Shrimping
Betsy is the blue Cornish Shrimper that is moored just north of the slip. You
may have noticed that she was not there during part of the 2004 season. At 19 ft long
and weighing just over a ton she is small enough, just, to tow to new waters and
big enough, just, to be reassuring for coastal passages in settled weather once
you are there. Left - a picture of a Shrimper similar to Betsy.
Locations
This year Jane and I spent nearly a month on board Betsy. We had two weeks
on the Norfolk Broads, ten days at a Shrimper Rally on Milford Haven,
two weekends on Lough Erne and a few long weekends on Strangford Lough.
Here are a few extracts from the log to give you an idea of the pleasures of
shrimping.
Norfolk Broads
10 June - up early and walked across fens and marshes to the sea. Heard a
bittern. Quick dip in the North Sea - very chilly! Back to Betsy for bacon, eggs
and toast in the sunshine before 0830. Sailed and motor sailed across Horsey
Mere (saw March Harriers, a kingfisher and a swallowtail butterfly), Deep Dyke
and Heigham Sound. Lowered the mast and motored under the very old and very low
bridge in Potter Heigham against 2kn flood tide. Anchored to the bank at Ludham
for the night. Invited aboard a Norfolk Smuggler for a Calvados by Harry, whose
father was the Vicar of Horning. Discussed Arthur Ransome's books. I was reading
the Coot Club and we were following their route from Horning to Beccles.
14 June - Left Beccles and sailed slowly against the tide in flukey winds
between trees. Then better sailing through Oulton Dyke. Had lunch in a little
side dyke watching a man single handing a 30ft Broads Cruiser taking a long time
to recover his quanting pole that had dropped over the side. Motorsailed on
through the Somerlayton swing bridge, after waiting for a train to go through,
and then motored into the breeze and against 2kn ebb to the mouth of the Chet.
Tied up ½ mile from Loddon at Pye's Mill. Saw another kingfisher.
16 June - Sailed up the Thurne in company with the last working Wherry,
the Albion. Watched one man tack the 40 ft gaff and huge single black sail in
the bends and wind shifts, allowing the favourable tide to carry her through.
Visited Ranworth church and climbed the tower to see for miles. Very odd to see
fields with sails moving along what looked like lanes between them. Motored on
to Horning, had a pint moored at the Swann Inn and sailed on to Salhouse Broad
where we watched nine Hunter broads cruisers, all crewed by kids, sail gently
in, raft up and put up their white canvas canopies. Hunters are all original
1930s cruisers with no engine and no electricity.
Milford Haven - Shrimper Rally
5 July - After a day exploring Longoar Bay in Milford Haven with three
other Shrimpers, we made for Crow Pool at 1700, where we met 15 other shrimpers
and two crabbers. Sailed in convoy up the narrow Pembroke River with the flood,
through the lifted barrier at HW and into the pool below Pembroke Castle.
Wonderful sight to see so many wooden masts under the ramparts of the castle.
Excellent meal in the King's Arms.
6 July - Left the Pembroke pool under engine in F0-1 SW and motored out
of the mouth of Milford Haven. Wind filled in enough to sail once around St
Agnes Head and we made gentle progress, timing the arrival to Jack Sound for
slack water. Through the Sound we sailed among thousands of puffins and
guillemots to the North Haven of Skomer and picked up a visitor's mooring. Spent
six hours exploring this amazing bird sanctuary, watching puffins galore at
close quarters as well as Kittiwakes, Guillemots, Razorbills and all sorts of
gulls. Left North Haven in F3 NNW just before slack water and avoided the worst
of the race in Jack Sound. Had a glorious F3-4 run and reach back to Neyland
Marina, rarely dropping below 5Kn and, with the flood under us, sitting at 6.5Kn
in the deep channel. Went from Jack Sound to Neyland Spit on the same tack,
starting on the run and ending on a beat. Covered 17 miles in 3 hours.
Strangford Lough
31 July - Anchored overnight in the lee of Chapel Island (Northern one).
Woke early and walked the Chanderies at low water. Jane rowed around the bay
before cooked breakfast. Motored in flat calm S and E round Chapel, around the
Ragheries and into Kircubbin bay. Then on to Horse Island for a swim in crystal
clear water at HW and then lunch. Breeze filled in from SE and we sailed close
reached down past Limestone Rock and Dunnyneil, just squeaking past in 2m of
water. Sailed by the Flying Fifteen Irish Nationals (two of whom wanted to know
what was the class of our pretty wee boat), past Green Island and Salt, tacking
in between Salt and Gore's Island to anchor for the night in 2m water. Walked
Salt after an excellent meal.
1. Aug - Woke at 0500 to see the full moon setting behind trees in the
SW. Rowed up the inlet behind Gore's Island. Saw the sun rise from the NE into a
clear blue sky at 0540. After breakfast we ghosted up the channel behind Gore's
Island until aground. Had a walk across the causeway and around an old derelict
cottage until the tide came in. Then sailed down to the Quoile moorings in F3
SE. Spoke to the skipper of another Shrimper moored off Delamont and had a
glorious 5kt broad reach back to EDYC.
Greater Fun
So we had a great season, seeing some new areas and re-visiting some old
favourites, adding support to the old saying (was it E F Knight?) "the
smaller the boat, the greater the fun".
Martyn