Included in the cost of your sail boat hire is a 45 minute yacht familiarisation session and 45 minutes with a sailing instructor if required. Our boats are located at the peaceful and beautiful hamlet of Martham Ferry, within easy reach of Hickling Broads and Horsey Mere, offering some of the best sailing on the broads.
We overlook the stunning National Trust's wildlife reserve of Heigham Holmes featured in the BBC1 TV series Secret Britain. We are ideally situated for exploring the 120 miles of beautiful rivers and lakes. The scenery and wildlife are spectacular and have remained unchanged for hundreds of years. Check out our map to see all the villages and small towns for you explore on your holiday.
We overlook the stunning National Trust's wildlife reserve of Heigham Holmes featured in the BBC1 TV series Secret Britain. We are ideally situated for exploring the 120 miles of beautiful rivers and lakes. The scenery and wildlife are spectacular and have remained unchanged for hundreds of years. Check out our map to see all the villages and small towns for you explore on your holiday.
Services
Nick and Alison met at Stithian's Windsurfing Club, Cornwall in 1980. They both went on to compete in national and international windsurfing events. Alison was 1989 Division 1 Ladies World Windsurfing Champion and Nick was Navy Windsurfing Champion for many years, winning The Hammond Cup. They have four teenage children, who all enjoy being out on the water in a sailing boat or windsurfing on Hickling broad.
We want your Norfolk Broads sailing boat holiday preparation to be stress free. That is why your Yacht will come with tea, coffee, sugar, olive oil, salt, pepper, kitchen roll, toilet rolls, washing up liquid, tea towels, dish cloths, a scourer and hand soap. Our bedding and towels are of the highest quality.
What a fantastic weekend sailing "Dreamtime". Nick and Alison are such welcoming people and their attention to detail is second to none. The boats are beautifully prepared and looked after, everything has been thought about with the sole aim of a safe and fun sailing holiday. I will be going back and in the mean time recommending Oliver's Sailing Holidays to anyone who will listen!
We are situated on the Thurne river, an hours sail from Hickling Broad, Hickling Nature Reserve and the The Pleasure Boat Inn, which is a beautiful place to spend your first night. Close by are also Horsey Mere and the famous National Trust Wind Pump, the seals on Horsey beach and the quiet hamlet and dyke of West Somerton.
Here are a few of the places that can be reached by sailing boat, there are many more to find and explore. Please ring ahead to book. The Greyhound at Hickling - Opens 11.30 till dark Lunch from 12-2 Dinner 5-8. Sundays all day. Outside garden seating. Tel: 01692 598306 Ten minuets stroll for the moorings, please pay mooring fees at The Pleasure Boat inn.
Reviews (14)
John Jenkinson
Aug 26, 2021
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My family and I have just spent a wonderful week on Dreamtime, we had everything we could need plus a lovely surprise in the form of a welcome hamper. The boat brief and sailing lesson covered all aspects of the boat as well as the specific knowledge required for sailing on the broads. We are looking forward to our next trip.
Mike Stanbridge
Aug 10, 2021
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We've just finished our second weekend on Bright Spark and really enjoyed ourselves. Bright Spark was well maintained, clean and a delight to sail, it was hard to give her back. We explored Ludham, Horning… and Horsey. Was brilliant to see how simple it was to lower the Mast and fit under the potter heigham bridge.
A great weekend, will do the same again.
A great weekend, will do the same again.
Lawrence Mayne
Jun 29, 2021
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Had a wonderful time Oliver’s sailing are as friendly as they are knowledgeable and professional. Some great sailing, smashing places to visit, boat was really well presented and fun to sail. Can’t recommend the team at base highly enough, thank you Alison, Nick Lizzie and the team.
Lawrence and Sylvia
Lawrence and Sylvia
Lawrence Mayne
Jun 20, 2021
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Fabulous team, fabulous boat (Dreamtime)
What wonderful week on the water, lovely places to visit and we’re in luck with the weather (not sure Oliver’s will guarantee this). Boat sailed beautifully and was… extremely comfortable. Great team at base, thank you all for making our break so relaxing and enjoyable
Lawrence and Sylvia
What wonderful week on the water, lovely places to visit and we’re in luck with the weather (not sure Oliver’s will guarantee this). Boat sailed beautifully and was… extremely comfortable. Great team at base, thank you all for making our break so relaxing and enjoyable
Lawrence and Sylvia
Dee Thomas
May 25, 2021
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Beautiful boat, lovely few days on the broads, unfortunately not great weather and a lack of proper showers at the mooring spots - but we still had a great time. Surprisingly the national trust one at horsey is closed due to covid which was odd as I'm not sure that's in line with government guidance anymore and you do pay for that mooring. Understandably some of the pubs with showers were also not yet open, so when we returned the boat at 9am on Friday, we were ready to be back in a hotel, it was still a lovely time and would happily recommend Oliver's sailing holidays. Lizzie gave us a great lesson
Sarah Shaper
May 24, 2021
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We had never sailed on the Broads before so did not know quite what to expect. We had a fantastic introduction from Liz showing us carefully all the aspects of managing the Yacht and how to sail her, where to go and what pubs were open !. The yacht was beautiful ( 12 coasts of varnish ) and so well equipped with everything - even sharp Knives. The sailing was great ,we zipped along with just a reefed main one day. The support from the team was excellent. When we had a bit of engine trouble Rob came out and sorted it all really quickly .
The North Broads are very quiet and peaceful.. lovely scenery
The North Broads are very quiet and peaceful.. lovely scenery
Ian Tyler
May 18, 2021
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Oliver's Sailing Holidays - just fantastic
The Broads has some of the most beautiful inland sailing available anywhere and Dreamtime is the yacht to experience it on. The staff at the yard are lovely and very helpful and Lizzie gives a great intro to the boat with a couple of hours of sailing and instruction. It is needed as a gaff rigged boat with a lowering mast is pretty different.
The boat comes fully equipped for a crew of 4 with comfortable bedding, a sea-going toilet, 2 basins, a shower area, cooker, fridge, central heating and loads of storage. The game little diesel engine gets you to
The Broads has some of the most beautiful inland sailing available anywhere and Dreamtime is the yacht to experience it on. The staff at the yard are lovely and very helpful and Lizzie gives a great intro to the boat with a couple of hours of sailing and instruction. It is needed as a gaff rigged boat with a lowering mast is pretty different.
The boat comes fully equipped for a crew of 4 with comfortable bedding, a sea-going toilet, 2 basins, a shower area, cooker, fridge, central heating and loads of storage. The game little diesel engine gets you to
R. T.
May 12, 2021
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David Partridge
Oct 18, 2020
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Seabreeze in October, lovely boat, we "camped" aboard, glamping really, great duvets warm and all the necessary. Excellent order and well thought through. Nick and Alison really know boats and customers! We enjoyed sailing to Horsey, walked there to the beach then back through Hickling and Potter to Barton, Wrayford bridge, Horning, Ranworth etc. Boat sails well, and is easily managed with the 2 of us. Droppingthe mast and getting reefs in takes teamwork!
Will Moody
Sep 15, 2020
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David Green
Aug 30, 2020
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My wife and I have just returned from a very enjoyable and relaxing Mon-Fri short break on Seabreeze. This boat has been beautifully maintained and is well equipped. We got a number of compliments from complete strangers as they walked past the boat. They assumed that Seabreeze was a private boat, rather than a hire boat. This boat sails… beautifully too.
You can look forward to comfort and a practical level of equipment. Two-burner gas stove and oven, electric fridge, hot and cold running water, decent crockery, cutlery and pans. The two bunks are long and comfortable and the duvets and
You can look forward to comfort and a practical level of equipment. Two-burner gas stove and oven, electric fridge, hot and cold running water, decent crockery, cutlery and pans. The two bunks are long and comfortable and the duvets and
Nick Weetman
Aug 26, 2020
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We had a super 4 nights on board Sea Breeze. A lovely boat, handles really well and well appointed.
Alison, Nick and Lizzy were extremely welcoming and helpful. The boat was well equipped. Bedding was very nice and comfortable. Bits and bobs provided for the galley were good quality (think Waitrose rather than Lidl). Check in and check out was fast and efficient.
Nick helped us get the yacht through Potter Heigham bridge at a time when free other boats could make it, which allowed us to tour the Northern Broads, and they were trusting enough to allow us to shoot the bridge ourselves on our return
Alison, Nick and Lizzy were extremely welcoming and helpful. The boat was well equipped. Bedding was very nice and comfortable. Bits and bobs provided for the galley were good quality (think Waitrose rather than Lidl). Check in and check out was fast and efficient.
Nick helped us get the yacht through Potter Heigham bridge at a time when free other boats could make it, which allowed us to tour the Northern Broads, and they were trusting enough to allow us to shoot the bridge ourselves on our return
Steve Tomkins
Sep 16, 2019
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Want brilliant service? Want to hire a fantastic traditional broads yacht? Want to turn heads wherever you go on the broads? Want to have a fabulous experience on the water?
Then look no further than Oliver's Sailing Holidays.
I've been sailing yachts from all different boat yards across the Norfolk Broads for the last 30+ years and I have to… say that I have never hired anything better than 'Bright Spark'. It handles in all winds incredibly well and the integral top sail bought a whole new pleasure to the tree lined sections of the broads.
Beautifully balanced and extremely well maintained
Then look no further than Oliver's Sailing Holidays.
I've been sailing yachts from all different boat yards across the Norfolk Broads for the last 30+ years and I have to… say that I have never hired anything better than 'Bright Spark'. It handles in all winds incredibly well and the integral top sail bought a whole new pleasure to the tree lined sections of the broads.
Beautifully balanced and extremely well maintained
Karen Pringle
Jul 21, 2019
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Had an absolutely fabulous time sailing and living on Seabreeze. The weather was typically British; a mix of dull, wet and sunshine so we can't say it was the glorious weather that made the experience so good. Seabreeze is beautiful and is equipped with all you need. She sails so easily and is a complete joy. This was the first time I'd sailed on… anything bigger than a dinghy and I was quite apprehensive but we had a very thorough handover from Lizzie which was a real confidence boost.
The Broads are amazing; so tranquil and loads to explore. We particularly enjoyed practising our new skills
The Broads are amazing; so tranquil and loads to explore. We particularly enjoyed practising our new skills
