White Moth’s arrival aids repairs to sister wherries

By stephen pullinger broads correspondent
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
5:27 PM

The wherry base at Wroxham is soon to celebrate a graceful fourth addition to its fleet when the wherry yacht White Moth sails in.

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The vessel will be hired out for weekend and week-long charters to help fund the restoration of sister wherry yachts Olive and Norada and the pleasure wherry Hathor.

The three boats are owned by the Wherry Yacht Charter Charitable Trust, which opened the wherry base in Hartwell Road last year with the help of a £1.5m Heritage Lottery Fund grant.

The vision of the trust is to restore all of them to their former glory so the public can enjoy trips offering an Edwardian sailing experience.

White Moth, formerly owned by Norfolk Broads Yachting Company in Horning, has been bought by trustee Andrew Scull, and made available to the trust for three years to support its restoration aims.

Trust chairman John Ash said: “Towards the end of last year, the trust became aware that White Moth might be available for purchase and felt the opportunity was too good to miss. Accordingly, with the support and encouragement of the board, Mr Scull offered to purchase her.

“This is a real boost to our aims providing us with our first revenue stream.”

Katy Walters, chairman of the charity’s friends committee, said: “We’re looking forward to White Moth’s arrival allowing us to carry out volunteer crew training. We’re thrilled to have this opportunity and look forward to welcoming passengers on board.”

It is hoped that companies, as well as private groups, will be interested in chartering the vessel which will be fully crewed and capable of accommodating parties of 10.

The arrival of White Moth, currently undergoing minor work at a Horning boatyard, will see all three remaining wherry yachts built by Wroxham boatbuilder Ernest Collins reunited on the water.

Since the wherry base was opened last April by Frances Clark, widow of former Broads Authority chief executive Aitken Clark, steady progress has been made by the trust.

Mr Ash said: “The base is now completely finished after the completion of the slipway.

“Norada’s restoration will be completed in time for her to be launched in May. It is her centenary this year and we are planning a celebration event in the summer.”

It is planned that Norada, formerly owned by Peter Bower and Barney Matthews, will run day trips from Wroxham later in the season.

The restoration of Olive has been boosted by the award of £60,000 of funding from the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), and it is hoped to launch her in late summer.

Mr Ash said: “This represents real progress for us, but it’s important to remember that we still have a significant amount of funds to raise to complete Olive’s restoration and then turn our attention to Hathor.

“I’d urge the people of Norfolk to support us in our aim to have all four of these vessels sailing on the Broads again.”

stephen.pullinger@archant.co.uk