Low Bridge Ahead!

Now, the Norfolk Broads and their rivers extend over quite a large patch of Norfolk, and, while it is an unspoilt area of great beauty, people do live there, and they don't all have boats, so they need cars and roads to get around.

So, from time to time, our peaceful sail was interrupted by the looming presence of a road bridge. It is a feature of Broads bridges that they are very low and everything has to be lowered, first and foremost the mast, to get through.

Getting the mast down for the first time was quite scary and definitely challenging, but, as you can see from our next picture, we did manange it (after 2 attempts!). If I'm looking a bit exhausted on the roof, I was; a fresh wind certainly didn't help.


The key to it all is the metal plates which act as counterweights. Due to the rather irregular sizes of some of our plates, getting the mast to swing in and out of the trap door affair cut into the foredeck, was quite a feat, as it was an extremely tight fit. If you look at my next picture, you'll see what I mean about the metal counterweights (or perhaps you won't as I seem to be blocking the view of the plates!)


In the background you'll see the bridge we wanted to pass under. In our next post we'll get a lot closer and you'll see what a tight fit it was.

Lots of love Eddie & crew of Leander xxx

Rising to the Challenges

While Leander was a joy to look at and was beautifully crafted in wood, I found her quite a challenging boat to sail, and I was glad that our male minder - who has taught me most of what I know about sailing - was on hand to give me some help and advice. Here he is helping me work out what does what ...


.. from the incredible array of shrouds, ropes and shackles round the mast; it took some time to get familiar with them all, as they were there for purposes such as raising and lowering the roof and mast, as well as for raising and lowering the sails and holding up the mast.

Then I had to get used to a gaff rig, which was new to me. As I hauled up the gaff, I had to judge the correct angle between the main mast and the gaff. I knew when I'd got it wrong as the sail had wrinkles in it. When I got it right, Leander looked just like a traditional Wherry, and we are all very familiar with the sail shape we were aiming for, as a Wherry is used for the logo for our favourite beer, Woodforde's Wherry (yes it is brewed on the Broads).


In this picture you see the sail after I had put two reefs in. This was necessary on our second morning when we woke up to a howling gale. As the reef had to be tied in by threading a rope in and out of all the holes along the bottom of the sail, it took quite some time to put in.

All the effort was well worth it though, and it is so much fun to do it all yourself and be responsible for your own progress; much more satisfying that turning a key and starting the engine of a plastic pig (as we call the Broads cruisers).


Even so it was nice to relax on the boat when all the jobs had been done.

Lots of love Eddie and crew xxx

We Are In Residence

As I'm sure many readers will appreciate, one of my first tasks, after taking over the command of Leander, was to raise the bear flag.


I take this duty very seriously - after all once it is flying I am duty bound to sail Leander well, as if I don't, the bear flag will tell the world that it is me putting up such a poor show.

As for positioning, first of all I got it a bit low, so I climbed up the cradle that holds the boom when we're not sailing, to get it a bit higher.


This did the trick, and, as you can see from the picture, the wind caught the flag immediately and it began to fly proudly, to indicate B.U. bears in residence.

I can't resist showing you my favourite shot of the bear flag flying. It was caught on camera by Yorkie a couple of days later. Here it is ...


... a lovely Broads sunset, shining through the bear flag - simply magical!

Lots of love Eddie & Crew xxx