Norfolk Broads Raid

Dates:  5 – 9 August 2013

THREE IMPORTANT NOTICES

1.   We have to pass under two bridges.  If you can not lower the mast of your boat easily then this is not the Raid for you.

2.   The Norfolk Broads is home to fleets of quite large hire cruisers.  We shall be sharing quite narrow rivers with them.  For reasons of safety and organisational logistics we feel that we need to limit the Raid to around 20 boats and a maximum of around 60\65 Raiders.

3.  This is an ideal ‘starter’ Raid for families and for anyone who doesn’t fancy Solent tides or figuring in an up to date “We didn’t mean to go to sea”.  The Norfolk Broads are sheltered waters, the navigation is minimal………down the river, under the bridge, turn left at the bottom and then left and left again!……honestly.  The tides are slight but you will know it if the wind drops and the current is against you!

The Programme looks as follows (as at mid-November)

Monday 5th.

Arrival, Registration and Launching at Barton Turf on Barton Broad with time for early arrivals to go out and sail on Barton Broad.

Tuesday 6th.

Morning race around Barton Broad using the facilities of the host club, the Norfolk Punt Club possibly followed by a rowing race “Around the Island!”.

Then down the River Ant to Ludham Bridge where ALL boats have to lower their masts to pass under Ludham Bridge.  After raising masts and hoisting sails we shall sail on down the River Ant, into the River Bure to Thurne Mouth and then up to Womack Dyke where we moor for the night at Hunters Yard.

Wednesday 7th.

From Hunters Yard we shall sail up the River Thurne to Potter Heigham where we again moor and lower masts to negotiate Potter Heigham Bridge, a medieval bridge with a low arch and a clearance of about 6ft. 6ins. ( 1.96m ).  We then sail on up to Hickling Broad where we shall moor in the dyke by the Pleasure Boat Inn.  No prizes for guessing where we eat this evening!

Thursday 8th.

A sailing race on Hickling Broad followed by a rowing race after which we sail back to Hunters Yard, mast lowering and raising once more for Potter Bridge.

Friday 9th.

Hunters Yard to Wroxham Broad.  A long day especially as we will be among the trees from Horning onwards.  We sail down the Thurne to Thurne Mouth and then up the River Bure all the way to Wroxham Broad.  To add to the interest we shall pass though the village of Horning on the last day of Horning Week, their annual regatta.  This should make for an interesting afternoon!

The Norfolk Broads Raid will come to a glorious(?) conclusion with a dinner in the NBYC club house overlooking Wroxham Broad.

ACCOMMODATION:

The club at Wroxham will let us camp or park camper vans at the top of their site.  Those whose boats have accommodation or who wish to camp on their boats will of course be free to do so.

If you are making your own accommodation plans you need to be looking for accommodation within the villages of Wroxham, Hoveton, Horning and maybe Neatishead. The villages of Ludham, Stalham and Hickling are also possible although not so convenient if you wish to use the raid transport minibuses.
If you need any further information to help in finding suitable accommodation please get in touch with us and we will try to be of  assistance.
NB. Wroxham is the home of Roys of Wroxham, the largest village store in the world!  There is a good supermarket, an independent butcher, a large and well stocked chandlery (Norfolk Marine) as well as being the home of Jeckells the sailmakers.   If your trailer gets a puncture there is a friendly tyre workshop as well.   For emergencies there is also a doctor, a dentist and not one but two undertakers.

TRANSPORT:

We shall organise minibuses to shuttle us all between Wroxham and the moorings each morning and evening.  If you organise your own accommodation and want to use the buses then please be prepared to come to Wroxham each day.

FOOD:

Breakfast bags/boxes, packed lunches and the evening meal will be provided each day.

COST:

The cost of the raid is £230 per person (this includes lunches, dinners  and transport to and from Norfolk Broads Yacht Club, Wroxham, etc).
For Raiders wishing to camp at Norfolk Broads Yacht Club (NYBC), the cost will be £10 per day per two or three person tent ( or camper-van).

There is no charge for children under 5 and children 5 – 12 will be 50% of the adult cost.
Whilst there will be no boat entry fee, each boat will need a short term visitors licence from the Broads Authority.   The licence fee is determined by the length of your boat and also whether you wish to have a motor of any sort.  This fee will be added to your overall cost  (see page 8 of this document ).

To book your place on the Raid please go to register ,  complete the form and send it to us.   A booking deposit of £50 will secure your place.

If you wish to make a BACS transfer please get in touch with us at

nevilleandvalatgmaildotcom

(substitute at & dot with the usual symbols  in order  to defeat the automated spammers)

and we will supply you with the necessary details, otherwise please send an old-fashioned cheque made payable to:

N H Khambatta
The Spinney
School Lane
Neatishead
Norfolk NR12  8XH

THE BONUS SAIL!

Norfolk Broads Yacht Club have an open event for classic dinghies on Saturday-Sunday 10th\11th. August.
We are assured that it is very, very ‘open’ and that raid boats would be welcome  to join in.
The entry fee is £12 and there are two races on the Saturday and, we believe, two more on the Sunday.  So…….as you are already there some Raiders may wish to stay on for the weekend.

Neville & Val Khambatta
nevilleandval@gmail.com
01692 630231