Friday 26th April 1963: Stracey Arms - Potter Heigham

10 miles
Wind: North East Force 4-5. Sunny
Occasional clouds

The crew roused at 10.30hrs. The washing up from the night before was done and the Ship’s Dog was walked to the Stracey Arms by the Captain and Mate so he could have his daily pint of beer.Breakfast was at 11.00hrs. The wherry Albion passed coming up river from from Yarmouth. She looked a fine sight as she cheated the wind close-hauled along the reach in which Vagabond was moored. Sail was hoisted and the Vagabond set off at 12.30hrs, bound for Acle Bridge which was reached at 13.30hrs after a stiff beating and reaching sail up the Bure past Stokesby.

At Acle the ship’s company enjoyed some fine ice cream and then the mast was lowered and Vagabond was quanted through the bridge with the tide.

The mast was raised above the bridge at at 14.15hrs. Sail was set for Potter Heigham. It was a long hard tack up the Bure, especially in the last reaches where the bungalows caused the wind to be very fluky. Potter Heigham was reached at 16.45 when the crew went to the bridge stores and the dog was walked.

The ship’s company returned to the Vaga bond, the mast was lowered and she was quanted through the two bridges and moored above the railway bridge. Sails were stowed and the Captain and Mate rigged the awning and generally cleaned up while the supper was prepared. During these operations the Ship’s Dog mutinied and climbed onto the awning, refusing to go ashore until threatened with dire nautical oaths by the Captain.

Supper was at 19.00hrs and as the crew sat in the well eating it a sea fog came down. At 19.45hrs a fog horn was heard on the coast, which was of course only a few miles away. After washing up the ship was generally tidied and bags were packed ready for an early getaway the next morning by the Mate and Cook who were travelling home by train, whilst the Captain, Bottlewasher and Dog were to take the boat back to her home port and then travel home themselves. The crew eventually turned in at 21.30hrs.