Tenby Sailing Club celebrates 90th anniversary with historic achievements

TENBY Sailing Club has just achieved an 90th anniversary milestone.

The sailing club was founded on July 19 1936 - first of all in Quarterdeck on Penniless Cove Hill, then in the hut at the end of the pier, and finally settling in the present building which was formerly a warehouse leased by Thomas Sleeman to store incoming goods from Bristol and the Continent.

Boats sailed in the fifties were gunter rigged day boats, notably the Doric and the Elsie sailed by Jimmy Noble and Lal John. Harry Bllings had Oriole, along with Lilac and Connie - Vic Crockford; Orion - R.Hooper; Lapwing - A Hodgson, Heather-G.Rees, Thina- W Jones; Polly - J Eastlake, and Coot - RAYC.

The National Redwing, designed by Uffa Fox for the choppy waters around Looe, was adopted by Tenby Sailing Club and kept on moorings in the front row of the harbour. Geoff Titterton recalls, as an 11-year-old schoolboy, giving lifts ashore after racing to Redwing crews in his 10ft clinker-built dinghy for sixpence a time.

Among the keen sailors were Eric Copland (R130 Bolereo), Edgar Rossiter (R156 Surprise), Peter Cadwallader (R116 Tom Tit), Charles Birt (R89 Stormy Petrel) and Tom Hughes (R129 Jacky).

Over the following years new boats were bought and the older ones retained for locals to buy. Captain Meaney of Royal Army Yacht Corps looked after R94 Frisk, R95 Frantic, and R97 Frippet .

Other notable sailing boats were Dr, John Canton’s Flying Fifteen Suzanne, moored in a cradle, Vic Morris’s 18ft National Jayne, Donald Bulmer’s Mary, Kit Boutcher’s Curlew, Col. Wathen’s 18ft. National Corsair, Gilroy Phillips’ Merlin Rocket Rip-Rip, and Brigadier Wilmer’s sailing cruiser Pandora.

Vic Harries started the races with a Webley 6 gun from the end of the pier. A regular summer visitor was Martin Chubb’s 35ft ketch Dorothy Ann from Barry. By 1962, there were 20 Redwings in Tenby Sailing Club. A modernised Mayor’s Slip made it possible to keep them in a dinghy park by the sluice.

John Eastlake and Ray Brown won The Commander Locke Trophy in R211 Chantey. The most prestigious trophy the Club has ever owned, it was sold to pay for a magnificent clinker built bar, expertly crafted by Neville Stace.

1966 saw the arrival of Blake Shaw, sailing a Mirror Dinghy. Blake’s input to the club has been Immeasurable, serving as secretary for 41 years, Commodore for three years, senior sailing instructor for 18 years, with many other duties, and in 2022 he became honorary president of Tenby Sailing Club.

Club improvements have steadily continued every year to provide changing facilities, storage space and galley. Happily, the ground floor became available in 1984.

After the Sea Empress disaster, Tenby was chosen as the Centre for the Celtic Watersports event with 900 competitors. The Club raised enough money from this to apply for a 1998 Sportlot grant which enabled showers and changing rooms to be upgraded on the ground floor, make a meeting room on the top floor, and add a balcony and stairway to the seaward side.

Dinghy Park space was extended along the North Walk which greatly facilitated the running of National Championships for different classes. There is now an experienced team of club members who make every effort to make the events a success and make everyone welcome. In 1999, Tenby Sailing Club was very proud to have won the RYA/RTYC 1840 Challenge Trophy for Excellence in Event and Race Management.

Junior training started in 1967, and Tenby Sailing Club gained RYA Training Centre status in 2010 to deliver stage 1-4 RYA qualifications. It now continues under principal Alistair Mackay and senior instructor Harrison Richards, with stalwart Terry Evans and assistant Chris Hill providing food from Terry’s legendary barbecue.

Many Juniors have progressed to championship racing. Since 1960, the club has staged 13 National Redwing Championships, and over 40 National Championships in Total. The safety fleet has been developed and maintained meticulously to enable these events to take place, currently under the direction of Ed Dashfield.

Cruiser racing began in 1974 when Blake bought his Westerly Centaur Slipstream - and he still wins races today.

Every November, the year’s prizes are presented to all the worthy winners at the Annual Dinner. For many years, it was held in the Royal Gatehouse Hotel, and Commodore Edgar Rossiter is well remembered for his rendition of ‘The Blackbird’ song. In 1971/2, Doug Harris was Commodore, and Mayor of Tenby Fred Fry presented the prizes.

Treasurer Terry Evans has played a major part in Tenby Sailing Club, as Commodore, championship beachmaster, quiz master, and an excellent barbecue chef! He also makes a fantastic curry for members to enjoy on organised occasions in the cold winter months.

Sailing Captain Julian Cumpsty is chairman of the National Redwing Class Association, Bill Dowell is secretary, and Dan Jackson has been instrumental in reviving the Redwing fleet in Tenby and organising the Annual Redwing Inland Waters Championships.

“As we celebrate our 90th year at Tenby Sailing Club, I can’t help looking back with nostalgic eyes at my past memories of the club.

“My adventure with TSC began, like many, piling into the back of Blake’s old red Cortina estate after school, to get a lift with lots of others, to the Sailing Club for Junior Sailing. Back then we had one rescue boat, which had to be pushed up and down the Mayors Slip by the sailors.

“Now, many years later, we’ve evolved into a well-resourced and supported club, offering sailing for everyone in the community.

“We’ve got a fabulous clubhouse and bar, open to everyone, and lots of friends old and new visit us regularly, for which we’re very grateful. May there be many more fabulous years to come at TSC!”

Tenby Sailing Club welcomes new members. Visit www.tenbysailingclub.org.uk for details of membership.