The Hunter Fleet Sail Cruiser Hire

Sailing Holidays

Our original 1930s design yachts perform wonderfully on The Broads, they were designed specifically to be sympathetic to these beautiful, unique waterways, but anyone hiring any of our fleet does need to have adequate sailing experience.

Very good dinghy sailors are welcome and we will always take the trouble to make you familiar with the various nuances associated with these yachts. If you are at all concerned about taking out a yacht without an engine for the first time, or navigating the local rivers, try a 2 hour sail with a skipper on a half decker.

We provide most of what you will need for your holiday. The cabin yachts are all well stocked with crockery (in the original 1930s' design), cutlery, gas hobs with grills or ovens, water holders, blankets and pillows in cases. You will need to remember all the basics for a self-catering holiday and sheets or sleeping bags for comfort.

We have an emergency phone number which is available outside office hours and details of useful telephone numbers in the Information Pack on board. There are toilets and hot showers at the Yard open 24 hours a day. The Broads offers over 120 miles of safe navigable waterways. We hope you have a wonderful time!

Our Yachts

All Hustlers have 2 berths (*with an option for 1 extra person). These sloop-rigged single cabin Yachts have been designed to meet the requirements of the Broadsmen who want a small but really fast craft. The lifting cabin tops offer increased headroom when moored.

The two single berths have fitted mattresses with large drawers underneath. The WC and wash-basin are in the forward compartment. Equipment and necessary utensils are provided. Some sailing experience is needed for this craft.

5 yachts available: all built between 1935 and 1938 Hustler, Hustler 2, 3, 4 and 5

All of the Wood Class Yachts were designed by Percy Hunter and built by him and his sons, Stanley and Cyril, at the yard in Ludham and they sleeps 3 or 4

The bright-varnished mahogany gaff sloops are comfortably fitted for a party of three in two separate cabins.  Sailing experience is required for this craft.

Each berth is fitted with a mattress and has drawers underneath.  The fore cabin contains the toilet compartment.  Cooking is by gas in a fitted locker in the well.

5 yachts are available:
 
Sorrel -  was the first of the Wood Class boats to be built by the Hunter Family. She has been hired out every season from 1933 except during the war years from August 1939 to 1942. So about 4,000 people have enjoyed holidays in her
 
Anemone - is the first of two of the Hunter boats to be built after the war in 1947. She is the only boat for which building costs are available – £313.1s.5d. She has been hired out every season from 1947 – so about 3,400 have enjoyed holidays in her.

Avens - is the second of the two Hunter boats to be built after the war in 1949. The third bunk in the forward cabin of all Wood class boats is only 6ft compared to those in the main cabin at 6ft 2in. She has been hired out every season from 1949 – so about 3,300 people have enjoyed holidays in her
 
Rose - was sailed by Griff Rhys Jones during the filming of the BBC programme “Rivers” in 2008 She has been hired out every season from 1935 except during the war years from Aug 1939 – 1943 – so over 3,800 have enjoyed holidays in her.

Also available are the 4 Berth Lullaby Class Cabin Yacht
Sleeps 4 or 5 and there are four yachts available

These gaff sloops are built of bright-varnished mahogany and are comfortably furnished for a party of four people in two cabins, separated by a companionway and toilet compartment.

All four berths have 6ft 2in mattresses and spacious drawers underneath.  The lifting cabin top gives headroom of 5ft9in

All yachts are supplied with over boom awnings that cover both Cabin and Well areas

Many of our beautiful yachts have been fitted with Torqeedo ‘electric pod’ units. Lucent was our first boat to be fitted with a unit for the 2018 season and ultimately proved to be a great success, so more of our ‘ladies’ have followed suit. Due to the popularity of the engines by the folks using them, the Trust has been given funding and donations for even more engines and with the latest engine fitted to Wood Anemone it leaves only Hustler 2, Hustler 5, Wood Rose, Wood Sorrel, and Lullaby without the Torqueedo unit. Please don’t worry, there will always be at least one of each class that will never have an engine fitted for our ‘sailing purists’. Certainly, Hustler 2 and Lullaby will never have an engine installed.

These engines consist of a folding propellor fitted closely behind the keel so as not to interfere with sailing.  The batteries are housed within the boat, and there is a simple to use control panel in the cockpit.

Learn to Sail Holidays

Ever fancied learning how to sail but thought you just couldn’t do it? No matter your skill level whether you’re starting from scratch or honing your skills, there’s an RYA course for you. We are proud to say that we have some of the best Instructors on the Norfolk Broads working with us right here at Hunter’s Yard.

Day Boat Hire

We have 8 traditional wooden half-deckers available for hire, 5 Gunter rigs and three balanced lugsails. All of these ‘lil gals’ are great day boats and because they come with awnings are good for camping on too.

Contact us on 01692 678263 or Email or click on this live website link