Zoe Sets Out.

[Polly]

This will be a brief holiday tale as it’s a short holiday. 

We needed a visit to Brilliant, tucked up at Upton, and we planned to see Royal Tudor go in. 

Plan A was to flit down and back, but the weather being lovely and the wind forecast nearly perfect Plan B was put into action.

I checked with Martham to find that Zoe, our favourite 127 year old sailor was available so the flit became a four day break.

Day 1 we were getting sorted to go when  MM happened by, we planned a sail to the Pleasure Boat and he, a regular of that establishment  was off to West Somerton for a change. So that was a maybe catch you later in the week...

We had a great sail up to The Pleasure Boat and had an early evening meal. We met John and Donna who are NBN FB regulars, and that was most enjoyable. They revealed that they had met Griff and co ‘darn  sarf’ but showed no sign of trauma, so that was ok.

We planned to be at Martham early for the RT launch so headed back across Hickling and moored  up above the yard, where I am again at the time of writing.

 

[grendel]

was it as panic stations when they launched as that one the day we both returned to Marthams after the salhouse meet

[Polly]

Nope. It was all very sedate...for the Forum that is. 

I don’t recall panic stations then though??

[Polly]

Next morning we upped Rhond anchors and pottered round to the boatyard, Doug and Timbo arrived with the news that RT was on its way by trailer. 

Sure enough Ian on tractor appeared towing RT and very quickly she was edged in to a spreading cloud of sawdust, about three bucket loads.

Pumps spewing out half the Thurne, as JA has said, we pulled her round to the quay heading and tied her up. 

Dave, JA, arrived followed later by Ali. There was much poking about in bilges and sucking of teeth. Eventually a seam was found that needed putty to seal it. Zoe was towed alongside and Dave did a hanging upside down from her deck truck, poking gunk into the seams, whilst Doug muttered at him from inside, ‘left a bit down a bit, further underwater’ etc.

I hung on to RT and Dave’s legs, ignoring ribald comments. 

The gap plugged the flow lessened somewhat, although Tim felt that he should stay nearby (and snore we are told ) to protect RT from sinking should the pumps stop.

We decided to slope off sailing and had a lovely run up Hickling Broad. We moored up there overnight, enjoyed the second delicious evening meal and were entertained by the band who cam in to practice blues and traditional rock numbers. 

Edited July 19, 2018 by Polly

[Polly]

That was last night... this morning we set off under sail for Horsey to meet hometown friends late this morning. Conditions were great on Hickling and we had a great skim along. Horsey Dyke however was a ‘head to wind’ set up so we motored up were moored up to meet John and Jo by 11.30, even managing a toasted tea cake at the cafe whilst we waited.

The four of us trooped off to the Nelson Head for a light lunch and good banter. 

On returning to the boat we motored out into the mere and dropped the mudweight for a couple of hours to watch the world go by. 

What went by a lot were fire crew in ribs. There is a major exercise going on with two appliances setting up base camp in the NT car park and relaying crew in and out of the reeds. I gather Waxham Cut is the focus of the exercise. 

After John and Jo left, the wind was nicely in the beam for most of the run back to Candle Dyke and we had another idyllic sail. 

As mentioned on RT’s thread we stopped off to check out how things were going and then came back up into the reeds for an egg and bacon supper washed down with a nice rose.

.....And here we are. Cheers!

[Polly]

The difference between Sailies and Stinkies finally pinpointed.

Sailies can’t answer the phone and haul down sails, stinkies are surprised by this inability cf Chameleon for further information 

[Polly]

Oh and Gracie, yes I did refer to BOATLOADS of firemen.

[BrundallNavy]

1 hour ago, Polly said:

Next morning we upped Rhond anchors and pottered round to the boatyard, Doug and Timbo arrived with the news that RT was on its way by trailer. 

Sure enough Ian on tractor appeared towing RT and very quickly she was edged in to a spreading cloud of sawdust, about three bucket loads.

Pumps spewing out half the Thurne, as JA has said, we pulled her round to the quay heading and tied her up. 

Dave, JA, arrived followed later by Ali. There was much poking about in bilges and sucking of teeth. Eventually a seam was found that needed putty to seal it. Zoe was towed alongside and Dave did a hanging upside down from her deck truck, poking gunk into the seams, whilst Doug muttered at him from inside, ‘left a bit down a bit, further underwater’ etc.

I hung on to RT and Dave’s legs, ignoring ribald comments. 

The gap plugged the flow lessened somewhat, although Tim felt that he should stay nearby (and snore we are told ) to protect RT from sinking should the pumps stop.

We decided to slope off sailing and had a lovely run up Hickling Broad. We moored up there overnight, enjoyed the second delicious evening meal and were entertained by the band who cam in to practice blues and traditional rock numbers. 

And many thanks for the cake.

[Polly]

It’s 7.45 and a beautiful morning in the reeds.

[unclemike]

typical sailie always in the reeds not on the river,no sense of direction

 

[YnysMon]

Thanks Polly.  You've reminded me what we've missed this year by going to Anglesey in July instead of going sailing.  Zoe looks lovely!

[Polly]

Zoe is indeed lovely. We are at West Somerton contemplating the weeds in the lovely, otherwise clear, water. Attached are hopefully pics of a swimming grass snake, otherwise nice shots of water weed 

[KaptinKev]

8 hours ago, chameleon said:

typical sailie,no sense of direction

 

So that's the reason they sail zig zag and bluntly has nothing to due with the wind. You have answered a question us hire diesel stinkers have been asking for years! 

[Gracie]

On ‎19‎/‎07‎/‎2018 at 21:16, Polly said:

Oh and Gracie, yes I did refer to BOATLOADS of firemen.

There could be a million for all I care, there's only one Firefighter I'm interested in

Lovely write up and photos Polly, thanks for posting. I agree with Helen, Zoe looks lovely (even if she is a flappy thingy)

Grace

[Poppy]

11 hours ago, KaptinKev said:

So that's the reason they sail zig zag and bluntly has nothing to due with the wind. You have answered a question us hire diesel stinkers have been asking for years! 

[Poppy]

It's nearly right, but "Aim" is a little too positive a statement for Poppy !
3. Gently suggest a heading to the boat, and then come up with a mutually acceptible compromise on the resultant direction of travel.  

[Polly]

We decided to blow back to Martham on the jib as we couldn’t be bothered to reef in the very fresh breeze.

It was utterly peaceful ditch crawling until Phil spotted a very determined horsefly. Then the cockpit became a battle zone with me trying to maintain a sedate course while Phill leapt about cursing and the said horsefly evaded him. Finally it pushed off and we could settle back to the last  sail of a lovely break.

The evening was given to watching the free drama Poppy mentioned, it was really very good. Sailing, smuggling  and song.

Back at Martham, with no signal, (sorry quizzers) and a cuppa with toffeee cake with Dave and Ali  ended the day .

 

[Polly]

This morning we got modded as Grendel arrived, he and Dave had tea/coffee and repulsed with loathing a suggestion of a healthy muesli brekky.

We reluctantly handed Zoe back and are now sitting on the beach at Winterton. We may head back to Potter for RT ‘s transit of that bridge, if the engine doesn’t blow up or filling water tank don’t sink her. 

[Polly]

Zoe is 127 having once been called Jubilee in honour if Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee. She sails beautifully, has a very snug cabin, and as a woody, is really dry. Nothing out of the bilge pumps at any point....she left that to RT.

I hope the next holiday tale will be from Brilliant, a mere spring chicken as a 1929 Boat.

[Bexs]

I have missed hiring Zoe, so throughly green with envy!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Norfolk Broads Network

[Polly]

So we are home after a super break on Zoe, very much enlivened by the RT saga and enriched by a quick trip to the seaside in between times! 

Happy days!