May 2009
One of the Broads’ best-loved and most iconic boats is once again on tour this summer – but this time she is leading an urgent SOS appeal to ensure her and her sisters’ future. Wherry Yacht Charter Charitable Trust (WYCCT) needs your help to safeguard the three wherries Hathor, Olive and Norada; this year, “Hathor’s Farewell Tour” will see her visit all corners of the Broads system in an effort to raise funds towards an ambitious but vital target of £100,000.
The tours began on Friday 1st May, there are still places available on the later tours covering the May half term week, early June, and August-September.
The extensive itinerary takes in local events and offers extra attractions, allowing you to make a sailing into a real day out if you wish. Open gardens, guided walks, steam railway trips, Broads events and pub lunches can all be combined with a sailing or viewing. But with shorter sailings and free viewings, there are opportunities for everyone to get to know this magnificent vessel and find out WYCCT’s work caring for three of the last eight wherries in existence.
If you are familiar with Hathor, you will be concerned at the idea of saying “farewell” to her – you are not alone! There is no intention of this being a permanent goodbye, but help is needed to ensure she returns to the water in four years, restored and ready for many more years’ sailing.
Dating from 1905, Pleasure Wherry Hathor has certainly earned her rest. In the last 5 years alone she has sailed over 2,200 miles and welcomed over 20,000 people on board. All this naturally takes its toll, and at the end of the 2009 tour she will be “laid up” until vital restoration work can be carried out. If the fundraising target is reached she should sail again in 2013.
Almost ready to return to the water is Wherry Yacht Norada, having had extensive hull repairs over the last 3 years. However, much work remains to completely refit her internally before she is ready to take passengers again.
Next in line is sister Wherry Yacht Olive, patiently awaiting her turn for restoration, after which Hathor will finally receive the attention she deserves. But work is also needed to rebuild the boats’ base at Wroxham, including workshops and a slipway. This is vital if the skilled and painstaking restoration work – primarily done by volunteers – is to continue, thus ensuring future wherry tours in 2010 and beyond.
Katy Walters, chairman of the Friends of WYCCT, said: “many people, both local residents and Broads visitors, love to see the graceful sight of a wherry sailing by – so do we! However, unless we can reach our fundraising target, that sight will sadly be much rarer. I would urge everyone to come and experience a wherry sailing this year; you will see why the Friends are so keen to save these beautiful boats, and your support really will help ensure the future of these endangered Broads icons.”
WYCCT’s volunteers look forward to welcoming you on board this year; with your support, all three wherries will sail again and go on to welcome visitors for many years to come.
For information on WYCCT please visit www.wherryyachtcharter.org
For further information on the tour, or to make a booking, please contact the Broads
Authority, Dragonfly House, 2 Gilders Way, Norwich NR3 1UB, tel. 01603 610734
Press contact: Katy Walters [email protected]
WYCCT is a Registered Charity, No. 1096073
