Cruising up the Bure towards the entrance to Ranworth Broad
Another Broads rally. This one, for the first time, was based at Bureside Holiday Park, which made for an excellent venue. There's a decent slipway and acres of space for camping, with electric hook-up all round for those that need it. It's a good venue and, I am sure, one to which we shall return.
Kizzy came along and enjoyed her walks.
Lugger 'Jimbo' in action
On day 2, we took a short trip up the River Thurne to Womack Water, where there are some handy moorings for a walk into Ludham
I was pleased with the return trip from Womack Water to Bureside Holiday Park. Beating into the wind, this track shows over 90 tacks (red track) which, when put together with the outward (yellow) trip, means that we went about well over 100 times... Once out in the river, I managed the entire return trip without engine
The annual Deben Lugger rally is quite an event, and a real opportunity to see just how beautiful and seaworthy these craft are.
The following video provides a personal viewpoint, since it afforded a first opportunity for Scuppers, our five month old Springer Spaniel, to come sailing. He coped really well!
This video shows more of the sailing action!
The weekend panned out much as last year. We launched at Waldringfield, early afternoon on Friday and then had a free sail, most boats working their way up to Woodbridge and back.
The next day, I was joined by crew and my two dogs, Kizzy and Scuppers - it was Scuppers' first sail on the boat and he did very well!
The fleet made its way downstream against the tide towards Bawdsey. We hung back and used the beach landing in 'The Rocks' part of the river - useful for keeping pooches happy! My crew and dogs went home later in the afternoon and I sailed back downstream to meet the returning fleet.
On the final day, following a free sail in the morning, there was an informal 'race' which followed a course from just upstream of Waldringfield down to The Rocks and then back.
We finally recovered boats later in the afternoon.
I attended the Coniston Rally which was the usual brilliant fun. I'd been here once before with Daisy II and really wanted to bring Daisy IV for a repeat trip. This one had the added bonus of being midweek and, of course, the company of Kizzy!
I made the following video compilation which gives flavour of the trip.
This is a blog of sailing activities aboard Daisy IV, a Deben Lugger built in 2012 and purchased in 2023.
Previous boats were Devon Lugger, Daisy (2005-6), Drascombe Coaster, Daisy II (2006-2019) and BayCruiser 20 Daisy III (2019-2024). During the years of boat ownership, I have covered well over 6000nm around the UK, most of which are documented in my various blogs. Sailing grounds are based around the east coast, mainly the Harwich area. Over the years, making use of a versatile roller coaster trailer, I have also covered the east coast from North Kent to Whitby, and various other locations around the south coast, Severn Estuary, Cumbria, inland reservoirs, and the Norfolk Broads.
