Boating in Norfolk - Part 1

Around 1982, while we still had the family bakery and village grocery store, my Dad decided he would like to buy a boat so we could go fishing. In those far-off days Sunday trading was almost non-existent, and many small shops only opened for a half-day on Wednesday and Saturday, though we traded the full 6 days, but did remain closed on Bank Holidays - again some shops opened for half a day on these, but as we had the bakery we decided that we would remain closed, rather than start work at 04.00 for a half day of trade!
Living on the edge of the Norfolk Broads there were a lot of boat brokerages about, especially in Horning, which was a major sailing centre, so we headed there to see what was available. While in Mozambique we did have a small open speedboat we used for fishing in the Zambezi, 

Our boat on the Zambezi, with my Mum and Robbie, the dog!

but we felt we wanted something a bit more substantial. The idea was that we would leave home after work (17.30 or so) on Saturday, overnight on the boat, and then motor out to the open sea to fish on Sunday, so it needed living space for at least 4. Before looking for a boat we had researched the best place to moor it - we lived about 20 miles from the nearest coast, and a further 5 miles or so from anywhere a boat could be kept and easily access the sea. We considered the North-east Norfolk coast, but most of the marinas/harbours there were very tidal, so at times cut off from the sea, so in the end had decided on Burgh Castle Marina, close to Great Yarmouth. It meant an 8 mile run to the sea, across Breydon Water (no speed limit) followed by a slow (3 mph) trip through Great Yarmouth harbour, so would take us an hour from the marina to the North Sea.
We found a suitable boat relatively quickly - a 27 foot cruiser, powered by an inboard 1500cc BMC marine petrol engine, which would push it along at around 30 knot top speed! On the test run from the brokerage we were restricted to 8 mph on the River Bure, once clear of the 3 mph limit in the built up area, but the broker opened her up briefly to show what she could do, slowing down as we approached a bend in the river where a river police boat appeared - fortunately we were below the speed limit by then, and the officers knew the broker, too!

Petite Promesse moored at the marina, with my Dad

We made an offer on the spot, conditional on a survey, which passed apart from a couple of minor, non-structural or mechanical, suggestions. The surveyor said it needed an electrical cut-off switch, better ventilation in the gas tank locker (for the stove and fridge), and a fuel filter - which he installed for us at his yard. We had also decided we needed a depth sounder since we were going offshore in unknown waters (to us) so he installed that as well, but felt at this stage that we would be fishing close inshore so did not worry about a radio (which I think is compulsory nowadays). Petite Promesse came with an inflatable tender with a small outboard, had a cabin with two berths, but room for two more in the rear deck area, which could be closed with an awning (as in the photo above). There was a two-burner stove and small gas fridge, and a cupboard with a Portaloo in it- though the cupboard was so small you could only use it with the door open, or take it into the main cabin for more privacy, so it didn't get uses that much!
Wroxham, considered to be the "capital" of the Broads, was only a few miles from where we lived, and has several chandlers, so we had bough life jackets, boat hook, fenders (I also bough some at a local auction), rope, and other essentials, so by the time the boat was ready we were also fully kitted out! 

We moored for a coffee break

Mum came along for the journey to Burgh Castle, where we had left our vehicle the day before so we could get home again. We had read up on the "rules of the waterways" and knew that speed limits on the Bure were very low, for bank protection, so were aware that the trip to the marina would take us at least three hours, but as we motored back through Horning there was a sailing regatta taking place - and power gives way to sail. So we had to dodge our way through the tacking yachts, keeping to the right though they were using the whole river, and also maintaining the speed limit of 3 mph at that place. It was extremely challenging, as we had to try and work out where they were going and time our forward progress between their tacks across the river, making sure we didn't go too fast and create a dangerous wash for them as well. More by luck that good fortune we got through without upsetting anyone, and got a nod of approval from the marshals!
We eventually reached Breydon Water, a large expanse of water near Great Yarmouth where three rivers meet - the Bure, we had just travelled along, joined at the North end, and the rivers Waveney and Yare, joining at the Southern end of Breydon Water, near where our marina was. Breydon Water has the "shipping channel" clearly marked as at low water there are vast areas of sticky mud exposed, and rarely a week went by when we didn't see hire boats stranded high and dry, waiting for the next high tide, who had ignored the markers! Breydon Water has no speed limit - so we opened up and crossed it rapidly at around 25 knots, with the Petite Promesse showing her pedigree! Up on the plane the ride was very smooth, and we soon arrived at the marina.
Our mooring was a stern-on one, and that proved to be our next challenge. We had to reverse in past the front mooring post, throw a rope round it that we could slip as we moved backwards, then, being careful not to go in too hard or too far, keep going until someone could jump ashore and tie us up. We had to leave just enough slack so we could pull the boat close enough for everyone to disembark, but not so much that the stern-drive would hit against the dock! The bow line had to be kept taught so as not to allow too much slack at the stern! We did have ball fenders at the rear as well, just in case
Having safely navigated our first trip we decided we needed a few more days familiarising ourselves with the boat before heading out to the open sea!