Explore the Broads Bootlegger and other tales

You may know that Broads holidays go back to the 19th century, but did you know that some Broads holiday boats are around 100 years old and still sailing strong? In the Broads, historic boats are as much a part of the landscape as historic buildings.

This year is the 100th anniversary of a sailing boat that’s still welcoming holidaymakers and giving them an experience to remember – the chance to sail a piece of Broads history.

Bootlegger was built and launched in 1923 by Walter Woods and was part of their hire fleet until 1938 (the Herbert Woods boatyard is still flourishing at Potter Heigham). The hull is Columbian pine on oak frames, and the cabin sides and cockpit sides are teak. The brass builder’s plate is inside the cockpit. Bootlegger is a gaff-rigged Broads river cruiser, the core design dating back to Victorian times and those first wealthy or at least comfortably-off holidaymakers. The Whelpton family bought Bootlegger in 1946. They sometimes used the yacht for racing and then when Eastwood Whelpton set up in business in 1959, Bootlegger was added to the fleet. Significant work was carried out in 2019 by their highly skilled boatbuilders, when it was found that the original nails had rusted to the point where they no longer really had heads. Very little planking needed to be replaced and many of the original features remain. The fleet also includes half-deckers – day boats, three of which are over 100 years old – and a classic wooden motor cruiser from the 1950s.

Celebrations will be taking place for the centenary year including a challenge to Eastwood Whelpton customers to sail Bootlegger to all the ends of the Broads navigation, raising money for Love the Broads (see page 13) and making sure that visitors all around the Broads can see history sailing. Crews will pick a section of the Broads to explore on their holiday and there’ll be checkpoints at different locations around the Broads. More details from 01493 750430 eastwood-whelpton.co.uk

The Norfolk Broads School of Sailing is also based at the Eastwood Whelpton boatyard at Upton (D3), 01493 750430 norfolksailingschool.co.uk. For more places to get you started with sailing see page 19. If you’re think about a sailing holiday, go to broadssailing.com for all Broads boatyards offering sailing holidays, with more opportunities to take your holiday on a vintage craft, including Zoe, built in 1897, the only Victorian yacht available for holiday hire, from Martham Boats, 01493 740249 marthamboats.com. For many sailing boats training can be included if you wish, so you can start your holiday as a complete beginner, even on Bootlegger.

Not quite 100 years old, but not far off, is the Norfolk Heritage Fleet at Hunter’s Yard, Ludham. These 1930s boats retain their original fittings and a visit to the boatyard is like a trip back to the 1930s – in a good way! Percy Hunter, with his two sons Cyril and Stanley, built the first shed in 1932 and by the following year they had designed, built and launched the first two cabin yachts of the fleet. Much of what they offered remains today, but with other opportunities as well, such as a skippered two-hour sail. Whether you can’t sail but would love to try, just need a little refresher, or would rather sit back and relax, this is one for you! Find out more from 01692 678263 huntersyard.co.uk

Some of the oldest craft sailing on the Broads are the wherries, originally built as cargo craft. Some trading wherries were adapted to holiday use, and as waterborne trade declined and holiday trade developed, pleasure wherries and wherry yachts were built.

Norfolk Wherry Trust and Wherry Maud Trust

Of the original 300 trading wherries that moved a huge variety of goods and materials from staithe to staithe (mooring places) there are now only two still sailing the rivers and broads, Albion (1898) and Maud (1899). The Norfolk Wherry Trust offers public day trips and charters (hires) on Albion, plus open days when Albion is moored at different places around the Broads and you are welcome on board for a look round. Wherry Maud Trust offers day and short sailings (you need to become a trust member to join these), open days for all and many other events.

wherryalbion.com wherrymaudtrust.org

Wherry Yacht Charter

This is a fleet of five historic pleasure wherries and wherry yachts. The pleasure wherries are Hathor (1905) and Ardea (1927); the wherry yachts are Olive (1909), Norada (1912) and White Moth (1915). These magnificent, fully-restored vessels are based in Wroxham and usually sail the Broads from May to September each year. The wherries can be chartered (hired) for your exclusive use – they can be booked by the day with a skipper and crew, or for weekends or longer visits. There’s also a programme of scheduled public sailings where you can join a half-day or day trip, with a skipper and crew. You can read about visiting Hathor on page 21.

01603 781475 wherryyachtcharter.org