3rd time on the Broads !

[Kugababe]

And this time we braved a Breydon crossing - and survived

Sat 6th April - picked up Sapphire Emblem from Horning Ferry Marina, our 2nd boat from them as they are very efficient and we like their boats too ! Lisa & Pete helped us plan our Breydon crossing for the next day then we set off for Ranworth Broad for an afternoon cuppa stop, then onto Stokesby to moor overnight.

Sun 7th April - Well shocked when we woke up to find ice on the inside of our windows and thick fog and heavy frost outside ! Then by 9:30am it had all cleared and the sun was out so we pootled off down to moor at the Yacht Station at Great Yarmouth and popped into town for some provisions, back to the Sapphire for lunch onboard before going under the bridges and crossing Breydon at around 3pm. It was much easier than we had been expecting albeit very slow as we were going against the tide, went straight down to Oulton Broad for a moor and a look around then back up to Oulton Dyke to moor overnight.

Mon 8th April - After a very quiet night at the pontoon we went up to Somerleyton then across the New Cut to Reedham. Quick mention for the lovely family that have just opened up the Reedham Stores again 4 weeks ago (it had apparently been closed for 2 years). They are continuing to build up their stock and their alcohol licence should be through in a few weeks... Hope lots of Boaters use this store as the new family are really lovely and so keen to please ! We moored overnight at Loddon Basin.

Tues 9th April - Left Loddon and went past the Reedham Chain Ferry - never seen one of those before - then stopped at the Berney Arms for lunch and after we crossed Breydon again about 3pm. This time we were going with the tide but it was REALLY, REALLY CHOPPY and quite hairy in places when the water was coming up over the top of the Sapphire front windows :S After safely crossing Breydon and negotiating all the traffic at the Yacht Station we passed through and moored at Acle Bridge for the night and had a really lovely meal in the Bridge Inn...

Weds 10th April - Made our way up to Potter Heigham for the obligatory wander around Lathams and Herbert Woods yard etc... we decided to moor overnight in the HW yard as it was really quiet, but they did have loads of boats in.

Thurs 11th April - After breakfast we got underway and decided to make our way back to Ferry Marina as the deisel guage was showing in the red Got as far as St Benets Abbey and then we were stopped by the BA Radar check, telling us we were doing 6.6 in a 5mph. Our 16 yr old Son who does most of the driving was gutted as we had seen the BA guys and we weren't concerned as we were only doing about 4mph or so we thought (we were doing 1200rpm and our boat states that 1200rpm = 4mph so we didn't go over that - except over Breydon!) They gave us a written warning... We then went over to Ludham Bridge but couldn't get under as we were 8' 3" and it was only showing 8'. So we decided to cruise up to Wroxham passing the webcam at Barnes and waving like crazies whilst talking to Nan & Grandad on the Mobile ! Yes they could see us :S We moored overnight in the NBD yard...

Fri 12th April - After breakfast and wandering around Wroxham and all the 'Roys' we went over to Horning Staithe, moored and bought some preserves @ chutney from the little shop in Horning (can't remember the name sorry...) Then we had a wonderful lunch in the Swan - I can thoroughly recommend the Lamb, Redcurrant & Rosemary Meatballs sitting on Mashed Potatoes with Baby Spinach followed by the Churro's Sundae ! After this we waddled back to Sapphire and made our way over to Ranworth Broad for a walk around the Nature Reserve to hopefully walk off some of that lunch ! We left Ranworth about 5pm and went back up to moor overnight at Horning Ferry Marina for our last night onboard Sapphire.

Thoroughly enjoyed our week on the Southern & Northern Broads even though it was VERY cold all week... We did the same time last year, but we noticed that this year was a lot quieter, not as many boats out on the rivers and broads as last year...

Our aim is to try to fit in a week's hol on the Broads in some nice warm weather !!!

[Hockham Admiral]

Hi, Kuga... what a lovely story!

It's posts like yours that make this forum so easy to like and many, many thanks for taking the time to share it with us all!

[goodall_m1]

Got as far as St Benets Abbey and then we were stopped by the BA Radar check, telling us we were doing 6.6 in a 5mph. Our 16 yr old Son who does most of the driving was gutted as we had seen the BA guys and we weren't concerned as we were only doing about 4mph or so we thought (we were doing 1200rpm and our boat states that 1200rpm = 4mph so we didn't go over that - except over Breydon!)

The boat revs versus speed chart is usually good at telling you your "speed through the water".

Unfortunately the Broads limits are "Speed over the ground", so get a fair bit of tide under you and you can easily exceed the limit.

Of course the other side can also occur, when you are pushing tide your speed over the ground is reduced by the tide...

There is no easy method of actually judging your speed over the ground with the equipment on most boats.

I always take a hand-held GPS with me to show the actual speed (mainly because I have it available).

One year, though, I was carefully holding at 5 in a 5 mph section only to suddenly realise that I had left it set to Knots not MPH!

[Kugababe]

Awwwww...

Thanks Hockham Admiral & goodall_m1 !