Samphire Tides

An old barge is anchored in a North Norfolk estuary as a floating base from which its young crew can explore the surrounding creeks in sailing dinghies. As the holiday goes on, they find themselves amidst some crooked activity and the behaviour of the thugs concerned becomes increasingly threatening. Eventually, with no adults to assist, the young crew take the matter in hand, but by then, the risks are high. Along the way, they are trapped on the marsh as a rising spring tide cuts off their retreat, and the local lifeboat crew is faced with a seriously tricky mission in a gale. Suitable for ages 8 to 12. Author Robin Gamble delights in exploring coastal estuaries in small sailing boats. His voyages have taken him to the coast of Brittany on many occasions and he has wandered farther afield - to the coasts of Norway and Malaysia. Not all of his voyages have gone to plan. On one occasion his 18ft East Coast Blackwater Sloop was caught mid flow in the Alderney Race in a gale. In this book he draws on his experiences at sea and as a keen mountaineer. The estuary and creek that run up to Burnhan Overy Staithe have enchanted him over a number of years. Few moments give him greater pleasure than to set the sails of his Twinkle Twelve to slip down the creek on an early morning tide.