Sailing is an experience that any child can benefit from. Whether your child is adventurous already or looking to build their confidence, there is so much to be learnt onboard a boat.

From learning how to tie knots to planning a route, there are plenty of things for children to get involved in to really immerse them in the adventure whilst developing their independence.

The Norfolk Broads offer many great activities for children to get stuck into. Our personal favourite stop-off points include: Wroxham Barns, Bewilderwood, the Seals at Horsey Gap and Ranworth Nature Reserve. On the other hand, if on-board entertainment is what you’re looking for, books, puzzles, or classic games that can involve the entire family are always good fun – we have ‘Games packs’ here in the yard – so do shout if you would like to borrow one. We recommend avoiding technology as much as possible to really embrace family time in nature.

Whilst it can definitely be a challenge at times when introducing children to sailing, the way that the adventure can capture that curiosity and excitement is priceless. Generally from about the age of 7-8 children can become more useful crew in helping with the jib etc. By 10 they should be useful crew members and able to take the helm and hoist sails! However, we have children of all ages on our yachts from under 1 to 100!

If you are considering a family sailing holiday, give us a call for advice on which boats would work best for you, as well as further information to consider.

If you’re relatively new to sailing, you may have come across a whole array of specific terms and jargon that are often used in the industry, yet rarely explained.

When you book an Eastwood Whelpton yacht, we try to keep everything as clear and simple as possible – after all, booking a holiday shouldn’t be a stressful experience.

When we describe our fleet, we use some specific terminology that you may not have seen before. We thought we would explain the most important below so that your holiday-booking experience can be as easy as possible.

Beam = How we describe the width of the yacht, often not something that you need to think about.

Berths = The number of people able to sleep on a specified yacht, however, we usually label this as ‘sleeps’ on our website (i.e. sleeps 4) to avoid confusion.

Cabins = Bedrooms on a yacht.

Flotilla = A fun group sailing holiday with multiple boats, usually with guidance and support from a lead boat with a Host Skipper & Crew from the boatyard.

Galley = The yacht’s kitchen.

Heads = A toilet on a yacht.

LOA = Length Overall: The maximum length of a yacht’s hull, including overhanging ends. Again, not something that often impacts customers.

Mooring = A method of ‘parking’ the boat that prevents your yacht from floating away.

Skipper = The captain of your yacht, or someone who is on-board to show you the ropes and reassure you.

Created from Medieval peat diggings which rising sea levels have flooded, the Broads include not just the lakes themselves but also the rivers, dykes and cuts that connect them: nearly 140 miles of slow flowing, easy going waters, ideal for cruising under sail.

Listen to the silence and observe the wildlife almost oblivious to your passing; sailing here is about the sound of water and discovering the quiet beauty of the Broads.

Short Break (3-4 nights)

Charter one of our yachts (either bareboat or skippered) and explore the magical waterways of the Norfolk Broads this summer. With everything from quiet winding rivers to wider, open stretches of Broads, from stunning wildlife, windmills, drainage pumps, archaeological sites, to busy little riverside villages with friendly pubs, Norfolk is a great destination for a Great British Holiday and some rest and relaxation.

Day 1 South Walsham

Firstly head to South Walsham Broad of Coot Club fame for your first sail of your holiday.  (There is a secret inner Broad to sail on too, but no engines are allowed there!) We suggest you use this beautiful stretch of open water to practice your manoeuvres, hoist your sails and get your crew acclimatised to being onboard.  Next, after a morning of sailing practice, throw your mudweight (anchor) overboard for lunch on the water. If you want to moor up at Fleet Dyke just off South Walsham Broad, you can take a stroll to the Fairhaven Water Garden and grab a coffee or a beer at the Viking Pub!

Finally, we suggest you have a cosy night onboard with a home-cooked meal and a bottle of wine! Before you go to bed, remember to check the tides for Potter Bridge tomorrow.

Day 2 Horsey Mere

Depending on the tide plan the timing of your passage under Potter Heigham bridge today to coincide with low water. From South Walsham, Head east as you leave Fleet Dyke passing the Medieval Monastery of St Benet’s Abbey. Do take time to moor up here for a coffee break and then take a walk to explore. Head over the fields to find the ruins of the Abbey and enjoy superb views across the marshes.

There is wonderful sailing on the River Bure from St Benets to Thurne Mouth, with wide stretches of river and few trees on the banks. At Thurne Mouth bear left up the River Thurne towards the pretty village of Thurne. This is a super spot to moor up for lunch and enjoy the hospitality of the village pub or collect an ice cream. Thurne Windmill is still working today and celebrating its 200^th birthday in 2021. When the sails are turning, you can often find a Marshman inside who can regale you with stories and history of this Broadland icon.

Potter Heigham Bridge

Continue to head north to Potter Heigham, through the eclectic mix of riverside properties and keep an eye out for fishermen. Stop at the mast lowering moorings to lower your mast and head through the tiny bridge (with inches to spare!) If this is your first time we recommend you use the local bridge pilot to help you.

There is space the other side of the bridge(s) to stop and raise your mast and then set sail again towards Martham. Turn left into Candle Dyke following the signs for Horsey and Hickling.

Enjoy the peace of Heigham Sound (but mind the navigation posts and do stay in the channel! You have been warned!) Then then take Meadow Dyke towards Horsey Mere. Beautiful sailing on this Broad and a super little mooring with facilities, Horsey Mill to visit and lovely tiny National Trust coffee shop to enjoy.

Horsey Beach

Take an evening stroll to the beach (a BBQ and some sausages & marshmellows perhaps?) It is a half hour walk, but there are glorious views across the north sea and inquisitive seals to keep you company. Well worth the walk!

The Nelsons Head at Horsey village provides a warm welcome and decent local beer and food for visitors.

Day 3 Hickling Broad

Spend the morning sailing on Horsey and then take Meadow Dyke out of the Broad. Take a right turn as you reach Heigham Sound and head towards Hickling Broad. There are some lovely wild moorings here at ‘Deep Go Dyke’ and ‘White Slea.’ You could stop for lunch here in this idyllic and peaceful spot. Cranes, Marsh Harriers, Herons and even the occasional Bittern are typically seen (or heard) here. If you manage to be there at the right time in the summer, Swallowtail butterflies can be glimpsed.

Sail on to Hickling Broad and head for the village of Hickling. Moor up by the pub for a relaxed evening and some local hospitality. The Norfolk Wildlife Trust visitor centre at Hickling provides some super trails around the marshes and guided walks in the summer.

Day 4 Upton

Head homeward, back through Heigham Sound, planning your return to take your yacht under Potter Bridge at Low Water once again. We trust you will return to the boatyard with memories of fabulous sailing, some special highlights and great funny sailing stories to share. On your last afternoon or evening, feel free to make use of our onsite showers after your outdoors adventure! Do drop into our local, The White Horse Community Pub here in Upton for some great fish and chips and maybe even a local beer before you head home.

P.S Don’t forget to share any good photos you take with us via Trip Advisor or Google if you can! We would love to plan a Calendar with customer photographs this year.