Hunters Yard

Half Deckers (Day Boats)

We can offer six traditional, wooden, half-deckers for hire to the public. Three are Gunter rigs and three are balanced lugsails.

All of these vintage half-deckers are great day boats and come with awnings making them great for Yamping.

Gunter Rigs

If you’re a good dinghy sailor and enjoy having a mainsail and a jib, then Buff Tip and Sundew may be just the boats for you.

Experienced sailors, who like life a little faster, would certainly enjoy the exhilarating sail you can get with Rebel Reveller and Valiant Rebel. They are the only two Rebel Class half-deckers available for hire on the Norfolk Broads.

Single Sail Balanced Lugs

Our single sail balanced lugs are ideal for solo sailors or people looking for a more sedate sail, who may wish to introduce others to sailing or, maybe, just want to practice their sailing skills.

Buoyancy jackets are supplied by the yard but you are welcome to bring your own if you prefer.

*Bouyancy jackets supplied for each boat

Hunters Yard, is located in Ludham, where Percy Hunters unique Fleet of traditional wooden 1930s sailing yachts await your arrival. Our Yard sits within its own secluded private dyke in the heart of Norfolk’s world famous inland waterway system know as the Norfolk Broads.

Percy’s ‘Lovely Ladies’ are gaff sloops with self-tacking jibs and a fixed keel. They have no engines or electricity, just oil lamps and superb sailing ability! You really can get away from it all on these girls. However, because of the lack of engine you will need to have some sailing experience to be able to take one these ‘ole gals’ out please.

The ‘girls’ are even famous! – Our Lullaby was ‘Teasel’ in the BBC’s production of Swallows & Amazons Forever and we still have Teasel’s transom and the dinghy Titmouse here at the Yard. And more recently Wood Rose was used by Griff Rhys Jones on his programme The Rivers. They are often used in modeling shoots, specialised sailing publications and the general press.

All of our fleet are maintained by a staff with over a hundred years of experience between them! We are owned by a charitable trust that was established to preserve the Fleet. We are actively supported by a ‘Friends’ organisation with a membership of over 850 people established to help support the Yard and its Fleet of hand built cabin yachts and wooden half deckers. Percy’s ‘Lovely Ladies’ are much cherished, much admired, much loved!

Come and sail on the Fleet that makes sure all you have to listen to is the wind, the water and the wild birds whilst you relive the peace of a bygone age.