Name Olive

The wherry yachts OLIVE and NORADA  and WHITE MOTH were designed and built by Ernest Collins of Wroxham. They are the only surviving wherry yachts, which is a tribute to the standard of his work. OLIVE was named after Ernest's youngest daughter.

She appeared in the second issue of Blake’s catalogue in 1909: available for hire with a skipper and steward for £11 a week in June and £14 in August.  For years (apart from the Second World War) thousands of people enjoyed holidays on board OLIVE and she sailed her last season in 1958.  After a few years as a houseboat, she was sold in 1964 to Mr Stanley Page of Beccles, who restored her to sailing order.  She was sold again in 1971 and finally, after changing hands in 1973, was bought by the present owner, Peter Bower, in 1974.  A thorough restoration in 1975 included fitting a new loose footed sail (dispensing with the boom), and in 1978, with a new mast, she became available for charter again.  Over half of the oak frames have been replaced and another new sail was made in 1985.  In 1987 she was fitted with a 3hp battery electric engine.

In 2006 she was purchased by the Wherry Yacht Charter Charitable Trust with grant aid from the Heritage Lottery Fund.  Restoration was started in January 2012 with a grant from the RDPE and she was ready for charter in 2013.