Activities of the Trust
The Norfolk Heritage Fleet Trust is an independent charity. Its aims today are very much the same as they were in 1995 with education at the heart of its activities.Â
The Trust also has responsibility for the Fleet. The Hunters Fleet is the only original fleet of wooden yachts built in the 1930’s that is still together and operating from its original base. Although there are many yachts on the broads, many have been sold between the various boat yards many times. Today there are only 4 yards left on the Norfolk Broads that hire traditional yachts, and Hunters Yard is the only one that still has its original fleet from the 1930’sÂ
At the yard based in Ludham on Womack Dyke, the Trust maintains its boat building ethos by utilizing the current boat sheds and facilities that have been at the heart of the yard since the early 1930’s. Along with a base for the entire Hunter’s Fleet during the winter months, it also provides shoreside facilities in the summer months for visitors, classrooms, admin facilities and a large mooring basin for the fleet during the sailing season.
The trust has a desire to develop more specialist training facilities where young apprentices can learn new skills in boat building and the values needed to gain future employment and also provide the yard with the skills needed to maintain and restore the fleet in future years.
It is envisaged that the new training facility for young people wishing to enter the marine industry would provide an environment where their skills are built and experience gained on actual restoration and other boatbuilding projects carried out in a proper working environment at Hunters and on the working fleet.
Hunter’s Yard can play a pivotal role in passing down these essential skills to the next generation and providing a unique environment with experienced boatbuilders on hand to guide and learn from.
