Plan your trip to arrive at Yarmouth at low water. Before the construction of Breydon Bridge it was easy to aim for slack water, but now if the wind is blocked by the bridge you may need the last bit of ebb tide to carry you through. You will have to wait to get up the Bure, but that’s better than not making it at all.

Again, ring in plenty of time, probably before you get onto Breydon. You should have no difficulty getting through the bridge, (the last of the tide will help) and round into the Bure.

I have no experience of going through from south to north without a lift, but the same principles as north to south should apply. Given the likelihood of a prevailing westerly wind, you are more likely to have a bit of help from the wind as you paddle through. If you want to moor up for masting then use the jug handles in the last marker posts.

Aim for one of the dolphins. The tide will be low so the upstream one may be clear of the water. It may also be shallow by the second. This doesn’t matter too much. If you go aground, simply use your dinghy to take a rope across to the dolphin.You will float off as the tide rises. If you do not have a dinghy then just use your quant to nudge you closer as the tide rises until you can moor up properly. Again, take great care with fenders. If you have ones that can be mounted horizontally with a rope at each end it will make the job easier. Take time over the fenders as you will be here for a little while.

Because it is not yet slack water, you will need to wait before venturing up the Bure. You’ve got an hour or more, so make a brew and relax. You can’t go anywhere, so enjoy the surprise on others faces when they see you there. I always leave dropping the mast to the end, to make life more comfortable in the well. As slack water approaches, drop the mast and keep an eye on the current. Unfortunately it’s not a hard and fast guide as the surface water can continue to run off long after the water below surface is flowing up river. If in doubt, call the Yacht Station. They will be happy to advise you. Cast off and head through the bridges, it should be straightforward. Once through it’s probably easiest to use the masting moorings just above the road bridge, unless it’s a dead lee shore. In this case you may want to quant up a bit further round the bend to be better placed for hoisting sail.