Small yacht charters in Suffolk or Essex

Jack Mills, God there's a memory, 1965 or thereabouts, friend and I hired a real old tornout from him, it was our first experience of the east coast rivers, the boat claimed to be an obscure one design, I suspect they only made one, leaked like a sieve and went sideways most of the time, the Stuart worked ok though. But I have been in love with the area ever since and still have a boat at the yard we hired that wreck from all those years ago.
 
banger said:
Jack Mills, God there's a memory, 1965 or thereabouts, friend and I hired a real old tornout from him, it was our first experience of the east coast rivers, the boat claimed to be an obscure one design, I suspect they only made one, leaked like a sieve and went sideways most of the time, the Stuart worked ok though. But I have been in love with the area ever since and still have a boat at the yard we hired that wreck from all those years ago.
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We used to race against Jack on the Blackwater in the '70s. He mostly sailed an old thing called 'Contessa', which he claimed improbably was a prototype for the later class. He used to charter it out, as well as 'Telstar' which might be the wreck you remember. Jack's sons Charlie and Tommy used to race it. We were closely matched on overall time because it was much longer and would walk away from us downwind and we might or might not pass it on the way back. I know someone who chartered it and it was a little short of being fully equipped to say the least.
 
steve yates said:
I was thinking he could drop the mast and head out to sea?
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I don't know why pvb thinks the Broads aren't ideal for sailing. In spite of many years sailing in home and foreign waters, I look back fondly on the many holidays I had on the Broads, almost entirely sailing. The experience was educative both in terms of how to sail and the scenery and wildlife, and the challenge of tacking up narrow rivers is just as challenging as many offshore cruises. the experience is very different to what many of us here are used to but I think that it is important not to patronise those whose ambitions are in a different direction.
 
johnalison said:
I don't know why pvb thinks the Broads aren't ideal for sailing. In spite of many years sailing in home and foreign waters, I look back fondly on the many holidays I had on the Broads, almost entirely sailing. The experience was educative both in terms of how to sail and the scenery and wildlife, and the challenge of tacking up narrow rivers is just as challenging as many offshore cruises. the experience is very different to what many of us here are used to but I think that it is important not to patronise those whose ambitions are in a different direction.
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bit of thread drift but,
I agree, Broads sailing is very difficult in terms of the obstacles encountered, be it hire boats wind shifts etc. etc. But a good technical challenge. The one time I took my old boat in through Lowestoft and up to Reedham (lowering the mast at Haddiscoe) I found it to be not my sort of sailing, just too constricted after being used to the wide open expanse of the North Sea! I had a Pegasus 800 with A frame lowering gear as well!
A traditional Broads sailing cruiser set up for the Broads mast lowering would have probably made the experience more enjoyable though.

Back to the OP
My personal preference would be to trail my own boat down, and find a way to make it less stressful!
 
steve yates said:
It's a sailing boat isn't it? He only wants to go round to explore the crouch etc, it's not far if he hired it for 2 weeks.
The op appears to be used to sailing wee boats, and these are bigger than his. Do they not have keels or something? What am I missing?
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They are designed for Broads sailing, minimal draft, old-fashioned sail handling, minimal navigation equipment, etc.
 
steve yates said:
Do they not have keels or something?
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I once sailed a 'broads yacht' that was a normal twenty-something footer from which the keel had been removed and a block of concrete bolted on in its place. So no?

True broads yachts do have shallow keels, but also very large rigs, low freeboard and often lifting roofs. They also tend to have 'coffin lids' on the foredeck with direct access to the bilges, so any water over the bow would end up below. Companionway doors at the level of the cockpit sole are standard, lifelines and reasonable sized engines are not.

Broads yachts are perfect for their intended sailing ground, but there is no way I would take one to sea (even if the charter company would allow it).
 
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