Bridge Pilots cooperating to try and get a Broads Cruiser under Potter Heigham Bridge
Bridge Pilots cooperating to try and get a Broads Cruiser under Potter Heigham Bridge

After some time in Lathams, Di took the girls to the playing field and I tackled the empty gas cylinders of the Lady, improving the sealing of the gas locker and spent an abortive attempt to contact my stock brokers as the stock exchange recorded a record daily fall. A combination of three bridge pilots cooperated to try and get The Lady through Potter Heigham Bridge but had to admit defeat, though the height registered 6ft 9ins as her sliding roof was not curved enough. The BA/BCal airline merger has been referred to the Monopolies Commission and the US are still seeking help from allies to undertake a joint mine-sweeping operation for the Gulf

A pleasant night, but chilly, and so Di put on the boat heating first thing to bring the temperature up to 60degF from 50degF. After lasting nearly two weeks, the gas gave out at breakfast, but I still had some toast to go with my wheat flakes. After a difficult breakfast (the children misbehaving as usual) we all went shopping to the Potter Heigham stores. I took a close interest in the fishing tackle that was claimed to be the most extensive display in England. The others found plenty to buy for their part. After this we had a coffee at the cafeteria opposite and then Di took the girls to retrace our footsteps of last night to the playing field, whilst I tackled the changing of the Calor Gas cylinders.

We had spare full ones, but I took my time to check the retaining tray. This should have a single piped exit at the bottom for the gas to escape by gravity, should there be a leak. Just as well I did check, because a supply pipe had also been run through a hole in the bottom leaving a gap. I filled this with sealant, replaced both rubber washers in the connections and fitted the new cylinders. A search around Potter Heigham revealed no stockist of Calor Gas – there seem to be several commercial alternatives these days – and so I returned to the boat to fend off a few cruisers and put things away. By 1.00pm, Di was back from the playground and we had lunch of roast pork at the cafeteria. For me, this afternoon was wasted making several trips to the telephone to raise Peter Roy of de Zoete & Bevan about my children’s trust investments. No good, as he was still not back from a client lunch at the RAC club by 4.30pm! In the meantime, I was checking the river closely for levels and when it was at 6ft 9ins, three pilots took it up to the central arch of Potter Heigham bridge to try. Both back and front would edge under, and the centre was well clear, but the semi-circular arch would have fouled the sliding cockpit roof and so we have to come back on Sunday week, after the full moon. As the kids had tea, I sat in my cabin and planned out a new schedule for the next fortnight to take account of this, as Di tended the children. I was better away from them in my period of disappointment, but felt better after the re-plan. Tonight I took Diana out for a nice meal and we both dressed up. News today was of the resignation of Dr David Owen after a vote result for the SDP ballot, where the pro-merger policy was endorsed by the membership in defiance of Dr David Owen’s wish for the party to remain separate from the Liberal Party. Today, interest rates went up by 1% and there was a record one-day loss on the stock exchange as a result, down 42.5pts on the FT30 and 66 pts on the FT100 indices. This is the setback that I have been waiting for and I may soon be ready to buy shares. Sterling was also down with more worries about next week’s trade figures. The government has accepted the OFT recommendation and referred the BA/BCal airline merger to the Monopolies Commission, but wants an analysis within 3 months. US Foreign Secretary Shultz has announced that ‘several European nations’ are considering a joint mine-sweeping operation for the Gulf, but Britain, Paris and Bonn all deny tonight that they have any such plans. The 72 German Pershings seem to be the main sticking point on an Est/West intermediate nuclear weapons treaty. In the last match of the Pakistan vs England test cricket series, the tourists batted well today to strengthen their grip on the series. After today’s sunny intervals and occasional showers, tomorrow will at least be dry, but cloudy as well. Further thoughts and observations on this bridge at Potter Heigham: The main hazard is its semi-circular shape, because, although The Lady has a curved roof and over 3” clearance in the middle at 6ft 9ins water level, the sides of the bridge trail away so sharply that even we cannot get through. There are mixed arguments about this bridge that have been raging for years. It is a hazard and perhaps should be remodelled or bypassed for navigation. Yet it is an historic monument and principal feature of Potter Heigham that has grown up around it, the tides are restricted by the opening that regulates water levels above and it does tend to restrict boating above in favour of the yachts to produce a much quieter environment. So ‘if things do not change, they will probably stay as they are’. The technique of the bridge pilots is quite interesting. There are three – one each for Hoseasons, Blakes and Pennant, though for tricky jobs they work together and always sit in the same hut and compare notes. With unknown quantities, the idea is for one to take the helm and two to fend off, standing on each side of the front of the boat and pushing against the arch of the bridge with their hands or backs against the boats engine to provide stability. If it looks right, they can then walk forward as it goes through. For known craft it is a simpler task of powering through to maintain way against wind and current. Down-tide, the engine is throttled back in the final approach and then powered out under the bridge for steerage. Up-tide, throttle is used throughout. Normally there are several boats waiting at the pilot quay and the lowest are taken first, so that there is always feedback about the current condition. The water under the central arch is scoured deep and there is evidently two tides at low water, with movement at the surface opposite to that on the bottom. All of this consideration and the black art of pilotage would not exist but for this edifice. They also say that next Sunday’s full moon is having the effect of keeping water levels up at the moment and thwarting our progress. Evidently, as well as influencing the sea tides, there are river tides from the vast expanse of water in the Broads and the two are interfering and in opposition. Then the northerly winds are also keeping the water levels up at Yarmouth and the recent rain has added to the problem. But for all these effects, we would have yesterday been able to navigate Potter Heigham bridge!