Sail Number:
Type: Norfolk Wherry Yacht
LOA: 53’0″ / 16.15m – LOD: 53’0″ / 16.15m – LWL: – Beam: 12’0″ / 3.68m – Draft: 6′” / 1.90m – Displacement: 15.40 Tonns – Ballast: – Yard Number: – Hull material: Wood – Designer: Ernest Collins – Built by: Collins, Ernest & Sons (Wroxham) Ltd – Year Launched: 1912 – Original Name: NORADA – Original Owner: – National Historic Ships UK: Certificate no 487 – Sail Area: 825 sq ft
Historical:
Wherry Yacht Charter – Norada is named after a famous racing yacht of the era, and was the second wherry yacht built by Ernest Collins. He designed her to be small enough to pass under the low bridges at both Ludham and Potter Heigham following problems there with her sister wherry Olive. Ironically, after having gone to so much trouble, he saw Ludham bridge destroyed and washed away in the floods of August 1912 and rebuilt with more headroom.
The first of the Collins wherry yachts to be retired from the fleet (in 1950), Norada nonetheless avoided the common fate of becoming a houseboat. A few years after her retirement she was bought by a Mr Andrew, who renamed her Lady Edith in honour of his wife. They had spent their honeymoon on Norada when she was part of the Collins fleet. In 1964 she was bought by Barney Matthews, who sailed and then began to restore her before founding Wherry Yacht Charter with Peter Bower. After starting to take charters again in 1984, Norada reverted to her original name as part of her 75th anniversary celebrations in 1987.
Along with her sister vessels Norada was transferred to Wherry Yacht Charter Charitable Trust in 2004. After a period of fundraising, Norada was hauled out in 2006 and saw extensive hull work and interior restoration before being relaunched in 2011. Her restoration received significant funding from the Geoffrey Watling Trust and, specifically to replace her diesel auxiliary motor with an electric one, the Broads Authority Sustainable Development Fund.
Provenance (The Wall of Remembrance – The Owners, Crew & Notable Guest):
- Guardian/Owner: –
- Guardian/Owner: – (1950-1964) – Mr. Andrew – renamed Lady Edith
- Guardian/Owner: 1964 – Barney Matthews
- Guardian/Owner: (2004) – Wherry Yacht Charter Charitable Trust
Resources
Wherry Yacht Charter Charitable Trust
National Historic Ships UK