Our Most Memorable Moment of 2011

Whilst we are looking forward to this year’s cruising opportunities and the chance to explore new and varied waterways we have also been looking back at our most memorable moments of 2011. There were a few to choose from but there could only really be one winner. What a day. It was of course our day spent at anchor in Blakeney Bay. You don’t get many days like this and we feel privileged to have been able to experience this so soon into our boating careers.

The day started bright and early, we had spent the evening moored on the fuel berth at Goodchilds on the Southern Broads ready for an early refuel as soon as the office opened. By 8am we had both boats refuelled and both crews fed and watered and with the tide now low enough we could leave the Norfolk Broads and head for home. We had a fantastic early morning sprint across Breydon Water, no hire boats around at this time, before turning into Great Yarmouth port and heading for the sea. An hour later we emerged from the walls of the harbour onto a brilliant blue sea. The weather and sea state could not have been much better as we hugged the Norfolk coastline cruising north. The boats were both on song, taking the slight chop in their strides and easily eating up the miles. All too soon, about two hours after we set off, we were within sight of Blakeney Harbour entrance and the resident seals. A closer look at the harbour entry revealed we wouldn’t make it past the sand bar, which also meant we were far too early to enter the harbour at Wells next the Sea, so we turned the boats around and headed for the bay just a short hop further up the coast.

With our positions chosen, the anchors were dropped, anchor alarms set, and a tense 15 minutes was spent onboard ensuring that the anchors had set successfully. At this stage the tide was still dropping but didn’t have much further to go, we had chosen a spot tucked right up by the beach in just 6ft of water, so as a precaution we lifted the drive just to be on the safe side and to prevent it nudging the bottom as the boat gently rocked on the anchor with the action of the gentle waves. With nothing left to do but sit back and relax and with the sun beating down, we grabbed a couple of beers from the fridge and watched the seals playing between the boats and the sea birds diving for their dinners.

After an hour with the tide now turned and the anchor still holding nicely, we lowered the dinghy and made a bee line for the golden beach. There was not a soul on the beach bar us and our friends, just the four of us on miles of golden unspoilt sand, not a spot of litter to be seen. The resident seals took an instant interest in the four strangers trespassing on their beach and were astonishingly brave and upfront. They were coming within a few feet of the water’s edge, before taking an about turn and disappearing into the surf. As we took the tenders back to the mothership’s the seals swam next to the dinghies, treating us to a real lesson in swimming and diving. There was still an hour to kill but by now the water level was rising and our 6ft of water had now turned into 12ft, we would soon be able to enter Wells on the early afternoon tide. We enjoyed the last hour of our time here basking in the glorious sunshine not a care in the world, with a beer in our hands we could have been anywhere in the world at that moment.
All too soon it was time to lift anchor and set off for the safety of the harbour. With the boats safely moored up for the night, it was time to find lunch, fish and chips of course and a beer or three in one of the pubs. The perfect end to the perfect day.

Unfortunately this was to prove to be the calm before the storm and we spent a horrendous three days being battered by a Force 8 North Easterly storm blowing straight down the harbour entry. This somewhat spoiled our stay in Wells but has not put us off from going again. We plan to head there again sometime this year, most likely at the end of July.

So there you have it, our most memorable moment of 2011.