Cruise Report by Jane Stevens

 

Before the cruise even begins, there is much planning, booking meals, considering the tides, the British weather, mooring availability, stocking, packing and loading to be done. These days the somewhat helpful WhatsApp feature generally makes things easier, keeping people in the loop of almost everything. The downside is that it’s constantly pinging. 

This year some of us needed DJs and posh frocks for the Yare Sailing Club’s 40th Anniversary bash at RNSYC, so wardrobe provision had to be made.

At some point in the first couple of minutes, hours or days of leaving home, many people realise what they have forgotten, whether it be their phone, biscuits, pasta or specially cooked sausage rolls.

The first cohort of Evergreen, Pippinjack and Moondream planned to meet at Stokesby Ferry on Thursday, the 26th of June for a 6.30pm meal. Moondaisy also moored at Stokesby, while Elizabeth motored on to Burgh Castle for the night. Plans earlier that week of when to go, where to start and stop changed as fast as the weather forecast, which was frequently. There would be strong wind against the tide so there was much consideration of leaving earlier or later to avoid discomfort. The dogs behaved as unconcerned as usual.

Friday - Langley

Leaving Stokesby at 5.45 a.m. was too early for some so they tweaked it to suit either by moving further down river for the night or leaving a little later, after overnight heavy rain. Is the record early start Sandpiper’s at 4 am from Horning the folloing morning?

As the first boat in the group sets off, the rest follow, leapfrogging down the Bure as they wave to children or familiar faces on the bank. Spotting birds or seals on the mud flats can be almost as much fun even in the salty spray for yachters, as for the enclosed motor boat crews. This year there were plenty of Shelduck families compared with last year. Masts and sails raised after bridges and breakfast. 

 

 

Peace of mind is afforded by knowing where your next mooring is. Langley Dyke is a great refuge from wind and heat alike. There are walks with wild cherries, a grassy barbecue lawn, plenty of shade and swimming shallows for the dogs. It’s a great mooring to invite visitors, including ‘the honey man’ and his wife. It’s also conveniently close to Cantley for arranging running repairs, or a ‘waterbus’ trip into Loddon for a picnic and maybe a bit of shopping.

 

Photo left: Jane Stevens - Breakfast at Berney

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo 3  First night at Langley

 

Photo right: Carolyn James - First night at Langley

Saturday - Langley

For the new arrivals Bewitched, Sandpiper, Songbird and Lily there was the choice of sun or shade for chairs and refreshments, or as Colin Chett claims that as he stepped into his cabin, his pillow leaped up and hit him on the side of his face!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo left: Jane Stevens - Lily almost at Langley 

Photo above: Jane Stevens - Second night at Langley 

Photo Below: Colin Chett - Grey Mullet at Langley

Fishermen here over the years ask “Have you seen the Grey Mullet?”, to which the usual reply is negative, but this year at least six 20-inch specimens were watched around the boats, and photographed as proof. 

Other wildlife spotted here included singing Blackcaps and hosts of Comma and Gatekeeper butterflies.

 

Photo Above: Paul Stevens- In the shade at Langley

Photo Above: Paul Stevens - Langley at 4am!

Photo Left: Jane Stevens -  Comma Butterfly

Sunday - Rockland

Having arrived in a hooley, boats drifted off on the tide and a gentle zephyr to Rockland to fill the mooring basin, a female osprey from Ranworth being sighted along the way! Some walkers visited the Portuguese Patisserie, while Skipper Jamie let us know he was on the way to meet us, he and Phil bringing the Pimms Party ingredients in two trolleys!

 Photo Below: Ruth Thompson - Picnic at Loddon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rosie’s crew were also able to join us by road and some of our gorgeous boats dressed overall for the event.

 

 

Walkers at dusk came face to face with a beautiful barn owl. 

 

 

 

Photo Below: Jamie Bennet - Pimms Party ready 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                  Photo Above: Liz Chett -  Rockland dressed overall 

Photo above: Jane Stevens - At Rockland                                                                  Photo above: Ruth Thompson - At Rockland

Photo above: Roger Everett - Pimms Party at Rockland

Monday - Surlingham

Hot, hot, hot. Lunch on Bargate Broad sounded like a plan yesterday but today it would be more pleasant to stay under the twisted oak with an occasional breeze, where we had breakfasted comfortably in shade.

 

Photo Left:  Jane Stevens - EACC sailors love to help fellow owners when they have a problem 

To stay and talk of engines and batteries, reminiscing over the olden days, or to head out onto the river to try to catch a breeze?

Some opted for a pleasant enough sail, some stopped at Brundall for showers, and shopping. All arrived at our reserved moorings at the Surlingham Ferry in time to order food by mid-afternoon. A colourful array of biminis appeared along the quay heading.

 

Photo Above: Trish Barnes - Fleet at Surlingham                                                 Photo above: Jane Stevens - Shade at Surlingham

Photo Above: Jane Stevens                                                                                 Photo Above: Paul Stevens - The Fiddle Sticks

Our visitors included the crews from Starshell, Windrift and Solace. They were kind enough to take away our rubbish and recycling.

At the end of the meal, a side of Morris Men, Women, and their Musicians entertained us, thankfully with flower garlands instead of swords.

Tuesday - Somerleyton

As there was a long way to go to Somerleyton, one set off uncharacteristically early, before 8:30 am, hoping for a decent sail but were thwarted by the wind direction not performing as expected. Some breakfasted aboard and others had a full English in the pub. Readying to leave meant filling water bottles, tidying, lifting mud weights, saying temporary cheerios.

Photo Left: Jane Stevens - Elizabeth at Cantley

Photo Below: Jane Stevens - Songbird

 

 

 

Most boats motored along in the heat. Reedham Bridge was open for some but all yachts dipped their masts under Haddiscoe. Moondaisy and Kobweb had already arrived at Somerleyton, and in spite of it being busy, in true EACC tradition, all boats managed to moor, dance-like, turning, changing places, reversing. As crews relaxed over tea and cake and chatter, Songbird had her waterline scrubbed from in the river and a Greenbook was exchanged for a bottle of wine to help a non- Broads boat from King’s Lynn.

 

 

Photo Above: Jane Stevens - Moon Daisy                                                           Photo Above: Jane Stevens - Reedham Bridge

Photo Above: Jane Stevens - Lester cleaning Songbird’s waterline to cool off.   Photo Above: Jane Stevens - Relaxing on Elizabeth’s shady side Bramble

The Duke’s Head beckoned offering a lovely meal. Before retiring with the sun setting over the masts, a discussion about when to leave on Wednesday revolved around the rain in the forecast and Somerleyton Railbridge flying two red flags, on account of the heat. It signified that the bridge would only open once in the morning while cool because it would expand too much and be unable to close again.

Wednesday - Beccles

Overnight sounds were quite orchestral, with gentle gurgling of tidal water as it rushes past hulls, pattering rain, frapping of burgee halyards and then total silence. A solo was the approaching, passing and departing of the first motorboat at 6:30 am. whereas the all-night background sound from my pit was the changing pitch of trains. At first in the distance, a low dibbledibbledup, growing to hiss and roar, gruddlypod over the bridge and begin to fade on its way. Maybe the bridge will open later in this cooler, damp weather?

 

Photo Above: Liz Chett - Meg and Bramble

After two scorching days, the grey damp was a welcome respite. The soundtrack reverted with breakfast on the new day to chatter about what of the wind, tide, when to set off, where for lunch, de- mast, eat tonight? WhatsApp messages included talking about crossing time today over Breydon, in rain.

All boats arrived at Beccles Yacht Station, some had even sailed. 

Photo above: Liz Chett -  Evergreen sailing                                                                                         Photo Above: Ruth Thompson - Bewitched Sailing

Photo Left: Jane Stevens -  Beccles Yacht Station

  

With the three new arrivals Rosie, Tinkerbell and Come Along there was a total of thirteen boats for one night only. Beccles was pleased to have our custom in shops and eateries, though some ate on board or barbequed.

 

The circle of chairs gathering on the quayside was overshadowed by the emergency services responding in full to an alert of a non-swimmer in the water, disconcerting for all, even the dogs, for many hours. The day ended unresolved with granny blankets, hot chocolate and goodbyes to those heading back the next day.

 

Thursday - Geldeston

 

After a sunny breakfast, some in town at Twyford’s,splinter groups began to head for their next destination, whether it be home for other commitments, Oulton Broad for powerboat racing, staying another night to receive lunch guests, or Geldeston for tranquility.

 

There were plenty of spoonbills on Breydon and masses of White Ermine Willow Moths, with their caterpillar webs, on the way to Geldeston.

 

 

  

Photo Above: Jane Stevens - White Willow Ermine Moth

Photo Left: Jane Stevens - Pip at Geldeston

 

 

 

 

Photo Above: Jane Stevens - Twitchers                                                             Photo Above: Jane Stevens - Rosie

Photo Above: Paul Stevens                                                                                 Photo Above: Tom Moore

Photo Above: Paul Stevens - Moon Daisy leaves Geldeston under sail             Photo Above: Jane Stevens - Tight squeeze downriver from Geldeston

 

The water was clear as always with Chubb, Bream and baby Pike visible. Some walked and some were tempted to swim. There were lots of Demoiselles, a cuckoo and a family of spotted flycatchers.

News of the demise of the young swimmer had been heard with sorrow. At the pub music night a tribute was sung by some who knew him well.

Friday - Oulton Broad

On Friday boats headed back to Beccles, Oulton and beyond to the far north. Some stayed at the broad to help celebrate the YSC 40th Anniversary there and at RN&SYC over the weekend.

Photo Above: Paul Stevens - EACC with YSC at RN&SYC

The tail end of the SRC safely crossed Breydon on Monday afternoon in strong WNW wind, and salty spray, having delayed by a day to avoid yesterday’s heavy rain. At least the sun was shining.

Photo Above: Jane Stevens - Rough on Breydon

Also seen during the week Leafhopper at Langley, a Grass Snake swimming in the water near Geldeston and a jellyfish at Burgh Castle.

Some end of cruise quotes :

“Thanks all for your great company, and thanks to those who organised the cruise, meals, moorings etc.”

“We had a bumper list (of birds) on the way back: Kingfisher at Aldeby; pair of peregrines soaring at height over the lower Bure; Hobby; 3 x European cranes at Burgh St Peter, bittern at Somerleyton; cuckoo on a post at Thurne Mouth; spoonbills on Breydon north side, great white egret larging it on a sign at the Yare / Waveney confluence; herd of Avocets on Breydon; probably most exciting, female common merganser at, of all places, GY Marina.”

“We've had a fantastic week, thanks to everyone for your company / encouragement. Special thanks to meal and mooring organisers! And of course Skip for leading / delegating.”

Maybe we’ll see you on next year’s Southern Rivers Cruise.

Jane Stevens