Tuesday 29 May 2012

Queen's Diamond Jubilee Pageant

Look out for Cherub on 3rd June. She will be flying the Norfolk flag and dressed with bunting from stem to stern. We have had some illness in the crew, which has necessitated a change. Fortunately Stuart has stepped in to add much needed muscle and stamina so the required speed of 4 knots looks achievable for the whole length of the course. We don't want to end up under tow, or in the Waifs and Strays division.

Provisionally Cherub has been positioned in the first row of the skiffs, with John Disley, Sgian Dubh, Willow and five others abreast across the Thames. Cherub will be on the most southerly station and Willow, from Beccles, the most northerly.

I'm also looking forward to meeting our old friends from Langstone Cutters and making new friends from amongst the fixed seat fraternity.

Thursday 10 May 2012

2012 season underway at last

Widgeon and Cherub have started the season with two outings in the past week. The first was to escort the wherry yacht White Moth to Whitlingham for the Broads Outdoor Festival. This should have been followed by a picnic outdoors, but the two crews of Peter, Sarah, Frances and Jeremy and Adrian, Lynne, Robin and Rosemary were driven indoors by the cold. (wind chill +3 C).

Four days later the evening visit to Wroxham Broad was postponed because of bad weather. The following day, with the temperature just above 20 C Cherub and Widgeon took to the water again during a ferocious sqall. Peter, Sarah and Robin G in Widgeon and Adrian, Robin F and Ian in Cherub rowed across the broad trying to avoid a racing fleet of 420s. Once onto the River Bure rowing was more comfortable in the lee of the trees, which line the banks. At this moment the rain started, which stayed with us for the rest of the afternoon. A brew up at Salhouse Broad, thanks to Robin's pine cone fired kettle, gave us the energy for the return. We retrieved the boats at the public slipway without mishap.
Not a major expedition perhaps, but enjoyed by all.
Next outing will be on June 14th when we explore Norwich by water. see http://groupspaces.com/norfolkskiffclub for details.