A Quiz About "Coot Club", Part II

Answer: North-west

The course that the crew of the Teasel are taking runs south-east down the River Bure, south through Breydon Water, and then south-east again down the River Waveney. Thus a North-west "could not be a better wind for the voyage". The other winds all come off the North Sea and would not be suitable.

Answer: Their father has a legal emergency at work.

This frees the twins up to join the crew on the Teasel, but by the time they get to the place where the Teasel was moored, they find that it has already sailed. Much of the charm of this part of the story is how Port and Starboard make their way down the river, hitching rides on various river craft.

Answer: They encounter the Margoletta, whose crew is searching for Tom.

They seriously consider stopping at Stokesby as they have made good time on the first day, but when they see the Margoletta anchored outside a pub, they have to move quickly downstream before the tourists recognize Tom and his boat, the Titmouse.

Answer: Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth is the major port along the east coast of Norfolk, where the River Bure meets the River Yare and both flow into the North Sea. The town was a prosperous market-town and fishing centre, and now depends on the North Sea oil industry as well as wind farms. King's Lynn is a Norfolk sea-port, but on the other side of the county. Harwich and Felixstowe are places that feature in the seventh story, "We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea".

Answer: Beccles

Beccles is in the neighbouring county of Suffolk on the River Waveney, which forms the border between Suffolk and Norfolk. Oulton and Lowestoft are places farther downstream from Beccles, Acle lies on the River Bure. The Teasel on her cruise passes through both Acle and Oulton.

Answer: Margoletta

They catch a ride first on the Sir Garnet a sailing wherry, then on the motor-tug the Come Along, and finally on a barge, the Welcome out of Rochester. They almost catch up with the Teasel, but lose the wind at Somerleyton, where they spend the night.

Answer: Port and Starboard

When they arrive in Beccles, Tom notices a Thames barge. Unknown to him this is the Welcome which has brought Port and Starboard down to Beccles. When Tom sees that there is someone on the Teasel, he leaps on board without bothering to wipe his feet.

Answer: A sudden squall

Arthur Ransome adds a footnote to explain what Port means by her exclamation: "A Roger coming" -- "the Norfolk name for a sudden squall which makes a loud hissing noise as it comes sweeping over the reeds".

Answer: Norwich

Their plan is to sail back down the Waveney, through the New Cut into the River Yare, and then up that river to Norwich, a cathedral city and county town of Norfolk. But the winds are not favourable, and when they phone home from Brundall, they find out that the twins are needed for the races and that the Hullabaloos have learned Tom's name and are looking for him downriver.

Answer: It crashes into a beacon post.

A rising tide sweeps the boat sideways and carries it into a beacon post. The Death and Glory, crewed by Pete and Bill and Joe, arrive just in time to salvage the boat. True to form, the tourists do not have the good manners to even say "thank you".