THE NORFOLK HERITAGE FLEET TRUST

What THE NORFOLK HERITAGE FLEET TRUST does

The Norfolk Heritage Fleet Trust is a registered UK charity (charity number 1052303) that owns and operates Hunter's Yard, a traditional boatyard on the Norfolk Broads at Womack Water in Ludham, Norfolk. Established in 1932 by Percy Hunter and his sons Cyril and Stanley, the Trust preserves and charters a fleet of 22 vintage wooden sailing vessels — 14 cabin yachts across three classes (Hustler 2-berth, Wood 3-berth, Lullaby 4-berth) and 8 half-decker day boats — all built or maintained to 1930s gaff-rig designs and housed in two original 1930s boat sheds. The Trust took ownership of the Yard on 1 April 1996 from Norfolk County Council after a public fundraising campaign and a £200,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant, and concurrently founded the Friends of the Hunter Fleet membership association (over 500 members). Trading operations are conducted through wholly-owned subsidiary Hunter's Fleet Limited (company number 03157685).

Hunter's Yard generates revenue through direct-to-consumer boat hire (cabin yachts from £435 to £593 per week, half-deckers from £99 per day), Royal Yachting Association certified sailing courses (RYA Levels 1–3 and Seamanship at £495 per person), a non-RYA Cabin Conversion Course (£150 per person), skippered sailing experiences (from £25 per head), and a Friends of Hunter's Fleet membership scheme (from £25 per household). The Trust additionally receives charitable donations and legacy gifts funding a Multi-Purpose Sailing Bursary that supported over 1,000 young people, many from marginalised Norfolk communities, in 2023-2024. Distribution is fully direct-to-consumer via the Hunter's Yard website, phone (01692 678263), and email; there are no third-party intermediaries. The organisation has selectively retrofitted Torqeedo and ePropulsion electric pod engines on certain heritage vessels to enable low-emission auxiliary propulsion through bridges and moorings, blending 1930s craftsmanship with targeted eco-friendly components. The Trust also stewards Swallow, Amazon, Teasel, Titmouse, and Tom Dudgeon's punt Dreadnaught on behalf of The Arthur Ransome Society (TARS), drawing cultural-tourism visitors from as far as the United States.

Name

THE NORFOLK HERITAGE FLEET TRUST

Legal name

Norfolk Heritage Fleet Trust

Website

https://huntersyard.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1932

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Norfolk Heritage Fleet Trust is a UK registered charity operating Hunter's Yard on the Norfolk Broads, chartering a 22-vessel fleet of 1930s wooden sailing yachts and half-deckers while delivering RYA-certified courses, skippered experiences, and youth sailing bursaries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recreational Sailing & Boating

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Ship and Boat Building (3366)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Bareboat Yacht Charters (Self-Skippered) (THAEAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cruise Yacht Charters (Private Crewed) (THAEADAG), Sailing Experiences (Lessons, Regattas, Day Sails) (THAJAJAG), Gulet & Traditional Wooden Yacht Cruises (THAEADAE), Coastal & Marine Nature Lodges (THAGAIAH)

Keywords

• Traditional sailing holidays
• Wooden boat hire
• RYA sailing courses
• Heritage fleet preservation
• Norfolk Broads charter

Headquarters

HQ city

Ludham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Boat Hire: Traditional wooden sailing yacht and half-decker hire for holidays (2-berth to 4-berth cabin yachts) and day sails. Pricing varies by boat class and season, with discounts for under-25s, families, NHS staff, and Blue Light Card holders.
2. RYA Sailing Courses: Royal Yachting Association certified training courses including Level 1, 2, 3 and Seamanship courses. Five-day combined courses at £495 per person. Cabin conversion courses at £150 per person.
3. Friends Membership: Friends of Hunter's Fleet membership scheme with over 500 members. Membership starts from £25 per household, providing benefits including preferential rates on sailing events, group sailing activities, and social events.
4. Donations and Legacies: Charitable donations from supporters and legacy gifts to fund youth sailing bursaries and fleet maintenance. School and youth sailing programs supported through endowment fund.
5. Skippered Sails: Guided sailing experiences with experienced skippers for 2-hour, half-day, or full-day durations. Prices from £25 per head.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hunter's Yard hires out a heritage fleet of traditional wooden gaff-rigged cabin yachts (2- to 4-berth) and half-decker day boats for self-catering sailing holidays on the Norfolk Broads. It also delivers RYA-certified sailing courses (Levels 1-3 and Seamanship), non-RYA Cabin Conversion training, skippered sailing experiences, Learn to Sail holidays combining tuition with independent cruising, and subsidised youth sailing through a charitable endowment fund. The Trust preserves the 1930s Percy Hunter designs, original boat sheds, and traditional boat-building skills.

Product overview

The Norfolk Heritage Fleet Trust operates Hunter's Yard, a traditional boatyard offering sailing holidays and training on the Norfolk Broads. The company provides a fleet of 14 vintage cabin yachts (lovingly called 'Percy's Lovely Ladies') and 8 half-decker day boats, all traditional wooden gaff-rigged keelboats from the 1930s. Products are organized into three cabin yacht classes (Hustler Class 2-berth, Wood Class 3-berth, and Lullaby Class 4-berth), half-decker day boats, and sailing experiences. Educational offerings include RYA-certified sailing courses, Learn to Sail Holidays combining training with independent sailing, and non-certified cabin conversion courses. Skippered sailing experiences provide guided options for non-sailors. Youth sailing programs are supported through the Trust's charitable endowment fund. Most cabin yachts now feature electric pod engines for eco-friendly辅助 propulsion through bridges and moorings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hustler Class Cabin Yacht Hire
• Wood Class Cabin Yacht Hire
• Lullaby Class Cabin Yacht Hire
• Half-Decker Day Boat Hire
• Skippered Sails
• Learn to Sail Holiday
• RYA Sailing Courses
• Cabin Conversion Course
• Youth Sailing Programme
• Friends of Hunter's Fleet Membership
• Swallows & Amazon (Amazon) Dinghy Hire

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 young people sailed with the Trust in 2023-2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Arthur Ransome Society (TARS)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023The boats Swallow and Amazon (featured in the 1974 film of Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons) are owned by the Arthur Ransome Society and in the care of Hunter's Yard. Teasel, Titmouse and Tom Dudgeon's punt Dreadnaught are also at Hunter's Yard. TARS fans travel from as far as the US to visit.
• Norfolk Broads AuthorityminorOthersNorfolk Broads Authority governs navigation byelaws and bridge information for all vessels on the waterways. Hunter's Yard operates under these regulations.
• Royal Yachting Association (RYA)coreOthersHunter's Fleet Ltd is a recognized RYA Training Centre offering RYA certified courses from Level 1 through Seamanship. RYA provides the certification framework and standards for sailing instruction.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Parkgate Yacht Club: Sailing club offering RYA courses and member sailing experiences on a different UK waterway. Comparable on RYA training and recreational sailing, though operates as a club rather than a hire fleet.
• How Hill Trust: Norfolk Broads-based educational charity operating near Ludham. Comparable as a Norfolk Broads heritage charity with educational and visitor activities, though focused on environmental education rather than sailing.

Direct peers

• Blakes Boating: Norfolk Broads boat hire company with a broad fleet including sailing yachts. Operates in the same Norfolk geography and competes for similar sailing holiday customers, though with a more modern fleet.
• Norfolk Broads Direct: Norfolk Broads hire operator offering sailing yachts and cruisers. Same regional market and product category (Broads sailing holidays), making it a direct competitor for hire bookings.
• Richardson's Boating: Long-established Norfolk Broads hire firm operating sailing cruisers and motor boats from Stalham. Overlaps with Hunter's Yard in traditional sailing holidays on the Broads, with overlapping customer base.
• Herbert Woods: Family-run Norfolk Broads boat hire operator offering a wide range of cabin cruisers and yachts from Potter Heigham. Directly competes with Hunter's Yard for Broads hire customers, though skewed toward modern motor cruisers rather than traditional wooden sail.
• LDC Sailing (UK Sailing Academy): RYA Training Centre offering sailing courses and charter. Comparable RYA-certified training and recreational sailing product, though based in the Solent rather than inland waterways.

Broad incumbents

• Hoseasons: UK's largest holiday letting and boat hire aggregator, including Norfolk Broads properties. Acts as a broad distribution channel and competitor for Boads holiday bookings, including sailing holidays through partner fleets.

Emerging players

• The Norfolk Punt Owner's Club: Heritage sailing club preserving traditional Norfolk and Broads one-design dinghies. Comparable niche heritage sailing focus on the Norfolk Broads, overlapping with the half-decker day boats in Hunter's Yard fleet.

Others

• Arthur Ransome Society (TARS): Partner and asset owner whose Swallow and Amazon boats are custodied at Hunter's Yard. Comparable as a heritage and enthusiast organisation focused on traditional sailing, with deep cultural overlap on the Norfolk Broads.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/huntersyard
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-norfolk-heritage-fleet-trust

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about THE NORFOLK HERITAGE FLEET TRUST