2013 CIC - Salhouse Broad
In 2013 the HSBC held it's first Cruise in Company with a "Meet Up" at Salhouse Broad linking members from the Northern and Southern Broads. On this inaugaural occasion, the Hampton Safari Boat Club CIC was accompanied by several well known classic "Stinkies" and "Sailies" owned and crewed by owners and members of the NBF (Norfolk Broads Forum), that included "Broad Ambition", "The Corsican", "Readyabout" and "Brilliant". The convoy procession of iconic Broads cruisers of the same class, many "dressed" for the occasion, made it's way along the river Bure from St Benets, completing two circuits of Malthouse Broad en route before passing through Horning to our final destination at Salhouse Broad. The gathered assembly made for a very impressive sight taking many by surprise as we passed...
Some intrepid bystanders and observers along our route gathered their wits quickly enough to capture the moment on Video or Camera. Others involved in the flotilla also took pictures and videos of their own. Somehow, despite the lack of practice or rehearsal, the convoy proceeded at an even and regal pace and managed to stay in formation all the way to Salhouse where a demonstration of both the "nautically correct" and "park by ear" methods of stern mooring took place.....
The full line up of Hampton Safari's and accompanying boats made an impressive sight. The afternoon quickly turned to a series of introductions to other owners and tours of their Safari's for comparison purposes. There are a surprising number of variations and customisations to what are ostensibly boats of the same design/class...
The NBF crews had done us proud in escorting us in formation up river from St Benet's to Salhouse Broad. They also kindly laid on some afternoon entertainment and demonstrations including launching a mudweight (forgetting to tie it on first) and recovering it by dinghy (and capsizing that) followed by dinghy recovery and rapid bail out, but the mudweight was duly recovered.....
A number of new aquaintances were made throughout the afternoon (assisted by the group seating arrangements and the odd glass (or three) of your favourite tipple..) The chats and merriment continued long into the evening rounding off a long, but very enjoyable and eventful day and a great inaugural event.....