Moonshadow - Thurne Regatta

I had the privilege to crew this lovely Broads Cruiser today at Thurne.'Moonshadow' a design by Andrew Wolstenholme based on the original Broads yacht 'Luna' and built by Colin Buttifant (Yacht builders) Swallowtail Boatyard Horsefen Road Ludham Norfolk.

 




Me in the middle... you need arms like Popeye

 

Moonshadow is up for sale. Here are the details...... A well known modern Broads Classic Built by Buttifant 2002/3. Cedar Epoxy Hull, 2 pot epoxy paint. Five McNamara sails. Integral. Topsail/slab reef ,31ft 6ins on deck, 38ft overall. Carbon top spar and gaff, 24V Electric Engine with 4hrs batteries, Mast lowering electric winch, Harken/Spinlock deck gear, New batteries 2008. New mast and bowsprit 2009 (!), 2 berths make into huge. Immaculate condition throughout, double bunk. Proven race winner with numerous trophies, ready to race and win. Owner downsizing due to advancing years. Offers around £60K

But the care she will be given is as important as the overall price…….

Contact Tom or Mary
01692 535268
or drtom@freenetname.co.uk
These pictures record the building of 'Moonshadow'

Ive met Colin on a number of occasions, mostly visiting his Yard on behalf of Insurance Companies. Colin’s Yard is a family business, run by himself (Colin) his wife (Wendy) and his son (Paul) employ a small team of dedicated craftsmen who produce quality work. Their premises are located at Womack Water which leads to the river Thurne, situated in the heart of the Norfolk Broads. They undertake repairs and restoration of both motor and sailing craft. They also build to order their 'Bure Classic' and 'Womack Classic' yachts; bespoke building is also catered for. Their hire fleet consists of two 'Bure Classics' and one 'Womack Classic'. Go to 'Hire Craft' on their main page to find out more. For all your boating needs call in or telephone them, they are always ready to help.

Thinking of Buying a Boat and Need Help? I will assist you to make an informed decision. Contact me for a detailed and comprehensive report at:
steventruss1@aol.com

Calypso 28 Broads Cruiser

I spent the morning at Woods Dyke in Horning today Surveying this Calypso 28.... strange as this is where she was probably built 25 years ago!

Just me and Roger the crane driver today.... and the crane was playing up!!

Where it all began.....
Frank Wilds, a builder by trade had moved with his family from Coventry to Norfolk where he established a small boatyard on Woods Dyke in Horning. This was also the family home - with everyone originally living and sleeping in a caravan and the boatyard buildings whilst a bungalow was built at the site. The fleet originally consisted of traditional, wooden motor cruisers, some of which the company built themselves at Horning.

Frank Wilds had a vision of a low maintenance, single level motor cruiser with modern day comforts, ideal for holidays and designed with families and all age groups in mind.

Launched in 1973 the Calypso had a narrower, 10ft 9in beam than her larger sisters. Other differences included the unique cabin structure with quite a different appearance and angled aft and forward cabin slopes. At the rear was a sliding transom door and forward were steps up out onto a higher than normal forward well.

The cabin top was a 70s turquoise colour and versions were built as 2/3 berths, although some operators ran 2/4 berth with the forward settee or dinette converting to a single or double berth.

At the London Boat Show 1973

Click here for the Calypso brochure

Frances 26 Yacht

Todays assignment was Surveying this little Yacht at Haven Marina in Lowestoft.

The Frances 26 is, without doubt, a modern classic. With her beautiful traditional double-ended design, and her long keel and modest draft, she is everything that a small cruiser should be! The original "Frances" was designed by the American designer Chuck Paine for his own use and was the start of a long and successful line of Frances, Morris and Victoria yachts that now grace seas and ports around the world. Designed to cruise in and around the Caribbean, and to safely survive a gale at sea, the Frances is an easily handled, capable small cruiser with a well deserved reputation. This example is a trunk cabin version with standing headroom throughout the majority of the cabin, and with her toilet and chart table, she is better appointed than many much larger cruising yachts.

Lowestoft Haven Marina is a twin site 5 anchor rated marina situated in Lowestoft on the East Coast of East Anglia with easy access to the open sea and the Suffolk and Norfolk Broads.

Largest ever fen survey reveals importance of managing the Broads

The largest fen survey ever to have been undertaken in the UK has reinforced the importance of the Broads as a haven for rare wildlife and the need to protect and manage it carefully in the future. A total of 450 types of plants were recorded, some of which are unique to the Broads. This has prompted a rewrite of national plant classification to take account of Broadland’s newly found distinctiveness. The survey also unveiled 850 species of invertebrate, a remarkable number considering only certain groups were targeted. The vegetation survey covered 8,000 sample points within 1750 hectares across the five Broads river valleys. This is the nation’s biggest area of lowland fen or ‘wetland’. It was undertaken over three years by environmental consultants and managed by the Broads Authority. It was co-funded by the Broads Authority and Natural England with a contribution from Essex and Suffolk Water. The survey revealed that some of the most species rich fen had been restored and managed by the Broads Authority, Natural England, Norfolk Wildlife Trust and the RSPB. The richest areas were found in turf ponds, where shallow open water areas had been dug in open fen. These ponds were once dug for peat fuel but now these new cuttings provide home to the rarest species and remain wetter for longer in periods of drought. The work of the Authority, partners and reed cutters has been vital to keep the fens free of scrub. In areas where scrub has not been cut back the rare plant species and insects have been lost or changed.  The Ant Valley was found to be the richest area for both plants and invertebrates. The presence or absence of certain plants indicated that some fens are possibly becoming more saline and some areas being taken over by reed are losing rare wetland plants.
Sue Stephenson, the Environment Officer who managed the project at the Broads Authority, said: “This has been a colossal piece of work, which has been incredibly exciting and challenging to work on and which has provided an important picture of the condition of fens in the Broads. There is a lot of information to come out of it which will steer the management of the Broads for years to come, particularly in the light of climate change. The results prove our management efforts have been effective but more is still needed.” The survey also assessed how cutting vegetation would affect the mobility of invertebrates. Andrea Kelly, Senior Ecologist, said “The Broads fens contain unique invertebrate communities of aquatic and terrestrial beetles, spiders, two winged flies and hoppers that you wouldn’t normally notice.  We need to know more about the importance of annual fluctuations and seasonal variations in hydrology and tolerance of these species to change.” “The fen survey demonstrates that conservation management in the fens is essential to stop them becoming woodland and to retain their biodiversity. Worryingly, it shows that some areas are being neglected and incursions of saline water are an increasing risk. Further investment is required as well as a need to understand the options for improving water quality.” The Broads Authority is working with its partners to press for funding for more fen management, improving the water environment, connecting wetlands to improve wildlife chances to adapt to future change, and identifying how to adapt the fens and wetlands to rapid climate change.

Broads Cruiser For Sale

I came across this Motor Cruiser on my travels yesterday. She’s apparently an old Herbert Woods ‘Highlight Class’ Broads Cruiser. The hull has been rebuilt in what appears to be Teak! ( very durable). The inside requires refitting. A Perkins P3 diesel provides the propulsion.
Contact the owner Mr. Len Harvey on 01603 898837 he’s ready to let her go, and is open to any reasonable offers around £2500. ….or drop him an email at jharvey111@aol.com

This is what she probably looked like

She has got some rot in the hog, which reflects in the asking price

Great winter project!

Thinking of Buying a Boat and Need Help? I will assist you to make an informed decision. Contact me for a detailed and comprehensive report at: steventruss1@aol.com