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After getting a Boat Safety Certificate and insuring it,
we decided to try the boat on the water early in 2008,
even though it was still not rigged for sailing. We launched
on the Leeds and Liverpool canal at Botany Bay where there is
a British Waterways slipway. The weather was brilliant
for February, as you can see from this picture.
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All the slipways on the canal system seem to be either
very shallow, presumably there for canoes and rowboats,
or if they are big they belong to a marina or boatyard
and there is a reason you cannot use them, such as they are
occupied by a boat being repaired, or a they use a trolley on
rails and you cannot just drive your car onto them.
The slipway at Botany Bay was the best we found after much
looking and phoning around, but even here there was only
just enough depth on the slip to launch a Lysander.
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A few months later, in May, the boat was still not ready for
sailing, but we had another short holiday in it, this time
on the river Weaver in Cheshire. Launching and recovery was
fairly painless as we used the boatyard in Northwich who
have a good deep slipway and a Land Rover. Once again we had fair
weather and enjoyed ourselves. We will definitely go back to the
Weaver another time, and perhaps use the Anderton boat lift.
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Finally, in the summer, Bluebell, as we had named the boat, was
fully rigged and ready to sail. We took her to the Norfolk
Broads, meeting up with our friends Vic and Sue who had kindly
offered to help us on our first foray into the world of sails
and wind. Here we are putting up sail for the first time. The name
of the boat behind me is very apt - when trying the mainsail in the
boom at home some weeks before I had been a bit too forceful and
put a small tear in the sail, which had to be repaired. So here
I am being a bit more careful!
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Here we are making good progress, there was plenty of wind that
day and, as we were new to sailing we reefed the mainsail.
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About to be overtaken by a big gaff rigged sailing boat of
the type that are made specially for the Broads.
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As the big gaffer passes you can see it take the wind out
of our sails.
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Under full sail.
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Two Lysanders moored. Vic and Sue's boat, Panther, and Bluebell.
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These kinds of close encounter are very common as you tack
along the narrower channels, but nobody gets upset, its all
part of the fun and challenge of sailing on the Broads.
This is one of the classic old boats from Hunters Yard.
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Horsey Mere is a nice place to visit on the Broads, you can
sail on the mere, and then moor up and stroll along to the
windpump for a cup of tea.
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As well as having a fleet of old style sailing boats for hire
Hunters Yard allow other sailing vessels to use their facilities.
We spent a few nights there. This is our last evening before
going home, and I've got the boat all ready for towing again.
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Holiday over! We used the slipway at Swallowtail boatyard
(extremely friendly and helpful people) and here I am
getting the boat back onto her trailer before setting off
home.
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