Our December featured boat is the Norfolk Gypsy ‘Dream Catcher’, owned since 1999 by East Coast OGA member Peter Smith who brings us the story of how he found and purchased her.
In July, 1999 I was driving along the North Norfolk coast road with my wife Sharon during a camping holiday in Norfolk, and heading through Morston village, between Sheringham and Wells-next-the-Sea. Sharon unfortunately, has no affinity to boats or boating, so I really was utterly astonished when she said, “Oh look, there’s a boat-yard.” I instinctively turned the car into their driveway, and was met by three Norfolk Gypsies lined up on trailers in the adjacent field.
It was love at first sight, although way outside my budget. I spent the next 2 hours or so looking over the one that I was drawn to, whilst Sharon waited patiently in the car. That evening, whilst strolling along the coastal path, we were talking about the fact that I had spent so long looking over the boat. It seemed to me that it had only been about 20 minutes! For the second time in one day, I was astounded when Sharon said, “Well I guess buying that boat rather than keeping the money in the bank will make you a lot happier.” I didn’t need any further encouragement. A deal was struck the very next day!
Subject to a test sail, I had just bought boat no.1. The first boat out of the mould, designed by Andrew Wolstenholme, built by Charlie Ward at his then North Norfolk Boatbuilding site at Binham, and first launched in April 1990. Its first trip was to the Classic Boat Festival at Shotley Marina, Suffolk. The boat had been in Andrew’s family since it was built, so had a fine provenance. She was trailered home and launched the following weekend. A truly impulse buy, but with zero regrets. ‘Mona Elizabeth’, as she had been christened was the only thing I felt I had to change to make her truly mine. Sharon’s suggested name of ‘Dream Catcher’ would, I thought, bring her to love the boat as much as me, so living with the prospect of sailors’ superstitions, her name was changed anyway.
Forward 26 years ownership & 26 weeks member of the OGA: November 2025
Just 7.28mtrs length overall, a beam of 2.31mtrs, and draught of just 0.51mtrs (with the centre plate up), she makes a perfect craft for creek crawling East Anglian waters and beyond. With a gunter gaff rig, tan sails, and a Yanmar 1GM10 inboard engine, she does everything in a seaworthy and well-mannered way, and also allows legitimate membership to the OGA. She has been built with great care and attention to detail. The hull, hand laid in glass-fibre over a very generous gel coat; and as no.1, was over engineered, with a gross weight of just over 2200kg against specification of 1500kg. A generous helping of teak timber throughout gives a more traditional appearance, and with bronze deck fittings by Davey & Co. London, Douglas fir mast by Colliers, and oak tiller and samson post.
She has a lovely turn of keel, giving a very stable feel, and a beautiful transom, making her look as good out of the water as in. The cockpit boasts a size, worthy of a boat at least twice her size. The main cabin has two full length bunks, twin spirit stove in a compact but well-designed galley, an ingenious swivel table, flushing toilet under the chart table, and shelves above. The draining wet locker includes a twin boot rack. Brass portholes and gimballed brass oil lamps makes for a cosy convivial cabin.
I’ve found her to be somewhat wetter to sail in poor conditions, and since the wind, for me, invariably blows ‘on the nose’, I decided to buy a sprayhood. But nobody had built a sprayhood for a Gypsy, so no plans were available, and hence would cost an unjustifiable sum. Can’t be that difficult, I thought, so I bought a couple of lengths of stainless tube, some fittings, and created a frame. A fabric template was then stretched over the frame and used to make the hood on our home sewing machine. It did struggle a bit at times, but successfully achieved the task, with very satisfying results. It has transformed those wet conditions that one experiences to sail in, being so close to the water. A folding table in the cockpit, easily able to seat 4 in comfort, completes the necessary facilities for fabulous ‘al fresco’ suppers whilst at anchor in sheltered bays or creeks. Sailing is the most awesome pastime, but ‘enjoying’ the boat makes time afloat, priceless!
Since owning her, the furthest north I’ve sailed is up to Lowestoft and through the southern section of the Norfolk Broads. The furthest south, is to the Thames and up to St. Catherines dock at Tower Bridge. A tiny cruising ground to most readers, but no less enjoyable. Perhaps, now retired, and with children grown up and moved out, next season will be the time to spread MY wings?
Words & photos: Peter Smith
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