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Thursday 25th April 1963: Oulton Broad - Stracey Arms
25 miles
Wind: North East Force 5
Freshening later - sunny
Provisions, including a rather fine cheese matured in beer, were bought from a large grocers by the Broad and Vagabond was ready to sail at 10.30hrs. She had the last of the ebb as she reached across the Broad and then beat down Oulton Dyke and the Waveney.
By the time she reached Somerleyton swing bridge, at 12.30hrs the tide was once again against her and this time it was impossible to beat through the bridge. The mudweight was dropped over the bows and the crew settled down to wait for the tide to slacken. Luckily however a passing motor boat offered a tow which was most gratefully accepted. After being towed through Vagabond moored up again and hot soup was hurriedly prepared and consumed by the crew.
St. Olave’s Bridge was reached at 14.30hrs and, wonder of wonders, the tide was with Vagabond for once and she shot the bridge with ease. She was then moored up while a phone call was made to Yarmouth Yacht Station to arrange for a tow through the bridges and the inevitable tea and coffee were consumed. Vagabond set off again for Yarmouth at 15.30hrs. She beat down the Waveney towards Burgh Castle and Breydon Water against a freshening wind but with a strong tide.
Burgh Castle was passed at 16.50hrs. and then followed a most exhilarating and, at times, breathtaking beat across Breydon. On most tacks the lee rail was under and the decks got a good washing down - albeit with rather salty water. On a day such as that a sail across Breydon really does take some beating.
As Vagabond reached the mouth of the Bure the large wharves and ware- houses stole most of the wind and Vagabond had trouble stemming the tide - the ebb was still running out of the Bure. But, with the help of a few lucky puffs the crew managed to get her moored to one of the dolphins to wait for the tow which was due at 18.00hrs - the exact time she moored. The tow did not materialise and after waiting half an hour once again the kindly offer of a tow from a passing motor boat was gratefully accepted. By 19.00hrs Vagabond was safely through the three bridges and moored up at the Yacht Station. Water tanks were filled and yet more tea and coffee was prepared and drunk.The wind was now falling rapidly but, as the flood tide had set in, it was decided to chance going on up the Bure to the Stracey Arms to moor for the night. So, at 15.45hrs the Vagabond set off from the Yacht Station. In one reach of the river where she had to tack she went aground twice, but the flood tide, with the help of the quant pole, soon lifted her off. After this the wind was astern and abeam and though it was now hardly more than a whisper, it and and flood tide swept Vagabond on.
Cook, Bottlewasher and Dog retired below, leaving the Captain and Mate to navigate in the falling light, fortified by a small bottle of rum, bought ostensibly for medicinal purposes. The sky clouded over and by 20.45hrs it was pretty well dark. The Captain and Mate took turns at steering while the other went up to the bows to see which way the river went.
The lights of Yarmouth appeared one by one across the flat marshes until the town seemed at last to be spread out along the horizon like a glittering string of pearls.
The Captain and Mate were at one time startled by a sound which seemed at first to be that of a cow in mortal agony, but which turned out to be a bittern booming, presumably to its mate, though it seems incredible that a female bittern could be attracted by such a noise!The Stracey Arms was sighted at 22.00hrs and the mainsail was dropped and the last reach sailed under jib alone while the crew strained their eyes to find a mooring. One was finally found and Vagabond was moored - at 22.00hrs. Whilst supper was being cooked the awning was erected and the ship snugged down for the night.
Supper was ready at 23.00hrs after which the exhausted crew retired to bed.