Issue 36 August 2009 Newsletter of the Friends of the Hunter Fleet WherryHathor at the recent AGM - Photograph by Jennifer Mack In this issue Editorial - Zoë King 2 How to Moor in One Easy Lesson? AGM Report - 3 Christopher Bishop 9 Membership News - Jennifer Mack 4 From the Yard - Vikki Walker 11 Skippered Two-Day Sails - 5 A Return to Sail - David Clarke 14 A Bit of a Blow - Neil Hopkinson - 6 ‘The Back Page’ 16 Friends of the Hunter Fleet Editorial Committee Members MyfirstdutymustbetowelcomeLesGeeto (Acting) Chairman the position of ‘Acting Chairman’ of the Les Gee MulberryHill,44NorwichRoad Friends. Les has agreed to be ‘caretaker’ of Stoke Holy Cross, Norwich Nr14 8AB theroleuntilanewnominationismadeand Tel: 01508 495059 approved. As a result, we have no direct Committee Secretary/NHFT Trustee report from the Chair this time. Instead, Philip Bray youwillfindaprecisofproceedingsatthe 5 Westfield Road Swaffham, Norfolk PE37 7HE Annual General Meeting held on Saturday E: [email protected] 9 May,2009. Tel: 01760 725931 Asatasterforthatreport,ourcover Membership Secretary/NHFT Trustee picture features the wherryHathor , which Jennifer Mack joined us on the day,looking resplendent, as The Old Rectory Antingham she inevitably does. I was privileged to visit North Walsham, Norfolk NR28 0NW her recently at one of her ‘farewell tour’ E: [email protected] venues.Isohopethecurrentappealto Tel: 01263 833375 secure her future is successful. Treasurer My other recent venture onto the water Peter Wall Flycatcher featured a nighttime trip on the solar- School Road poweredRa , courtesy of the Broads Ludham NR29 5PF Authority. We went ‘bat hunting’ armed E: [email protected] with bat detectors and plenty of hot drinks. Tel: 01692 678060 Beingonthewaterindarknesswasan Chairman - NHFT -BryanRead E: [email protected] amazing experience; the water seems to Tel: 01603 454281 take on a completely different quality, the NHFT Administrator - Vikki Walker skieswereclear,andwewereblessedwitha E: [email protected] good moon. Furthermore, after hiding Tel: 01692 678263 fromusforanhourorso,thebatsputon NHFT Trustee -PaulStevens their display, and our bat expert was able to Tel: 01692 678210 identify them for us and give us a little of Jean Gee Tel: 01508 495059 theirhistory.OK,itwasn’tsailing,butitwas Neil Hopkinson the nearest I’ve been to it for quite some Tel: 01455 203167 time now! Eric Diffey Zoë Tel: 01603 457248 Newsletter editor: Derek Herriott Tel: 01692 631387 Zoë King Email: [email protected] Broadlea House Rodney Longhurst Tel: 01603 453889 Heron Way Hickling COPY DATE FOR NEXT ISSUE: 10 October, 2009 Norfolk NR12 0YQ' 01692 598287 -2- 13th Annual AGM Report fewwhousedtotakeadvantageoftheold 9 May, 2009. ‘C’ rates. But despite resulting difficulties in budgeting this year, he felt the change Around 70 members attended the AGM would make administration far easier. this time, for the meeting itself, and the subsequent barbecue and sailing. It was Bryanthenmentionedthatanew pointed out that the sheds seem so empty apprentice had been taken on, on a day- aftertheboatshavegoneoutontothewater, release basis from Yarmouth College. He sotoseeitused,andfilledagainwith also mentioned that another member of interested and animated people was very staff had been recruited, though this one, heartening. with an external apprenticeship under his belt, needed only his ‘Graham’ Outgoing Chairman, Andy Cowburn, apprenticeship! Looking further into the announced that the pleasure wherry, future, Bryan said the Trust is considering Hathor, was moored in the dyke for those RYA accreditation for teaching, which interested in looking her over. He also whileitisunlikelytobecomeamajor thanked‘TheBitterBoys’whohadso undertaking, would offer possible benefits. kindly agreed to defer their booked sailings He then talked in some detail about until 4.00pm, to allow Friends to use the Woodruff,andthedisappointmentfeltthat boatsintheafternoon. theTrusthadnotbeenabletotakeheronas Following his report, in which he detailed aproject.However,itwasfeltthatbecause thecurrentfinancialsituation,andgave of the major rebuild which would have been thanks to committee members and yard needed, the cost could not be justified. volunteersfortheireffortsonbehalfof Moving on, Bryan then talked about the Friends,Andysaidhowsorryhewastobe problemsofsealevelrise,andreferredto stepping down after so many years. He the alarmist reports in the press regarding handedthereinsoverto‘caretaker’ the Natural England reports. He said short Chairman,LesGee,whoproposedavoteof term measures had been taken to protect thanks to Andy, and presented him with a theyardinwinter,whenitwasliableto watercolour picture of St Benet’s Abbey as a flooding,andthatthelongertermissueis small token of appreciation. under consideration. However, he stressed InhisreportfromtheNorfolkHeritage that Hunter’s is a 1930’s Yard, and it is not Fleet Trust, Bryan Reed ran through some the Trust’sjob to replace it with a 2010 yard. ofthehighlightsofthelastyear.Hemade Attention then turned to the Friends’ particular reference to the new Hunter’s Autumn Event on 26 September, which Yardwebsite,overayearlate,butnowup becauseitalwaysprovespopular,would and running successfully, thanks to the once again be a sailing picnic, with an dedicated work of Vikki Walker. He then optionforthosewhodonotsailtogoout talked about the single rate for hirers for the for a short cruise on the waterbus, Princess whole season, which has replaced seasonal Katherine. Booking forms are with this rates. There would, he felt, be benefits for issue. some hirers, and disadvantages for those Zoe King -3- Friends. Past Newsletters can be viewed and the Members Section, which will display the current Newsletter, should be in action by the autumn the Log-in password for the year will be given to all current Friends with the next edition. The News&Eventspageisplannedtogiveup- to-date information on forthcoming events; for example, the new 5-part series on BBC1, “Rivers with Griff Rhys Jones” that is being shown on Sunday evenings from26July,isfeatured.Vikkiwrote aboutitlastyearinIssue33anditwill include Griff Rhys Jones' adventures on Wood Rose which looks as though it will be shown towards the end of the series so I only hope that you get the Newsletter before the series has ended and Wood Rose has been quanted through Potter Heigham Bridge! Les Gee presents outgoing Chairman Andy Cowburn with a token of thanks from Those of you whose subscriptions are still Committee Members. outstanding will be getting a ‘Final Membership News Reminder’ from me with this Newsletter. I am confident that we shall end this year on AsalwaysIhopethatwecancontinueto a much more positive note than we did in rely on your valuable and generous support. 2008 after the somewhat depressing Withbestwishesforthelastmonthsofthe combination of the shake-out from the Summer season. Bankers Orders discrepancies and the start oftheeconomicdownturn.Wehave Jennifer Mack July 2009 welcomed over 40 new Friends so far in 2009 thanks largely to Vikki’s efforts. The total now stands at over 850 families; sadly we have again lost members over the year and there are still some overdue subscriptions but I hope, with over two months of the season still to go, that we can achieve a good net gain. Our new website is now up and running andthereisalarge‘Friends’Section.The facility to download Membership Forms direct has already resulted in several new -4- NEW! Skippered Two-Day Sails! Neil Hopkinson Oneofthepleasuresofbeinga‘Friendof 2.Amber House Hotel, Upton . Wewill sail to the Hunter Fleet’ is sailing or being sailed in Ranworth Broad where we have secured one of Percy Hunter’s magnificent boats. At someprivatemooringsfortheyachtsnear themomentwerunskipperedsailsafterthe thevillageshopandwillenjoyamealatthe AGM and at the autumn picnic. These are newlyopenedMaltstersPubbefore always very successful and are enjoyed to spending the night at the Amber House the full by all who take part. As a result, we Hotel. This charming former rectory, set in we have decided to offer a new event to grounds of 4 acres, is situated amongst ‘Friends’. tranquil open countryside near Upton. Can you imagine how much fun you could Imagine the fun and excitement of have if, instead of sailing back to the yard spendingtwodaysononeofyourfavorite after a few hours, you continue to sit in the yachts, sailing on the Thurne and the Bure, well of aHustler, Wood or one of the Lustre whilst being looked after by one of our Class of yachts and enjoy a thrilling excellent skippers. At the moment we do skipperedsailfortwodaysonTheThurne nothavefirmdates,butassoonaswehave and Bure? an indication of numbers, we will finalise We are looking at running two, two-day things. The cost will be around £180 - £210, skippered sails from Hunter’s Yard, which depending upon your chosen boat. will visit either of two venues: If you would like to join us for one of these 1.TheSwanInnatHorning , where we shall adventures then please get in touch by spend the night after a splendid meal with email: [email protected] aglassofwine,beforesailingbacktothe or phone: 01455 203167 or 07930 910870. yard during the following day. The Swan Inn overlooks the sharp bend in the River Bure at Horning Lower Street. The origins of The Swan date from 1696, when a cottage was built on the site. In the early 19th centurythemainpartoftheInnwasbuilt, and it has become a distinctive landmark ontheNorfolkBroadsforriverusersand