Blackwater Sailing Club celebrates 125th Anniversary with a Special Regatta
by Gay Ayton 30 Jul 01:03 NZST
20 July 2024
Blackwater Sailing Club 125th Anniversary Regatta © Zoe Nelson
285 members, 92 boats, 13 commodores, 7 families of 4 generations & 2 of 5 generations
Founded in 1899 the Blackwater Sailing Club was delighted to host a special regatta as part of its 125th anniversary celebrations on Saturday 20th July.
As the summer weather finally arrived, the club welcomed over 285 members and their guests and 12 ex-commodores, the earliest having held the post from 1980 - 1982 and one of only two lady commodores in the Club's history travelling down from Edinburgh to attend.
The regatta featured 92 boats taking part in a series of class races including fast and medium handicap, lasers, mirrors, fireballs, cruisers and sprites, the Club's own classic racing fleet.
Onshore events included the popular crabbing event with 140 crabs caught in total, the entertaining greasy pole as well as swimming and cork races. Tea and delicious homemade cakes by members were also part of this traditional day with £554 being raised for the RNLI.
Ex Commodores at the Blackwater Sailing Club 125th Anniversary Regatta (l-r) Chris Collins 1980-82, Gillian Pain 1982-84, David Goldsmith 1984-86, John Bolingbroke 1994-96, Anthony Sinclair 1996-98, Michael Ferrier 1998-2000, Brian Southgate 2000-2002, Mike Foster 2009-2011, Patricia Parker 2011-13, Chris Nichols 2015-17, Richard Pusey 2017-19,
Steve Jarred 2019-21, Alan Hoy 2023 - - photo © Gay Ayton
The Club founded by 12 local men has grown into one of the biggest on the estuary with a membership of around 1,100. It is still very much a well-loved family club run by its members to the extent that at the prize-giving cadets of families that are now in their fourth and even fifth generation of membership were given certificates celebrating these long-serving families.
The 125th anniversary has created a wonderful opportunity for members' reflections to be documented and included in the already excellent historical records of the Club. These date back to its beginning and provide a great insight into both the social history of the club and local area generally.
For further information about visiting and joining the Club, contact membership secretary
Or visit blackwatersailingclub.org.uk
Blackwater Sailing Club, Heybridge Basin, Maldon, Essex CM9 4SD