RIVER ROGUE

Commissioned by the Norfolk Broads Yachting Company (NBYCo) during the golden age of Broadland charter sailing holidays, Rogue’s days as a hire yacht were brought to an early end by the consequences of war. Her subsequent passage through the hands of a succession of dedicated private owners has included Government requisition, three restorations, a prolonged spell on Cambridgeshire’s Fens and racing success on her native Broadland waters.

Rogue’s story began with the laying of her keel in 1913 by NBYCo’s Wroxham boatyard. It is believed that the 27ft (8.2m), gaff-rigged Rogue and her sister yacht Vagabond were designed by the yard’s foreman, Alfred Pegg. They were intended to be an enlarged and improved version of a successful series of yachts built for NBYCo’s hire fleet since 1909. The five-berth sister yachts were completed in time for the 1914 season and could be hired with or without the services of an attendant for an extra £1 1s per week, while their standard weekly rates ranged from £3 3s to £4 4s depending on the season.

The outbreak of war in August 1914 had little impact on the Broadland hire industry, despite a number of the professional boatmen volunteering to man the barges supplying the troops in France. The Broads hire fleets felt the full impact of the war when peace returned and severe labour shortage.