One of the last surviving vessels from a fleet of Edwardian Broads racing yachts has been restored - to compete against an old rival for the first time in more than a century.
Sparklet, a Broads A-Class racing cruiser, was built in 1905 by boat builder Herbert Bunn of Hoveton to race Maidie, the only other known survivor of the famous fleet.
Rescued in 2020, Sparklet has since been restored at Broadland Boat Builders in St Olaves and earlier this month she made her long-awaited return to the Broads at Wroxham - sailing with Maidie for the first time since 1910.
"She's been out of the water since 2019," Mike Barnes, Sparklet's owner and skipper of Maidie, said.
"After a three-year restoration, Sunday was her first sail in her restored condition. By chance we were able to put her out at the same time as Maidie, which was built the year before in 1904.
"Sparklet was discarded in 1911 and put up for auction with no reserve, but she didn't sell. She had nine feet of her stern cut off and was put to cruising use for many years.
"She has now been returned to racing form."
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