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.
