English Raid 2013

[Julian Swindell]

Next year's English Raid has just been announced. It will be on the Norfolk Broads running from Aug 5-9, 2013. Details are on the English Raid website at

http://www.raidengland.org/?page_id=445

I have started an outline map for it which is at

http://goo.gl/maps/VKGVS

[Michael Rogers]

Hi Julian

Thanks for flagging this up. I will be indicating my interest to the organisers, and hope to be able to go.

There must be lots of things to take into account when fixing the date for an event like this - because, on the face of it, sharing the Broads with the maximum number of motor cruisers at the very height of the summer holiday season does not seem ideal! Anyone remember the Hullabaloos?

That said, I haven't sailed the Broads since the mid-1960s, and look forward to it. I certainly remember Potter Heigham bridge. I'll need to have a mast-down-and-up-again drill perfected by next August.

Michael  (Trouper 12 Cavatina)

[Michael Rogers]

Hi Everyone

I've registered for this. Anyone else coming?

Michael

[Julian Swindell]

I've registered. Pondering the mast lowering for the bridges. I can lower on the water, but it does take a while. None of that lowering-from-full-sail-and-shooting-the-bridge-before-way-is-lost routine. I will need to tie up, stow and lower and then motor through, and then tie up to raise it all up again. Glad we are only doing it three times.

[Michael Rogers]

Yes, I'll have to work on the mast lowering routine as well. The lightness of a CF mast helps! I remember the Potter Heigham bridge, it's impressively low and fairly narrow. Last time (1960s) I quanted a 22 ft traditional gunter boat under it (tabernacled mast). This time it will be rowing a 12 ft dinghy, pulling oars in smartish at what will need to be the right moment. To quote Miranda's TV mum, 'Such fun!'

Michael