David_owens
Username: David_owens
Registered: 04-2010
Posted on Saturday, November 05, 2011 - 10:46 pm:
As I mentioned in another thread, I've successfully towed my Winklebrig from Cardiff to Poole Harbour, and to Milford Haven this year. I thought I'd try the Norfolk Broads in 2012. I know there are a number of people who know the area well. Can anyone recommend where I should start looking to launch and perhaps moor my Winklebrig, so I can explore for a week or two? I guess it would also need to be somewhere I could leave the car and trailer too.
Many thanks.
Martin_cartwright
Username: Martin_cartwright
Registered: 04-2008
Posted on Sunday, November 06, 2011 - 08:36 am:
I general, the Broads are split in two halves.The northern broads are north of Great Yarmouth and the southern Broads go from Great Yarmouth down to Beccles. The sailing in the two halves is quite different but equally enjoyable (as long as you avoid school holiday times when the motorboat traffic is unbearable. March/April and October/November is best).
David put me onto Colin Buttifant's boatyard in Ludham which is great for exploring the northern broads. You can launch and park here at a very reasonable rate.I use the Waveney River Centre at Burgh St Peter for the south which is much more luxurious (being a marina)but you can have to wait for the tide to make the slipway usable.
With two weeks at your disposal you could launch at either and explore the whole wonderful area - but do go when others don't. The only thing that spoils the Broads are all the other people!
David_owens
Username: David_owens
Registered: 04-2010
Posted on Sunday, November 06, 2011 - 10:19 pm:
Many thanks Martin - I'll check out Colin Buttifant's and the Waveney River Centre over the winter. Point taken about crowds. In what ways do the north and south differ?
Given my delight about the trailability (!) of the Winklebrig, may even visit Essex one day. I once spent a miserable year there in the University of Essex. Time I put the record straight. A taste of the swatchways should do it. Is that where you sail your much modified Winkle?
Martin_cartwright
Username: Martin_cartwright
Registered: 04-2008
Posted on Monday, November 07, 2011 - 08:36 am:
Others may disagree but I feel the northern Broad area is generally more attractive, the countryside being less flat with smaller rivers linking the broads (this is where most of the actual Broads are) and trees coming down to the waters edge.It is also significantly less tidal.
As you head south past Acle Bridge the countryside flattens out and is more bleak although as a consequence the sailing is usually more exciting. (No trees. More tide). Once past Lowestoft (Oulton Broad) The River Waveney down to Beccles and beyond is very pretty (more like the northern broads rivers). For a first time, I think I would advise starting in the north at Ludham and explore all the nothern area and as you get more adventurous head south.
When coastal/estuary sailing, the Orwell/Walton Backwaters is about as far south as I tend to go. My current favourite is the Deben which is a lovely river I explored in much more detail this year, mooring Winkle at Woodbridge for a month.
In these bleak short days it is nice dreaming about next season isn't it! How about going to the Brest Festival in July? (You only get a chance every four years).
David Cawston
Username: David_cawston
Registered: 03-2007
Posted on Sunday, November 13, 2011 - 08:32 pm:
Hi David, For a first visit to the broads, I too would recommend the Swallowtail boatyard http://www.swallowtailboats.co.uk/ This year a weeks parking for car and trailer, launch and recovery was £30. We will again (all being well) go to the Broads for the TSA Easter cruise. Although Easter is the busiest time of the year on the Broads, once you get upstream through Potter Heigham bridge (very low so all the gin palaces cannot get through)you are in Winkle Brig heaven and the pubs are good! Hickling Broad and Horsey Mere are great and after Easter Monday, things quieten down and a trip up the Bure and Ant to Barton Broad are well worth it. And there are plenty of little dead end cuts worth exploring, most enjoyable in a WB. And you will be able to put your mast lowering tackle to good use plenty of times.
David_owens
Username: David_owens
Registered: 04-2010
Posted on Monday, November 28, 2011 - 10:26 pm:
Many thanks - if both of you are recommending Swallowtails, it must be the place to start. Will spend these long, wet winter nights planning. I've never been to the Broads. Exciting. Hope to see you both next year - we are thinking of an event in Cardiff Bay with the Old Gaffers Association - maybe we can tempt you down ... You too Roger Parish! And a welcome to any and all Winklebriggers :-)
David_owens
Username: David_owens
Registered: 04-2010
Posted on Monday, November 28, 2011 - 10:33 pm:
ps I've looked at the Brest Festival, Martin. Some event! Surely a high peaked, gaff rigged Winklebrig sloop would get lost in there, not like your glorious yawl, with mizzens, top sails and all :-)
Martin_cartwright
Username: Martin_cartwright
Registered: 04-2008
Posted on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 11:24 am:
Too kind- But I think you are being hard on the 'standard' Winklebrig which is a lovely looking boat and the Bretons love it.Drascombes go regularly and I think the Winklebrig is a better looking boat. I went to the Morbihan regatta a couple of years ago - before some of Winkle's' more extreme modifications - and had a great time and the locals loved her - I even had two offers to buy!. I am sure you and any others would be very welcome. The only thing to remember is that a Breton's 'country' is Brittany, not France!
I am definitely going to Brest next year (although I have to say I haven't found any registration details online in English yet!).
Martin_cartwright
Username: Martin_cartwright
Registered: 04-2008
Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 - 04:52 pm:
David C. How did you get on with the sailing on the Broads at the weekend? I am sorry to say that neither my boat nor my body were up to it this year, although I was with you in spirit. Any photos?
David Cawston
Username: David_cawston
Registered: 03-2007
Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 - 10:07 pm:
Inspite of the pretty lousy weather, freezing cold Saturday night and howling gale Monday night, we had some cracking good sailing, especially on Barton Broad. And the wind played ball and allowed us some excellent sailing on the Bure, Thurne and Hickling. So overall, apart from a lack of warmth and sunshine, it was worth the long trek down from Northumberland. Photos to follow.
Roger Parish
Username: Roger_parish
Registered: 03-2007
Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2012 - 03:24 pm:
.....and here are photos of Markie on River Ant and Barton Broad taken from the support vessel!
Martin_cartwright
Username: Martin_cartwright
Registered: 04-2008
Posted on Friday, April 13, 2012 - 02:31 pm:
Delighted it was a success. You (both) put fair weather sailers like me to shame! I am afraid it will be at least a month before Winkle takes to the water.
Roger Parish
Username: Roger_parish
Registered: 03-2007
Posted on Friday, April 13, 2012 - 03:48 pm:
Martin, I omitted to say that the "support boat" was a plastic Broads cruiser with heating etc,etc!
WB25 "Rogue" SHAKEDOWN TRIP TO NORFOLK BROADS September 2017
This was the first time I've put my pride and joy in the water (in fact, the first time I've put any boat in the water off a trailer) so I chose the Norfolk Broads for its large bodies of non-tidal fresh water. Slipways with adjacent trailer parking are few and far between on the NBs so I based myself at Whispering Reeds boatyard on Hickling Water. There is a public staithe and slipway with parking only 100 m round the corner but this is for dinghies only and charges apply.
The charges at Whispering Reeds were:
Use of the slipway, £10 each way.
Trailer parking for one week, £15.
Car parking for one week, £15.
There was also a one week Broads Authority visitors license which I bought through them at about £25.
CONS
* Plenty of low overhead wires (see photo) means that you have to put the mast up immediately before entering the water and put it down again immediately after leaving the water. Fortunately the boatyard was, in mid-September, fairly quiet so this wasn't a bit problem.
* The boatyard is open from 8:30am till 5pm. There is no access to the slipway outside these times. However the parking area and pedestrian access to the private staithe is available at all hours.
* There's a very tight angle to get onto the slipway (about 70 degrees) (see photo). I didn't find it a problem with the front tow hitch fitted to my Land Rover Defender but another guy launching there took several shuffles in his brand new Land Rover Discovery to get it right.
PROS
* I don't have much experience but the prices seemed reasonable to me.
* The boatyard is very laid-back, it's quiet, and there's plenty of room to faff about getting sorted out. This results in low stress levels.
* 100 m from the boatyard and you're on the largest broad. There's a marked channel but I sailed all over the broad with both boards down and never ran aground.
Most important of all, I got in two launches and two recoveries with some good sailing in between.
Yes, it was a wet and windy week and I'd have liked to have done more sailing. But the boat is safely tucked up for the winter now and I can get on with a few minor jobs knowing that next season I'm all "good to go".
Hi Ross, I have been thinking of a trip to the broads since I brought holly earlier this year. Your article has inspired me to make the effort . If you are planning a trip back next year perhaps let me know and we could have at least 2 winkle Briggs on the broads together. the car park you mention do you think overnight camping in a vw would be allowed or sleep in the boat on the trailer ? Matt
We are hoping that we will be able to visit the broads next year, possibly over the first May bank holiday. We would again use Swallowtail Boatyard for launching etc., plenty of space to rig, so easy to launch, long straight run down the slipway and secure parking. Colin who owns the yard might allow overnighting in the van or on board ashore or there is a touring caravan park opposite the boatyard. For overnighting on the water, Hunters Yard is next door but not on a Friday when the fleet is in.
Matthew
Yes, I shall definitely be going back to the Broads in 2018, probably for two separate weeks (it's a long haul from the West Midlands so I'm thinking of leaving Rogue over there in-between visits).
A visit to Swallowtail Boatyard (as recommended by Dave Cawston) could be part of one of those weeks - it's just around the corner and would allow a trip along the River Bure without the hassle of shooting (and hopefully, missing) Potter Heigham bridge. A few days on Horsey and Hickling Broads and a few on the Bure would make for a very pleasant outing, I'm sure.
I'd be very happy to spend some time cruising in company. We could get in touch in the Spring.
As I say, the guys at Whispering Reeds are very laid back but it would obviously be best to speak with them about over-nighting in the car park.
Hi
We have just become the proud owners of 'Cockle' Winkle Brig 106 and have moored her on the river Bure for the season, It would be nice to meet up with other WB's on broads to find out if were doing everything correctly, new to gaff rig as just coming from dinghy sailing!
Best
Graham and Melanie
Hi everyone,
Markie will be visiting the Broads in 2 weeks time launching on Monday 7th May at Swallowtail boatyard, Womack Water, Ludham and probably making our way up the Ant before returning to Hickling and Horsey later in the week.
Where abouts on the Bure are you Graham & Melanie?
David
A week on the Norfolk Broads and did not have to get out the waterproofs once.
Cockle and Markie meet up.
Hi David
Sorry for the long delay getting back to you, great to meet up for lunch at South Walsham, good fun, Josie really enjoyed herself and I will post pictures of 'Markie' and aggressive birds later!
Hi All,
Rather a late post to this subject but I bought "Winkle" from Martin Cartwright in August 2018 and it would be great to meet up on the Norfolk Broads sometime in 2019 with anyone who wishes to.
Pat Arnold.
Hi, I have just bought Philomena WB54 and would love to meet up with other WB owners on the Broards. Do you have any dates in mind yet.
Yvonne
Hello everyone. I have been quiet on the forum for a while, but I am still here and still have Partan. We have not used her much recently due to illness, but I am on the mend now, so I am hoping to get her wet again this year. Would be interested in meeting other owners and their cruising grounds.
We have taken her to the Broads many times, using Swallowtail yard facilities, which I find friendly and central to the Northern Broads. My wife does not come with me any more, so my daughter has stepped in and on our most recent trip we made a point of mud weighting on several Broads overnight. We used Salhouse Broad, although on the second occasion moved off because a large noisy mb parked too close for comfort. Black Horse Broad was nice and is signed as 'no mooring' so the mbs don't bother you. Barton Broad is quiet in the evening and more sheltered than Hickling or Horsey. Hickling is becoming silted, but is still OK for a WB in most places. I have yet to explore Catfield dyke for overnight opportunities, mainly because there is no pub there. If you go to Horsey Mere, I recommend the Waxham New Cut. If you are motoring it may be a bit weedy, but it opens out a bit when you get past Bograve Mill. The other popular places are described elsewhere on here. Hunters Yard is a good place to stop and has good showers. They will tell you about all the Arthur Ransome stuff they have in the shed from when they made the tv series. It is worth having nav lights so you can use the river in the evening when you will have it all to yourself.
There is a good shop in Ludham opposite the pub, and a garage if you need petrol. Much nearer to the water is Latham's shop at Potter Heigham which you can reach by mooring between the two bridges. You could overnight here and there are several dining options, but the best pub is the Falgate Inn about half a mile up the road. I would be quite interested to explore the Southern Waters if anyone can suggest a suitable launch point with parking. I am told the southern rivers are better for sailing.
Hello Yvonne and Paul,
It would be great to meet up on the Broads. Not sure when anyone is thinking of. Maybe suggest 2 or 3 dates and we can see if diaries fit.
Patrick.
Hi Pat, I don't have any actual dates in mind. Probably some time in early August if I go this year.
Hi Paul, Sorry for un-speedy response. Let me know if you do want to meet in August (or whenever).
Pat Arnold.