Breydon Water
I suppose there comes a time
when one has to admit to his or herself that there are certain things in life
one simply cannot do, for me it seems to be crossing Breydon Water on the
Norfolk Broads without major problems.
Don’t get me wrong I do (more
often than not) make it from one side to the other…but never without mishap.
You will probably have read
my tale entitled “Unfortunate Holiday” and my "unfortunate" experiences
on both crossings!
The irony is that Breydon
Water is simply a stretch of tidal water stretching approximately 4 miles which
connects the North and
There is a deep channel in
the centre marked by a series of posts either side at approximately every 100
metres or so. At high tide the expanse of water is such that without the marker
posts, boats running aground would be commonplace.
Many of thousands of novice
hire boaters negotiate this crossing without any mishaps at all, never
considering tides and bridge heights and make it without any problems (although
I have seen a good few stranded on the sands waiting for the next high tide to
hopefully free them!) I have often wondered how stupid one must be to let that
happen……..but not any more.
Angie and I were cruising
from the
I had crossed Breydon, many
times with mixed fortune but felt confident in “Ospreys” mechanical capabilities and my navigation
skills, I say Navigation skills, all that is required is that you keep in the
channel between the marker posts which must be 70 metres wide without hitting
anything coming toward you.
So as we get a mile into it,
the crossing starts to become a little boring, as we can only make 8 knots or
so. Then I start taking in the scenery and have a good look around for any hire
boats that have ran aground so we can gesticulate to them and search for lost
fenders that may be of use! Be honest we all do it!
Then without warning or
reason the engine stalls, I looked at Angie and smiled, after all we are
prepared for this by now, it is just another typical crossing.
I selected neutral and try
to start the engine………nothing but a loud click from the starter solenoid.
I checked the battery
terminals…of course they are fine, I asked Angie to turn the key
again………..nothing except the click was not as loud, I ask you seasoned boaters,
how, after 2 hours cruising do both batteries go flat? No alternator warning
lights nothing to show signs of a problem.
I then decided this is not
going to be a 2 minute job so I threw the sea anchor over the side…it made a
loud thud as it hit the water, not a loud splash as I would have much
preferred.
I stood staring at the anchor
in disbelief as it sat on the sand.
I did not have to be the
sharpest tool in the box to realise that if the anchor was on the sand, you
guessed it! So were we.
As “Osprey” began to lean
over several holiday makers were gesticulating at me, what goes around comes
around I guess.
Trying to contact for help on
the VHF was our first good idea, however the VHF requires a degree of juice in
the batteries, something we were not afforded the luxury of. However I did have
the presence of mind to isolate both batteries, don’t ask me why, it just seemed
like a good idea at the time.
Then Angie rang the
coastguard and explained our predicament, nothing to do now but have a coffee
until help arrived.
On drinking said coffee I
pondered how on earth I had managed to steer us 50 metres outside of the marker
posts onto the sand, they say speed is dangerous…..it is when you don’t have
much of it, I must have lost concentration and there we were again.
After a short while the River
Rangers arrived in the police boat complete with a rather nice blue flashing
light. They were trying to inform me to get back into the main channel but I
could not understand them …so they came closer… (You know what’s coming next!)
As they got close enough in
order for a conversation to be possible the Police Launches engine stopped,
‘Ello, ‘Ello I thought, what’s going on here then?
It turned out that the lovely
Joanne (Police launch Helms lady) had got her prop caught around my now partially
submerged anchor chain.
Had the tide not started
coming in I reckon I would have simply walked across the sands and back home…to
That no longer being an option
I decided to stick around and try to help, a decision I came to regret. Jo
had re-started the launch and I was trying to free the anchor chain by tugging
and shaking it, her colleague suggested putting the launch into reverse to
try and free the chain which she did.
In doing so I was pulled toward the bow rail
of Osprey at an alarming rate before I had the prescence of mind to let go
of the chain, only to hear the launches engine lock up again.
Eventually we managed to free
the anchor chain and we were towed back to the safety of the nearest moorings
(see pics in ospreys folder) were upon Angie made a coffee for Jo and Dave
before they carried on with their daily routine….wonderful guys those river
rangers!
Next problem was how to get
home to the marina to effect repairs rather than carry on over Breydon…It seems
to be much safer for me to sail up the coast rather than the River!
Angie suggested we try the
engine again…Huh! Women….. I explained that a flat battery is a flat battery!
And that they never suddenly re-charge themselves…ever.
We called a few friends who
where not in…how unusual I thought …no-one in when you need them…not often that
happens!
Angie suggested we tried the
engine again (refer to paragraph above!)
I tried to commandeer a battery
from "Goodchild Marine" who to say the least were less than helpful
(see you in the Named and Shamed section of the Forum Guys!)
Angie suggested we try the
engine again (refer to above only louder!)
I then proceeded to ask the
only other boat nearby (a yachtie) for a jump start (Just a minute before
you call me…I was desperate!) the reply was “I dare not let you use it in
case you flatten it and then I will be stuck" ........my reply was “Remind
me again, what’s that big stick and all that cloth used for?”
Angie suggested we try the
engine again…She really was annoying me by this time so I flicked the battery
master switches on along with the comment “If it will stop you saying "try
the engine again" then you go for it, I've told you they are flat!!!)
On turning the key the engine
burst into life (well when I say "burst in to life" I mean it started)
and once the blue haze had cleared we were able to cruise the rest of the
day without any subsequent problems............... ouch!
Explain that one to me!