Coniston rally, 1-4 July

 

Kizzy and Daisy IV on Wildcat Island

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.

2nd July, 9.3nm

3rd July, 14.4nm

Walton Backwaters: 23 May, 8-9 June

In May and June, I made two visits to Titchmarsh Marina in order to sail around the Walton Backwaters.  The first was a reconnaissance trip to prepare for the second which was a Drascombe Association rally I organised.

The following video gives a flavour of the event.

Track from 23 May, 8.8nm

8th June, 10.6nm

9th June, 5.9nm

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