Oulton Broad and the River Waveney, 6-7 October 2023

 Such is the way of things, I decided it would be good to do a first 'overnighter' with my English Springer Spaniel, Kizzy aboard.

The weather being generally inclement and regular access ashore imperative, the Norfolk Broads was the only sensible option.  So, we headed over to Oulton Broad to use the public slipway at the Sports Centre.

Having rigged and launched, and it being fairly late in the afternoon, we motored along the River Waveney to some official moorings and set up the tent.  

Kizzy waiting for permission to eat her food!

The tent is a bespoke affair, created by the previous owner, and which extends the existing sprayhood, creating a sort of dome, which is just about big enough for two people to lie down.  The boat has cabin cushions aplenty, although it would be challenging to keep these dry if it were to rain!  And, I have created a platform which extends the deck for ease of sleeping aboard.  It is best described as 'functional', although I'll look to invest in the standard extended tent supplied by Anglia Yacht Brokerage if it looks like any more serious overnighting is in the offing, since it offers much more space and is a better all round design.

The next morning, we motored up to Beccles for elevenses.  Winds were quite gusty and from the SW but, as usual, the reeds and trees on the shoreline provided a substantial filter.  So, we set sail back to Oulton Broad and had no further use for the outboard.

I recorded some footage which is included in the following clip:

5.2nm, 6th October pm

3.2nm, 7th October am

8.3nm, 7th October later in the morning

Hickling Broad rally, 16-17 September

 

It was a great pleasure to return to this favourite corner of the Norfolk Broads and, once again, as a part of a Drascombe Rally.  Moreover, it presented a first opportunity to test out my theory that the Deben Lugger would go well on the Broads - and indeed, Daisy IV did…. The copious quantities of weed, by and large, slid under the hull/rudder as expected and the sail shape was sufficient to catch the wind over the reeds when navigating channels.  

This video captures a flavour of the spirit of the weekend:

On Saturday, I had company in the form of crew plus Kizzy, the Springer Spaniel.  On Sunday I was single handing with a single reefed main in a slightly stiffer breeze.

10.5nm

7.3nm

Finally, a fellow sailor put together this rather enjoyable summary of the weekend…!

Ullswater

 

This trip was a part of the Drascombe Association Ullswater rally.  We took the opportunity to travel up earlier which gave us time for more sailing and more walking.

Conditions were very placid and hot for the first four days.  Then, the weather broke on the Sunday and we made a mad dash for the shoreline and that was the sailing done.  

Here’s a video blog of the four sailing days…

The most exciting part of the sail was having crew in the form of Mrs M, first mate, and Kizzy, ship's dog!

The wind didn’t really get going throughout, so we were somewhat limited in terms of the sailing we could manage and it was helpful sometimes to have the outboard to power us back to base when required. - although this only happened twice.

One of the key benefits of a Drascombe rally is that people take pictures of boats; pleasingly, a number were taken of Daisy IV.

Thursday 7th, 4.6nm

Friday 8th, 4.7nm

Saturday 9th, 10.2nm

Sunday 10th, 1.8nm

Gloucester Ring Trip, 2nd September

I've done this trip once before, in Daisy II.  This year seemed a good opportunity for a reprise.  The video pretty much tells the story of the trip.  

Arrival at Lydney on Friday 1st.  Overnight in the car.  Launched first thing on Saturday morning.  Left sails and mast back at base since there's little sailing to be done.  Up the tidal River Severn at ridiculous speeds with the spring tide, along with various pieces of flotsam and jetsam.  Over the weir at Maisemore, into Gloucester docks.  Back down the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal at a more leisurely pace.  Supper at Sharpness - where the above photo was taken, looking from the canal back across the Severn to the 'other side'.  Then into Sharpness lock, where we were let out into the Severn at HW slack and back across in the dark to Lydney.  Boats out, trail back home to arrive at 0400.

All in all, a slightly mad but hugely enjoyable experience…

43.3 nm

Deben Lugger rally, 18-20 August, 2023

Daisy IV on the River Deben

This rally was based at Waldringfield.

It afforded an opportunity to try out a prototype boom tent, fashioned from a piece of tarpaulin.  It did its job and kept me dry through a fairly extensive thunderstorm…

Eleven Deben Luggers met up for a weekend of sailing fun.

 

Friday, 6.0nm - up to Woodbridge and back.

Saturday, 12.8nm. - against the tide, downstream to Felixstowe Ferry and then back with the tide to 'The Rocks' for beaching and a late lunch.  Then back to base.  Winds fresh and challenging.  Double reefed.

Sunday, 10.5nm - a tongue in cheek race which most boats didn’t to complete due to wind failure… 

Rutland Water (again)

 

Another weekend, another opportunity for lake-based sailing trials with my new charge.

Winds were extremely light, sometimes non-existent.  But it was certainly a chance to try out an unreefed main for the first time!  I managed to get the lazy-jacks twisted when hoisting the mast and this tangled with the yard when raising the sail - another rigging point to check with greater care next time!

Rutland Water

 

It has been a frustrating half term week. With time set aside for sailing, a high pressure system has parked itself off the northwest of Scotland, fine for anywhere north and west, but sending cold and fairly brisk north easterly winds along the east coast.  So, planned cruising hasn’t happened.  But today, I finally broke away from home and dragged Daisy IV along to Rutland Water.

Winds were NE, F3-5.  Launching at Whitwell, I had immense fun cruising in the northern arm.

11.9nm

  

Maiden voyage

 

Single reefed, sailing up towards the Orwell Bridge

This was a perfect start, sailing with friends from Suffolk Yacht Harbour, up the River Orwell - actually part of a Drascombe Association rally, but just joining for the day.

Winds were NE F4 gusting upwards.  Rigging and launching went remarkably smoothly, with help from others, and utilising the launching cable on the steep slipway at SYH.

Ready to launch

Once launched, annoyingly little room for temporary berthing while parking car and trailer.

Double-reefed main - the sail has three reefing points.  For a first sail, I wasn’t exactly throwing caution to the wind…

Other participants at close quarters…

Beached for lunch opposite Freston Park

The return trip to SYH was reassuringly fast, and she held up well through the gusts.  The boat is stable and glides smoothly through the water.

A reassuring first sail; looking forward to future trips!