YACHTING DURING THE PAST 



239 



inland waters ideal cruising grounds. Access to the sea is 

 gained at Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft, from either of 

 which ports vessels of no mean burden can enter or depart. 



The launching of the first pleasure boat or yacht upon the 

 waters of Broadland cannot be traced, but several veterans of 

 the Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club can, through their forbears, 

 prove the existence of regattas upon Wroxham and Oulton 

 Broads during the past hundred years. In those days they 

 were called " water frolics," and the craft were very different 

 in shape and rig to the present up-to-date racing machines. 



A hundred years ago it was the custom of certain 

 residents in Bloat erville (Great Yarmouth) and the neighbour- 

 ing village of Caistor to betake themselves to the river once 

 a year to see the boats sail past on their way to Wroxham 

 Regatta. To-day that custom is still followed, although there 

 are daily, throughout the yachting season, so many visitors 

 on the river bank that the slight increase on the occasion in 

 question is hardly noticeable. 



From 1800 to 1850 the improvement of Broadland pleasure- 

 craft was slight, but during 1850 to 1870 a development 

 of speed, appearance and comfort became marked. This was 

 materially increased in the following ten years, and as each 

 year succeeded the other, new craft made their appearance. 

 Boat-builders' yards sprang up, and boat-racing became the 

 all-absorbing sport of the summer months. 



To what degree this pastime has taken hold of the natives 

 and visitors of Broadland can now be seen. 



The first boat of any prominence at all remembered was 

 the old Maria, built by Mr Brown of Great Yarmouth, in the 

 spring of 1834, for a Mr Plowman of Normandstone, near 

 Lowestoft ; " heart of oak " was the material selected, and each 

 plank was critically examined before being passed, which 

 probably accounts for her marvellous preservation. 



At the death of Mr Plowman the Maria passed into the 

 hands of Mr Gilbert of Cantley by reason of his marriage 

 with Miss Plowman, but he did not own her long. 



In the year 1837 she was purchased by Sir Jacob Preston, 



