Broad Ambition - Underway on the H2O

[JennyMorgan]

Robin, having a long blue phallice dangling from your stem-head is a nightmare vision that will haunt you till eternity!

[boycee]

Pleased to report all BA fenders in correct positions when we met at Oulton Broad Friday 3rd. Had a beer with Griff in Broadview on Fri night - must say the beer was better than his jokes but it he made Mags laugh. They left this morning for the return trip north but a crowd of us are having a meal at the Commodore tonight to celebrate Mags big 60 birthday.

Boycee

[deebee29]

Happy Birthday to Mags

enjoy the evening 

[Bound2Please]

I dont know you Mags but have a goodun

Charlie

[BroadScot]

Tut tut Boycee you really meant Mags 21st Birthday.....again! Hope you have spoiled her rotten !

Iain

[grendel]

When I spotted some blue fenders at a boot fair thiss morning I very nearly bought one as a present for Robin

[BroadScot]

9 minutes ago, grendel said:

When I spotted some blue fenders at a boot fair thiss morning I very nearly bought one as a present for Robin

His travel case would look a bit silly with that attached to it ! Mind you, the way they jostle in the London underground it could become a new fad ! 

[Gracie]

Happy Birthday Mrs Boycee

Grace

[NeilB]

Hi Griff

Thought I'd add these here as I'm sure you will recognise them.  As you can see we had to show them how to control their vessel !!

 

[johnb]

I heard because they've got "heads" BA are considering replacing Rangers crafts with these. (The above)

[LondonRascal]

Oh don't go leaking photos and making comment here - last time that happened the Broads Authority went mad and somehow I ended up with memo's from them in my inbox about something called the 'Hickling & Thurne Implementation Task Force' - there was an inquiry and everything

[JawsOrca]

16 minutes ago, LondonRascal said:

Oh don't go leaking photos and making comment here - last time that happened the Broads Authority went mad and somehow I ended up with memo's from them in my inbox about something called the 'Hickling & Thurne Implementation Task Force' - there was an inquiry and everything

 

 

Yeah what happened with that wasn't we waiting to hear back or something??

[LondonRascal]

20 minutes ago, JawsOrca said:

Yeah what happened with that wasn't we waiting to hear back or something??

You're right Alan,

Mitch Sackryder and Edward Balls were going to do something with regard to Horsey Commander being moved and Donald Trumpington was to confirm a  delivery timetable for the crane and demolition of the former Broads Haven public house as a sight for the crane to operate from. I've heard nothing since however

[JawsOrca]

3 hours ago, LondonRascal said:

You're right Alan,

Mitch Sackryder and Edward Balls were going to do something with regard to Horsey Commander being moved and Donald Trumpington was to confirm a  delivery timetable for the crane and demolition of the former Broads Haven public house as a sight for the crane to operate from. I've heard nothing since however

 

I think you need to get on the PC and draft something up... unfinished business and all...

[BroadAmbition]

I certainly need to get caught up, won't be tonight though, been busy round at a mates, didn't get int till 2230, tomorrow night will be the same too, Wednesday should do it.  Need to get caught up with the rest of the threads on here too

Griff

[BroadAmbition]

Hi NeilB - yes very much so, I spent 4 x years, very happy ones onboard HMS Explorer.

'B.A' will get to meet her for the first time along with Trumpeter, MTB102 next month (Still places for passengers available onboard MTB102 for a few hours out at sea) - See the t'other salty thread

Griff

[BroadAmbition]

Wednesday 01st June   -   2030 arrived onboard, with MrsG, Macie dog.  our two other crew members arrived shortly after us.  We made it round to Sutton Staithe, (had to double moor) by about 2200, straight into the public bar until around midnight, had an interesting conversation with other punters re the Euro in/out thing, the majority was voting out or so they said

Thursday 02nd   -   Sailed early at about 0715.  It was v. windy and cold.  First week in June and we had used more diesel for the heating than we had for the Beta already.  we meandered down the Ant, said hello to staff at LBBy along with Bravehearts crew who were going back to Jockland the same day.  Stokesby Ferry the tide was very much on the ebb and we were toooo early, so came about into tide and berthed up.  A quick visit to the local shop, had a late b'fast / early lunch thing and sailed about 1330, still to early for slack water at GYA but I knew we would have plenty of headroom at the bridges, didn't really want to take the top down as we had got 'B.A' nicely warmed through.  Scooted down through GYA onto Breydon.  Gave the Beta her head to stretch herself, 2'600rpm (Which is flat out), we were now into an ebb on Breydon and we were managing just 7;5mph.  We backed off on the revs approaching the Fishermans bar and made our way up the Waveney, again plenty of headroom a St Olaves and on we went.  By around 1630 we arrived at our chosen destination, the Waveney River Centre.  Stern moored and settled down.  Dinner that evening was in the pub, dog friendly.  There is a sign in the bar which states           'Dogs Welcome, Well behaved children tolerated'    I had by now developed a full blown common cold which meant consuming copious amounts of dark rum for medicinal purposes of course.  By coincidence my other male crew member Paul had a cold and was a day behind me with it so neither of us was on top form.  consequently the lot of us was turned in by 2300, couldn't be bothered with a dvd.  The heating had been running all day, this is June isn't it?

Friday 03rd   -  Woke up feeling not too clever, heating turned back on again.   Stuff it lets go for a swim, erm none of us felt like it much so we didn't.  I did have a full cooked B'fast in the pub, then made use of the shores side showers - very nice. By  1130 we were ready to sail for OBYS, disconnected shore power and off we went.  It was still cold.  Berthing at OBYS was a breeze, plenty of room.  we all trooped off to 'The Commodore' only to discover it was not dog friendly so I popped Macie dog back onboard, then went back round, an enjoyable afternoon in there we spent.  Back onboard, met Boycee and crew so before dinner went for another drink with them this time in the Broadview.  Dinner onboard with a DVD then bed turning off the heating last thing.

Saturday 04th   -   The wx today was supposed to be getting better, it did feel slightly warmer and the wind had dropped but it was proper overcast.  However on sailing at round 1130 the sun was out at last - this was more like it, we at last got the canopy down and turned off the blessed heater.  Reedham was our destination, we berthed up outside the still shut Nelson in glorious sunshine.  Waited for the tide again then off across Breydon.  All was well, the crew were now in high spirits.  We passed Stracey Arms it was then in the not too far distance I could see the odd white sail, well to be honest a veritable armada of them all appeared to be sailing in the fields as per the norm.  Blimey I thought there's a lot of them out today in one place, then of course the penny dropped, which nearly broke my foot - it was the 3RR in full swing and we were converging on each other fast

Griff

 

 

[grendel]

Thanks Jonzo, I am back home now.

after that gorgeous trip down river Tuesday evening we were in no Rush Wednesday, one boat clipped us with their dinghy unmooring as they had it tied on to the shore side, no damage done to BA, they managed to hit the steel strip on the bow.

We departed Acle at 12.00 and meandered slowly down to GY with the ebb, 1000 RPM, and arrived just in time to sail up Breydon a little way and follow the others through on the Bridge lifts. we then moored up alongside while the 3 sea boats stuck their noses out of the breakwater to see how rough it was - too rough as it happens. later we slipped and went to the breakwater in company with MTB 102 and escorted the two patrol boats in, mooring up at Town Hall Quay.

after a guided tour of Explorer we all met up in the Mayors parlour for a beer / wine and a buffet, he was most welcoming as were his wife and staff.

That evening the Exec of Explorer paid us a visit, had the guided tour and was shown the book of pictures of the restoration, a great many reminiscences were passed back and forth, as were many cans and bottles, after this a restock of the beer was a high priority.

Thursday dawned, the big day, as you will read on the other thread, that went off without a hitch, the water had just enough chop to make it interesting, not enough to stop anything. Photos and videos were obtained, and Griff was 'right chuffed'.

after the play with the navy, we headed back in to Lowestoft and passed into Oulton Broad through Mutford lock. a short stop here to restock the larder and beer cellar, and then off to Gedleston for the night (a very nice steak and Ale pie they do too)

[grendel]

Friday was a day to wind down after the hectic adventures of the earlier part of the week, so we ended up just sailing down to Beccles, here we had a rest, went into town, and just generally relaxed, in the evening Brian cooked us a wonderful stew, which was followed by the Blackberry and Apple pie I had brought with me, along with some custard. we had set the table up on the grass just behind the boat at the yacht station.

5am rise Saturday, and 6am departure for the meet at Oulton Broad, down river on a lovely morning with the mist rising from the water, stunning. Griffs special coffee helped too.

we arrived just about 8am, and proceeded to join the rest moored on the pontoon, a great day of chatting and meeting everyone, too many nice people to mention individually for fear of missing anyone out.

photo time to get the pictures of the forum flag, it was tricky to get a clear shot. but I managed it in the end.

[grendel]

We had the meal at the Indian, the food was reasonable, but the service was a bit disorganised and it took nearly an hour to get the last plates on the table after the first had appeared, it really appeared as though they were not organised for a larger party.

The others went into the Lady of the lake, where it appeared there was to be a live band later, before this started the noise levels were so high my tinetus would not let me hear a word anyone was saying, so I retired back to the boat for a ginger beer and early night.

This was good as an even earlier start on Sunday, saw us departing at 5am bound for Wroxham. a bit misty heading down to Breydon, but the mist cleared before we got to the posts. we arrived at the yellow post at low water and ended up punching the last of the ebb upriver. Stokesbury Ferry and the tea rooms provided a nice breakfast and we arrived at Wroxham at about 13.00, a pint at the Kings head and back down river toward Stalham. on the way we were in close company with about 5 other boats, several day boats, when some very quick action on Griffs part saved a pile up, we were 2/3 of their length alongside a boat, when they started an overtaking manouver of the boat in front of them. this meant they turned right across our bows, some quick reverse action here by Griff and our bow passed just over their swim platform, which rather surprised one of their passengers who had a close view of BA's prow badge passing inches away.

Some more reversing action was called for at Horning, with the skipper of a hire boat forgetting about the swinging stern, then down to Ludham for a pumpout.

Whilst mentioning Horning, it did look as though there were a few of the yacht club outt having fun as we passed in both directions.

After Ludham we had a nice sail up the ant and put BA to bed.6.30 ish we departed in various directions for home, a quick 3 hour run saw me back home.

[JennyMorgan]

2 hours ago, grendel said:

We had the meal at the Indian, the food was reasonable, but the service was a bit disorganised and it took nearly an hour to get the last plates on the table after the first had appeared, it really appeared as though they were not organised for a larger party.

We've been there with a party of four and the service was disorganised then. Never had a bad meal there but the state of the carpet puts me off!  Oh, you thought it was dark brown lino, urghh.

[grendel]

Saturday mornings cruise down to Oulton.

 

[BroadAmbition]

Cracking morning cruise that was

Griff

[BroadAmbition]

PPsssttttt.  someone ask LondonRascal about his new 'B.A' Key fob thingy!

Griff

[LondonRascal]

Since nobody has asked (a good thing) because I am confused as anything what  you're on about