any electrics. Having bought a Rav power charger for keeping moblies and Kindles alive for the week, we will be interested to see if it lives up to expectations.  We have LED lights for the cabin in the late evening - but hardly need to use them and a big rechargeable torch for venturing out. 

When all is sorted, we prepare to set sail. It is very windy and we need to reef.  We look at the reefing arrangements and do what we think is right, but are unhappy with the result and not wanting to hoist sail until we are sure it's ok - are we missing something?  Put in a call to previous owner to ask advice and then chug off down the river. 

We have arrived at South Walsham by the time our call is returned and it is still very windy.  We aimed to moor on the bend but had to take two attempts as we were blown off the first time and Mrs. Broadsword doesn't do jumping. Tied up and secure, a call from David assures us that we had reefed correctly, 'Don't worry, it doesn't look right, but it works!'  Had a play on the Broad after lunch to test the theory - all good.  Came back to moor and then enjoyed watching the moorings fill up, encouraged to see they all took at least two attempts - not just us then!  To be fair, we did jump up and take a few ropes!

Went for a nice walk up the lane to SW and came back just as the Barn Owls came out to hunt.  Watched for over an hour as they scoped the fields behind the moorings.  Chinese Water Deer prowling in the marshes and a Harrier in the other direction - stunning!  Retired as the sun went down and played Scrabble on the Kindle with Mrs. Broadsword... It would not be kind to tell you the result.

[Broadsword]

Day 3 - Sunday

Living onboard OBY seems to be working OK... We don't carry a lot of fresh water, so today will involve a water stop.  We decided to head for Horning and then on to Salhouse to see what the day brings.  After walking the dogs (very slowly for the old one these days) a gentle meander up to Horning where we filled up the water containers and had a browse round the area.  Lots of people enjoying a pleasant Sunday around the pub.

Motored through Horning - a good call as the racing was just beginning (Yeomans, Rebels etc.) on the bend and then aimed for Black Horse Broad to play for a while, only to find it closed!!  What's that about? Does anyone know why it is still chained in May?  Sailed up to Salhouse instead and then headed back for a late lunch at Perci's Island... Decided on Cockshoot Dyke for our overnight mooring which gave us a lovely surprise... Walking the boardwalk we met old friends Andy and Jeanette Crafer (Jeanette was vicar at Martham for some years and curate at Neatishead before that - and we were friends in Norwich much earlier...) They have retired to Sea Palling, but were over for a walk on their old turf. Lovely to catch up!

Phil (who used to be at Ludham staithe) came out to rescue a HW cruiser with engine troubles. They had already lost a day and would have to take the cruiser up to Horning in the morning to switch to a spare... understandably they were a bit miffed!

Sat watching the sun go down on another fine day, listening to yet another cuckoo... The trip boats chuntered by with the usual pounding music... I doubt anyone on board heard the cuckoo.

[ChrisB]

A picture of Oby would be good!

[Broadsword]

OBY and Mrs. Broadsword at Horning Ferry Marina....

[Broadsword]

... and at Cockshoot Dyke...

[ChrisB]

You must feel you are in a hanger compared with a Prelude. Many years ago when our two boys were very young we moved from our self built Seawych to a Centaur. We used to get lost in it.

[ChrisB]

PS. Nice boat.

[Broadsword]

Day 4 - Monday

A Windy day... breezes of 19-20 mph and gusts of 30!  Anyway, we are heading for Barton so after cooking breakfast on the riverbank and saying goodbye to the stranded HW customers we nipped down the river to How Hill where we dropped the mast for the first time.  I made that sound easy, but it was quite a challenge! Heavier and harder to do than our little Prelude, and a lot of bits and pieces to remember, but eventually we got it down and into the crutches and motored up the Ant.  Mrs. Broadsword did her figurehead impression at the front, watching out for traffic coming the other way as I was wrapped in ropes and stays in the cockpit! 

A very kind crew on a Richos monster waited to let us through at the 's' bend by LBBY and assured us the way was clear to continue.  We passed under the bridge with just over a foot to spare - the mast is a long one and air draft is around 7' 6'' on the crutches.  Safely tied up just past the water taps, we reversed the procedure and with a bit of groaning and effort, got the mast back up.  Only to find we had trapped the topping lift under the foot... Ho hum... All good practice

Bought pasties from the shop for lunch and enjoyed them on the move.  Passing How Hill, we were delighted to see how fantastic the pond looks now and the amazing display of rhododendrons. Wind was on our nose and the Ant was busy, so we motored most of the way, raising sail again just short of the Broad, only to wish we hadn't!  More gusts than steady wind, it was extremely lively and, unsurprisingly not a single other sail boat was out!  So, on up to Stalham, where we moored at the Staithe and walked in to town for a shop.  Replenished gas bottles for the camp cookers, sausages from the butchers and beer from T***o's and back to the boat.

Barton is amazing, whatever the weather. We enjoyed some bird watching, especially the Marsh Harriers - and heard yet another cuckoo!  Moored up at Barton Turf, a favourite stop for us, and looked out for the local Otter, which we were told is still about, but were disappointed.  Nice showers at Cox's - so Mrs. B was a happy girl.  The Staithe was ours alone until Poshy McPoshboat turned up with much roaring and coughing and tied up opposite.  After a short chat the owner headed off, leaving the boat tied up and our peace was undisturbed until the following day. 

 

 

[Broadsword]

Day 5 - Tuesday

Well, it just stayed windy.  After a late breakfast we had a lovely walk into Neatishead (Molly, the old pup plodded most of it, but got a carry on the way back!) and visited the community shop for a coffee and a slice of coffee and walnut cake.  Met Mary, a fabulous lady of 80 (she told us proudly) who had cycled in from her home at Barton Turf. 

We had a marvellous chat with this extraordinary and lovely Norfolk woman, who had lived there her whole life - a typical no-nonsense character who in her own words 'don't like to sit about' - so she still keeps a veg garden, cycles everywhere and lends a hand in a variety of worthwhile local concerns. She told us of growing up at Barton - of the the times when the cottage by the Staithe (the white one for those who know) had a 'hole in the wall' bar and she and her siblings used to buy ginger beer and take dinghies out to Pleasure Hill Island.  Regatta days were an amazing spectacle (well they still are I guess) and the 'hole in the wall' did a roaring trade!  Back in the day, they had to attend Church in the morning and Chapel in the afternoon every Sunday. As girls, she and her sister were once given sixpence each for the offering at chapel, but used it to hire a boat for the afternoon and took a young cousin with them for a turn on the Broad!  Unfortunately, taking the passenger was an error of judgment as she told her parents!

Apparently they didn't get sixpence for the offering after that - but apparently two young ladies found it hard to sit down for a while that evening!  I guess she meant the thwarts were uncomfortable...

Back at the boat, we ventured out for a sail on the Broad but it was blowing a hooly and after belting down to the bottom end we popped into Gay's Staithe to think about mooring there. It was chocka-block, so we headed back to Barton Turf and, as no-one else seemed to care, moored at the Staithe for another night. Chicken Curry and a nice Abbott Reserve for supper and then more Scrabble. Mrs. B was out for vengeance, but was disappointed...

[Broadsword]

Day 6 - Wednesday

The wind had dropped but the rain had arrived in the early hours. However, OBY remains dry, except for one small seepage a screw fitting on the mainsheet track. We'll have to get that looked at - but it can wait... Rain or not, we were going sailing!  After two days doing not a lot, we needed to stow our gear properly, ready to heel the boat out on the Broad.

In March, we treated ourselves to some nice wet gear - intended for the early and late season, but here we were in Mid-May, breaking it out of it's plastic covering!  We left the reef in, which was probably not essential, but meant I could put Mrs' Broadsword on the helm without too much anxiety (for either of us ), to get a feel for the new boat. Unlike yours truly, our little Prelude and the old Perfect Lady we once sailed, are the only boats she has helmed. Anyway, she did fine, handling her with ease in the lively breeze. We spent a good while just punting around the Broad, in and out of Limekiln Dyke and round the back of Pleasure Hill Island, to experience all points, tacking, running, gybing etc.  Great time!  We got wet, but hey, that's the way of it in a yacht!

Saw the Nancy Oldfield boats out and about, the lugger and canoes with a safety boat, but they didn't stay out long. One or two humorous souls in mobies offered to tow us to harbour and told us how sorry they were for our plight... We couldn't have cared less - loving our new boat and its lively sailing characteristics.

Having been naughty and stayed two nights at Barton Turf, we opted for Gay's Staithe for our mooring, arriving a bit earlier and finding a nice space on the 'side on' side... An amusing hour or two was had watching comings and goings and bird watching again... Several arrivals had no idea that the rising tide would affect them as far up as Barton and couldn't figure out why as they tried to reverse in, their bows were being pushed sideways.  One exception, an older chap in a big high rise cruiser made a great job of it, coming in slowly and steadily to a very tidy stern on mooring.

Another - Gala Girl or something decided to go elsewhere after spinning around in a nice circle and reversing into a tree, whilst another, a big Woods job, 'Artificial Light', or 'the Lights are on but'... came in  at full speed. Young woman at the helm who seemed to think the river continued that way and looked a bit surprised when she saw the water was fast running out. Those boats can stop sharply, I can tell you! They didn't stop, but slunk away red faced...

We were joined on our side by a nice chap from Hull in a Lysander... neat little camping set up but held together with tape, string and blu-tak... No, that's not fair; I lied about the blu-tak...

Supper was Corned beef hash - much nicer than it sounds, especially as Mrs. Broadsword did the cooking this time!  I forget what beer we enjoyed, as I had a good measure of Scotch later!   Scrabble was very close tonight... just points in it...

[Broadsword]

4 hours ago, ChrisB said:

You must feel you are in a hanger compared with a Prelude. Many years ago when our two boys were very young we moved from our self built Seawych to a Centaur. We used to get lost in it.

That four feet in length makes a big difference in beam and internal headroom!  It's still tiny compared to a big old crusier, but we can do what we hoped, which is spend a week aboard in reasonable comfort. Need to re-stuff the bunk cushions though!  We have taken spare cushions off and the irritating lift-able table - which basically just gets in the way!

[Polly]

Nice account Danny, shaping up well I would say. Black Horse Broad reopens on the second of the two May Bank Holidays, got caught like that last year!

Brilliant has memory foam mattresses from eBay cut to shape with the carving knife, super comfortable covered with chenille, also from eBay, as you were able to verify having wrangled them in for us.  

The main cabin has two single bed mattresses, I cut the forecabin's from one king sized double. 

[Polly]

Loved the lady's story!

[Broadsword]

She was a dear Pauline! Thanks for the tip about mattresses... We just need to be sure the depth is right, as we have one of those 'slide out' galleys, which it needs to fit beneath!

We are generally very happy with OBY though

 

[Polly]

They sell different thicknesses, ours are 4" I think....

[Broadsword]

Day 7 - Thursday

Up with the cuckoos and a bit of early morning bird watching.  Tables say low tide is around 11.30, so plenty of time to get down to Ludham Bridge while the water is low - and plenty of time to cook breakfast and chat to some of our neighbours.  Mr Lysander is up early too, rolling back his boom tent and emerging to greet the day.  It is a very friendly group at the Staithe and there is some swapping of information on tide times, decent moorings, pubs and the like, before they begin to drift away.

We leave about halfway through the morning and drift slowly out into the Broad. I am hopeful for a little breeze to take us down the Ant, but it is too little by far so, once again, we are motoring. Horrors! We will have used almost a gallon of fuel this week!   (To you youngsters that's about 4.54 of your Litres...)  Arriving at How Hill, we opt to take down the mast there as we find a decent space.  Thankfully, it goes much more easily than previously and we are on our way in just a few minutes.  As we chunter on down the Ant, we pass Bob48 and his granddaughter (I think)    coming up the other way, heading in the direction of Stalham and the last day or two of their break.  A cheery wave and greeting exchanged, but a bit sad we didn't connect more this week, but it's the way it goes sometimes! 

Arriving at the Bridge, our hope is to get through unhindered and all is going well until a cruiser pushes away from the starboard side, right in our path!  Not nice to have to throttle back too much when you have 145 feet of mast overhanging the stern, so Mrs. Broadsword delivered some brief but clear instructions from the bows and the crew hurriedly nudged back to the bank.  Two cruisers coming through the Bridge receive a polite 'Hurry up' gesture from the angelic figurehead at the bows and through we go.  Moored up just downstream on the farm stretch, we mast up again and down a coffee before motoring round to St B's.  Lunch and a nice chat wit ex naval bod on a Richos cruiser who wanders over to admire the boat... that's nice!  Unfortunately our dogs were not very friendly to his elderly collie, so he strolled off again.  At which point a breeze springs up... not a big one mind and bang on the nose, but beggars can't be choosers!  Having done Malthouse and S. Walsham, we decide to head back towards Thurne, in the hope of a sail down to Upton or maybe even Acle...  No such luck, as we take an age to beat up against wind and tide to Thurne Mouth. 

Phil Ollier passed us in Malachite, with his White Boat alongside - Ah, Yes! Thurne Mouth Open Regatta this weekend!  We hail Phillip as he slips by and eventually see him again tucked into the reeds beyond the Mouth.  Quite a fleet is already gathering ahead of the racing, Lovely old river cruisers, racing yachts, half-deckers and punts, but we shoot past at a fair speed now the tide is with us. And so, to Hunters Yard for our last night.  A chat with Vicky and the guys to check we are ok moored where we are and then we settle down for a lovely, sunny evening in one of our favourite spots.  Can't see the cuckoos, but can hear at least two!  Lapwings, Willow Warblers, Geese with their goslings of various sizes; Muntjacs and hares, all conspire to make me want to stay another week. 

Fresh sausages from the local butchers go down well with some Old Speckled Hen and our mate in the Lysander drops by having battled his way down from Barton. Scrabble ends the week well for Mrs. B, who stomps the skipper with two seven letter bonuses.  Reading until the light fades and then bed...

 

 

[Broadsword]

Day 8 - Friday

Too good a breeze to waste, so we are up and ready to get away early, without cooking a breakfast!  Nice chat to Phil, who we knew when he worked at Whispering Reeds a few years back... currently at Hunter's...  Farewell Mr. Lysander man - hope the sticky tape holds up...

Cracking chase down to Upton under full sail - one of those days when you overtake the cruisers - Yeah!!    We clocked ourselves against the measured 1/4 mile posts and were averaging 6 mph... or 5.2 knots appx.  Not bad... Knowing we needed to get back to Potter at a reasonable hour, we went about at Upton Dyke and long tacked back up against the last of the ebb, back through the TMOR fleet and home to our mooring.  Passing Oby Dyke, we saw the resident otter, the only one we have seen for sure this week.  Coming into Potter, my friend Harry was at Windyridge, where we have enjoyed many weeks of holidays as the children were growing up, so we stopped for a cuppa and a chat with him and Christine.  Lovely generous people, who have allowed generations of young people to experience sailing holidays at their bungalow and boatshed. Now getting on, but still keeping active as the new paint on the boatshed bears testimony. 

There is a new boat on our old mooring; Harry has let someone moor a big old River Cruiser there - and we discover that the owner is a mutual friend, who with his son regularly participates in youth sailing camps from Hunter's.  Our daughter and their lad were two members of a house share during their student years in Southampton - Small world!

Finally, OBY is home safe.  An hour or two cleaning up and walking gear up to the car; lunch from the burger van and then we are away. 

A good first week experience - happy with the little ship.... 

Sometimes people ask me why we like to keep going back to the Broads...

[Polly]

Thanks for sharing your trip. Danny. I appear to have accidentally 'ignored your signature!' Dunno how or how to fix it???

[Broadsword]

I'm not even sure what that means??  Hope all is well with you and Phil - we must try to meet up in the  boats!  I'll let you know when our next 'big' trip is...

 

[Polly]

Please do. 

[Bob48]

On 28/05/2016 at 11:07 AM, Broadsword said:

Well, the first extended stay on our new boat 'OBY' has taken place!

Our little ship would seem very tiny to some of you - but we bought her so that we could stay aboard more comfortably (!) than on the Prelude... And reasonably comfy she is...

Day 1 - Friday - a slow start as we finished packing, Mrs Broadsword revelling in the anticipated extra space, attempting to squeeze the kitchen sink in, but we finally arrived at Potter around Midday.  First surprise, looking down from the Bridge was that the boat wasn't visible on her mooring!  Momentary panic gives way to relief as I remembered that Harry May was going to fix the wobbly stanchions on the starboard side.  James May was at the staithe to confirm that they had indeed nicked the boat and made up for the offence by ferrying us and all of our luggage downriver to Maycraft.  We sat and watched as he finished fitting the 'Stornshuns' (his preferred pronunciation!) and finally got away at about 4 p.m.!  Had a pleasant little sail in light air down to Thurne and then back to Womack Dyke for our first night aboard.  Passed Bob (Bob48) on the river, who was accompanied by a young lady, presumably his daughter? 

Womack Dyke, or cuckoo land as we now think of it... Lovely and peaceful. I tried to see the cuckoo through my bins, but only heard the little blighter... beautiful, almost non-stop call!

Visited our friends at Hunter's Yard and got the code for the showers... Cooked Mrs Broadsword a nice supper of Chicken in White Wine Sauce, with rice and veg... Bottle of Poachers Choice to wash it all down with... Ridiculously early night...   Decision 1... Get the bunk cushions sorted, the foam inside is fairly old and flat - and, as I am fairly old and fat, the combination is not a good one!!

 

i have mentioned the fact that the young lady aboard the boat that you thought was my daughter to my dear wife, who was rather pleased with the fact that you thought this way, as my daughter is 19 years old.  i do hope that you and your Lady are both well. stay safe Broadsword, see you on the water