SUMMER WEEKEND CRUISE
Friday 8th August - Sunday 10th August 2025
Photo above: Carolyn James
In planning this year's summer weekend cruise, I was a little short of options. Being school summer holidays, the rivers are quite busy and finding moorings for 10/12 boats is challenging. Factor in that we have already been to Wroxham this year and Hickling were having their regatta, Sally and I decided to re-visit Stalham.
Four boats made it to the EACC moorings on Friday evening. Elizabeth (Dave and Soozie), Ann Catherine (Mike & Sally), Moon Daisy (Jimmy and Caroline) and Evergreen (David & Ruth Thompson) who were not attending to the cruise but came over for a mardle and a drink. It was Ruth's significant birthday and family celebrations this weekend so could not commit any time. A very pleasant evening, utilising the new clubhouse once the midges had started to bite. We had been joined very briefly by the crews of 'Swallowtail' and the gleaming and most impressive 'Shark' who popped into Thurne Lion for some food before heading off to Breydon regatta.
We woke up to a glorious Saturday morning, bathed in sunshine and soon after, a good westerly wind blowing around 12 knots gusting 16, some went down to Upton for a fun sail and others made their way up the Ant. We collected Mark and Debbie in Pinkers on the way to Ludham. A lunchtime gathering was planned on Barton. We collected Bewitched (Colin & Liz), Lily (Roger & Lesley) and Ranger 3 (Jamie & Phil) on Barton and rafted up before heading off to Stalham where we also joined by Tom on Moondream and Rob & Hayley on Pandora. Once again Richardsons kindly allowed us to moor free of charge, in their basin. We had a collection and £45 will be going to their supported charity once they confirm who it is.
In the evening were seated in two of The Swan's outside barns. Paul and Julie (also Pinkers) and Jamie's mum Sally-Anne also joined us for our meal so it was lovely to have a good catch up.
To our surprise, they had a band on. GlamX, as it suggests were a 70/80's glam rock band very much like the Glamrockers who came to TMOR. Colin had taken his guitar to have another sing a long but couldn't compete with the amplification offer by the band. Thank you Colin for making the effort. We did however sing happy birthday to both Ruth and Julie in the morning.
A leisurely start in the morning, back to Barton to raft up for an early lunch. The wind had come back and meant for some fine sailing dodging the Punt club racers.
It is not very often that you get warm sunshine and good winds, this meant that we had a great sail back to Hunters yard and I know that Roger and Lesley had a good sail also once south of Ludham bridge. Pinkers had left earlier making for an evening crossing across Breydon.
Thanks to everyone for making a lovely weekend. If you feel like joining us on future cruises, it is a great way to make new friends without the pressure of racing.
Mike
Mike Jones. Cruise Leader
Thanks to the photographers : Carolyn James, Tom Moore, Soozie Hopwood, Roger Everett and Colin Chettleburgh