After our sea survival course from Blakeney to Lowestoft the trip to Southwold was simplicity itself. We allowed plenty of extra time in case the there was more south in the SW wind than had been predicted. As it was we sailed deliberately slowly and slightly off the breeze to keep our speed down, arriving …
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Blakeney to Lowestoft
As planned last night we moved the boat round to the outer harbour at about 2200hrs only to return to the inner harbour when we found out how rough it was. Maybe we should have taken a hint. The wind has been blowing from the north for a couple of days, this spells trouble for …
Stormbound
We have effectively been storm-bound in Blakeney for five days; unable to leave the harbour due to strong winds. Being stuck in a port when you have planned to be moving on can be very stressful, the feeling of time ebbing away is quite damaging to morale. To make matters worse there is time to …
Boy’s Week
Traditionally the summer holidays (are they still holidays? holidays from what?) start with a boy’s week when Flamingo and her best friend Little Grebe have a weeks holiday together with ‘the boys’ as crew. This year is no exception but a couple of things are making me suspect that one of the crew on Flamingo …
School’s Out!
School really is out, and not just for the summer. After a lovely final week at work I am now finally retired. Wow, wow, wow, this is going to take some getting used to. After all of the lovely comments and cards, especially from some of the students I was beginning to wonder why I …
Wells-Next-The-Sea
Friday 17th May saw us driving to Brancaster Staithe at the end of a busy and defining week. On Thursday evening I clicked a button on the Teachers Pensions website that ‘irrevocably’ claimed my pension, and on Friday I tendered my resignation. As of 31st August I will no longer be a teacher; this change …
Back to Brancaster
The Scandinavian high pressure system was still stubbornly parked off Norway deflecting the Atlantic lows and giving us relentless strong easterlies; this brings the probability of unpleasant seas and worse, the possibility of not being able to enter any of the North Norfolk coastal ports. However as we delivered the tender to Brancaster by car …
Launch Day
Flamingo was launched without incident as planned on Monday 15th April 2019, it’s always nerve wracking but the yard crew are utterly professional as ever. A miraculous transformation takes place when a boat goes back into the water. On her yard trolley she is ungainly; positively precarious in the hoist but she becomes a boat …
Windows and Stripes
The cabin windows have leaked slightly for several seasons, this is not catastrophic but does cause damp cushions and occasional drips on your head when hunkered down on a rainy day. Various patch-up repairs have failed over the years so this is a job that I wanted to get done this year if time permitted. …
It’s Alive
Following many days of careful and at times challenging work the Webasto heater finally works, filling the cabin with lovely warm air. There has been a considerable financial cost but the project has been fun and it is clear that it will be a game changer now that it is working. We will now be …
Parker 275 Flamingo's Adventures 