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A week on Carousel 3

riyadhcrew

By riyadhcrew
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riyadhcrew

riyadhcrew

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Got back safely to Riyadh early this morning and thought I would post a little summary of our week.

 

After an 8 hour drive down from The Kingdom (not a bad journey), picked the boat up from Richos at 1.00pm. Had an excellent show round of Carousel and was asked if I wanted a trial. I said it would be the first in 35 years and the guy laughed and said "sign here" - and off we went to Acle Bridge for dinner, which as usual, was excellent.

 

An early start was required on Sunday, as the tide times were against me, so I told the boat in front of me that I would be leaving at 5.00am and would make as little noise as possible. Woke up at 4.30am, had a cuppa and pondered the sail down to Yarmouth. At 5.00am, there was very little flow on the river and enough daylight to see, so untied, started the engine and hit the bow thruster. My vision through the screen was very limited, so I pressed the 'down canopy' switch - NOTHING HAPPENED :shocked  :shocked . I thought - OH S**T, I can't see enough to go back to the mooring and wasn't happy with the forward vision. That's when I discovered the limit switch when the canopy is locked in the fully closed position. A quick flick of the locking lever and the canopy opened, so I could get my head out.

 

The run down to Yarmouth was beautiful and only passed one moving boat (a large flybridge cruiser with an air draft over 8ft). We got to the bridges at 6.30am (an hour and a half after slack water) and the clearance was only 7ft 3in. I felt sorry for the boat I had passed, as I assumed he also wanted to go south. We had to push against the tide on the last stretch, but when we passed the yellow post, our speed went from 5 mph to 9.2 mph with no increase in RPM. Throttled back and had a lovely crossing of Breydon and down to St Olaves for a delicious lunch in The Priory. Cruised up to Bramerton in the afternoon and evening for a nice quiet mooring overnight.

 

Monday saw us visit Norwich, so the girls could go shopping. Bought myself a nice bottle of Cardhu Malt, so everybody was happy. Left Norwich mid afternoon and went to Rockland Staithe (only 4 boats), with the intention of visiting the New Inn. Well!! just about to leave the boat and all hell let loose. The sky turned black and we had thunder, lightening, torrential rain and hail for at least half an hour. Needless to say that the pub got a miss and another quiet night was had.

 

Tuesday saw us going to Loddon for lunch and then down to the Berney Arms mill for the night.

 

Wednesday was a 7.30am start to cross Breydon again and we went up to Potter Higham for lunch. Salhouse broad was the choice for Wednesday night and it was nice and quiet until the 2 cruise boats came round with the music blaring and everybody having a good time. The cruise boats did the usual pirouettes in the broad and it was nice to watch.

 

After a nice breakfast on Thursday morning, it was up to Wroxham for the pilot to take us through the bridge, then up to Coltishall for a nice lunch on the boat (the dining area on Carousel is fantastic). Back down to Wroxham for dinner in the Bridge restaurant (excellent).

 

Friday, it was back through the bridge and a slow cruise to Ranworth where we were lucky enough to get a mooring (the bow and stern thrusters are a great help when trying to put a 45ft boat in a 48ft space). Late afternoon cruise back to Richos for a chinese take away and an early night, before giving the boat back on Saturday morning and driving back to Scotland.

 

In conclusion:

 

The boat - absolutely brilliant and the bench mark for the rest to follow.

The Yard - can't fault them at all.

The weather - a bit windy and a couple of storms, but never got wet.

 

Already booking for next March. cheersbar  :Sailing

 

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Matt

Matt

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I think 132.5 litres is a lot! Thunder is 43 foot and last month we had 11 nights and went Brundall-Norwich-Beccles-Wroxham-Potter (we stopped in between! And like you mostly against the tide!) and used 100 litres.

I'm guessing carousel is an hydraulic drive as oppose to Thunders shaft?

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BroadScot

BroadScot

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Hi Eric,

 

Glad to see you have returned safely to yer Hot House :naughty:  Reading your blog, I am delighted you enjoyed that cruiser. More importantly you manged to get Cardhu down there! I use to see it bottled at the old Johnnie Walker Plant at Kilmarnock. 

 

These hydraulic drives are becoming more and more the norm it would appear. Robin, London Rascal, used a high amount of fuel on his last trip out, on a much smaller craft than yours. It was also the same drive..

 

I was moored two along from Carousel in May, she sure is a BIG boat and looks the biz.

 

I am sure for you, March cannot come quick enough. 

 

cheers Iain.

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riyadhcrew

riyadhcrew

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Hi Iain,

 

You are right on all points. Riyadh is still hot and March will come around. As for the Cardhu, I was FORCED to drink it all before I left as I can't bring it back with me and I thought it might go off by March. It was really tough going, but I stuck it out. lol  cheersbar

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BroadScot

BroadScot

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Hi Iain,

 

You are right on all points. Riyadh is still hot and March will come around. As for the Cardhu, I was FORCED to drink it all before I left as I can't bring it back with me and I thought it might go off by March. It was really tough going, but I stuck it out. lol  cheersbar

Aye Eric, spoken like a true Scotsman  :naughty: Whit is it we say? Nae waste I hope! As if!! :naughty:

 

 

cheers Iain.

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