A rumble at Potter Heigham Bridge

We’re going to be away for a few days, so I won’t be around to put up any new posts.

In the meantime here are the photos I promised a few days ago, and I think they may cause some controversy.

They show a drama unfolding at Potter Heigham Bridge during the Three Rivers Race. As so often in sport, they show how might – in this case weight – so often plays strongly to its advantage. No doubt the crew of the heavy boat here were only doing what they felt they had to, but no doubt also the guys in the Norfolk punt would have had a different view, as would most of us watching from the bridge. What would you say?

It all starts with a lightweight and expensively rigged Norfolk punt arriving, mooring to lower its mast and then paddling towards the bridge. So far, so good.But at that moment a half-decker and a heavyweight Broads cruiser steal onto the scene. This is a race, remember, not a scene from everyday cruising life on The Broads.

Rumble Rumble Rumble

At this point, you’ll notice, our friends in the punt decide that they can’t afford the damage the heavyweights might Continue reading “A rumble at Potter Heigham Bridge”

Could you be underinsured for racing?

Three Rivers Race

A challenging start in the Three Rivers Race

Navigators & General has warned people who race yachts to check their insurance cover levels as very few policyholders update their mast spars and sails values in-line with inflation.

Andy Postle of rigging suppliers and fitters Allspars Masts & Rigging said that his company had seen overall rig and sail values increase by more than 20 per cent over Continue reading “Could you be underinsured for racing?”

Pilot cutter Baroque

Baroque

Baroque Baroque

Baroque

Built by John Hambly of Cardiff in 1902, Baroque worked from Barry in the Bristol Channel as a sailing pilot cutter until she was sold in 1922, and after a few less than auspicious years was fitted out as a yacht in the 1930s. She then worked as a charter boat on the Hamble for a few years, then did service as a Continue reading “Pilot cutter Baroque”