Sailing on the Norfolk Broads
The traditional way
This site has been built by sailors who know the North Norfolk Broads well having sailed there as members of a party that has been visiting the Broads for well over 50 years. We have almost always sailed in Hustlers, Wood boats or Lullabys from the Hunter Yard at Ludham.
These beautiful boats were built in the 1930s by Percy Hunter and his sons. Traditionally built from mahogany, designed especially for a first class sailing experience in these specific waters, they are the yachts to sail on the Broads.
Not only did Percy, his sons, friends and family build the boats, but they also dug out the Dyke that forms the watery entrance to the yard that these elegant ladies call home.
This where you will find out about the Hunter boats.
They lack many of today's creature comforts. No engine, no running hot water, no showers, heaters or television. Instead you get a traditional, craft built, boat that will out sail any other similar boat in its element and keep you enthralled for your week's stay.
There are several technical and sailing terms used in the various descriptions. We are building a glossary to explain some of these. If you find one you do not understand then email us and we can explain it to you and put it on the list for future addition.
We hope you will find helpful hints, whether you are visiting by sail or under power, to make your stay enjoyable. This is a delightful part of the world, one to be enjoyed at its own pace, not that of the city. Pause and watch the grebes swimming and diving for food. enjoy the company of your fellow sailors, and the local hospitality too. A friendly welcome for courteous visitors awaits you.
We also hope you will find some humour on the contributions, let us know what you would like to see included. If you have stories, reminiscences or yarns of your own we would love to hear them.
This is, inevitably, a highly personal view of the Broads, as one of our party has put it "our experiences seen through our eyes". As you will gather from our log, our visit takes place in the Spring. This timing has a much to do with tradition as anything. We find it a time of interest, but subject to highly variable weather. It ranges from tolerably warm at best to freezing cold and wet at worst. Come later in the year for more settled and warmer weather.
We are actively adding to this site, so please bookmark and return. Better still, help us build it! If you are, or have been, a sailor on these waters we would love to hear your stories, and put them up, with photos, for all to share. Click here, so we can receive your input and, subject only to editorial scrutiny, we will add it so that others can benefit too.