Good angling practice to be promoted at Whitlingham

Angling opens to the public at Whitlingham Country Park on Saturday after a successful first year trial.

A management agreement between the Broads Authority, Whitlingham Charitable Trust, Norwich and District Pike Club and the Broads Angling Strategy Group involves anglers complying with a code of conduct on the River Yare. It has proved so successful that angling will now be promoted as one of the many activities available to the increasing number of visitors at the country park.

Volunteer angling wardens from Norwich and District Pike Club and Norfolk Anglers Conservation Association, supported by Norfolk Police, will patrol the river bank throughout the fishing season to promote good angling practice and give advice to anglers to help them fish in a safe and responsible way.

The 750 metre stretch of river bank can be reached at the far end of Whitlingham Country Park where there is a pay and display car park.

Martin Shaw, Chairman of Whitlingham Charitable Trust which manages the country park, said: “We are keen to promote responsible fishing which fits in well with our overall vision for quiet public recreation and enjoyment of the special natural environment at Whitlingham.

“We are especially grateful for the help offered by Norwich and District Pike Club and Norfolk Anglers Conservation Association to look after the river bank. I would ask all anglers using the bank to take on board any advice offered by them to help the Trust maintain the long history of public access to this stretch of river which is important for fishing.”

Stephen Roberts, Chairman of the Norwich and District Pike Club, said: “We are working hard with our partners to help preserve public access to the very special fishing on offer in our broads and rivers. I would ask all anglers to help protect the riverbank environment and fish in a responsible manner to help us promote and improve angling opportunities at Whitlingham Country Park, both now and in the future.”

It is hoped that introductory angling coaching courses could be run on the riverside at Whitlingham with a special emphasis on tailored events for families and youngsters.

People who are interested in learning more about angling should visit www.norwichpike.com ; www.norfolkanglers.co.uk and the Broads Angling Strategy group’s website www.basgonline.org

Haines 31 motor cruiser

I spent the morning in Brundall Surveying this Haines 31. The owners Norfolk Yacht Agency had just finished prepping the boat and she was to be sold with a Warranty.

Haines Marine are one of the most respected boatbuilding companies on the Norfolk Broads. A family run company based only 5 minutes from my home in Ingham, founded in 1980 by Bob and Mary Haines. They offer a bespoke service for new boats in every respect, trips to their factory to monitor the build, to choose the details of your boat and to follow its progress through the construction.

This older 1999 model was built on the Aquafibre hull. Many of these Aquafibre mouldings do the rounds one way or another and sometimes it's difficult to tell who's version is whos! Sheerline, Haines, Aquafibre plus I think Falcon with a Renaissance also used the hull moulding.

Surveyors comments: Brokerage boats are sold as seen and no warranty is given. However, if you buy one of many stock boats like this example for sale on the Broads, then they come with a warranty and on top of that stock boats are often serviced, antifouled, polished and checked before the handover.

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

Corvette 320 Trawler Yacht

I Surveyed this ‘Little Ship’ today at Brooms Boats in Brundall… not as a great lover of fibre glass boats I was very impressed with the build quality of this classic cruiser.

This was a Trawler Yacht with a difference, the Corvette 32 is British built, has a most unusual hull shape (round bilge sections flanked by shallow vee flats out to the chine) and is fast! The boat was designed by Compton McGill and built initially by Corvette Marine, who produced about 30 between 1974 and 1977, when they went into liquidation. In 1984 the moulds were bought by a new company Corvette Cruisers in Nottingham who redesigned the interior and built another 70, this one included.. a 1988 model. New construction of the original Corvette 320 has ceased as of 2010. As many owners of the Corvette 320 have shown interest in trading up to a new 340.

Main features of the exterior are the very wide side decks… I felt like I was walking around one of my old Frigates!

Most of the original boats are powered by twin 106hp Volvo diesels. Top speeds of about 18 knots. Corvette cruisers fitted conventional drive engines, most common were 210HP Cummins diesels, however this one had 300HP Volvos which could give top speeds of about 25 knots + .

Surveyors comment:

Ideal for a cruising family with children or a couple with frequent guests, its two-stateroom, two-head accommodation plan provides a level of comfort and privacy found only on much larger boats. And while its traditional, salty good looks may have you thinking "trawler," it will surprise you with its 25+ knot, seakindly performance.

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

Farrington 25 Broads Cruiser

Today I was at Landamores of Wroxham to Survey and Value this Broads Cruiser for Insurance purposes. The river cruisers of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads evolved during the late 19th and early 20th centuries to meet the requirements of this unique inland waterways system - light displacement, tall rigs, low freeboard, well proportioned cabin trunks with lifting roofs to give headroom when moored, and masts that lower to allow easy passage under bridges. The sheltered environment has allowed many of the early boats to survive giving the Broads possibly the greatest concentration of traditional boats in the UK.

To meet the rise of interest in these craft new yachts started to appear in the late 1970's and one of these was the first Wolstenholme design to reach the water, the 25ft GRP hulled timber composite river cruiser for Kingsley Farrington launched in 1980 (below). She was followed by the timber epoxy 'Cirrus', the GRP Farrington 30, the cold moulded 'Storm', timber epoxy 31footers for Native Yacht Company, 28ft Bure Classic for Colin Buttifant, the beautiful 'Moonshadow' of 2004, and the recently launched GRP timber composite 26 footer again for Colin Buttifant.

This hull was from Kingsley Farrington and fitted out by the owner who is a qualified Boat Builder

She has a high spec rig with alloy topsail spars

The coachroof being painted

The owner and builder

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

Moon Shadow 3 rivers 2 027.AVI