Bosham Sailing Club facts for kids
Club Burgee (Bosham Bell)
|
|
| Formation | 1907 |
|---|---|
| Location |
|
|
Commodore
|
Richard Lewis |
| Affiliations | Royal Yachting Association |
Bosham Sailing Club is the oldest sailing club in Chichester Harbour. It was started in 1907. You can find it in the old village of Bosham in West Sussex. The club's main building is called the Old Mill, right on Bosham Quay.
Contents
History of the Club
Captain E.K. Collis-Chapman started Bosham Sailing Club. He used a converted stable on the Bosham waterfront. At first, most members were local fishermen and people who enjoyed sailing for fun.
After World War I, the club was briefly called "Bosham and Itchenor Sailing Club." But in 1922, it went back to its original name. A new club, Itchenor Sailing Club, was then formed in 1927.
In 1927, the club moved to the top floor of the Raptackle building on the Quay. They still start many races from there today. In 1947, the club bought a Motor Gun Boat (MGB) (No. 614). This boat became their clubhouse and a place for members to sleep. The club used the MGB until 1954. That's when they moved into the newly rebuilt Mill House. In December 2019, the club bought the building, so they now own their clubhouse.
The club's flag, called a burgee, shows a red bell on a white background. This design comes from the old story of the "Bosham Bell." The legend says that Viking raiders tried to steal a large bell from the monastery. But the bell fell over, taking the Vikings and their ship to the bottom of the Bosham Channel. Some local people believe you can still hear the bell ringing from under the water sometimes.
Bosham Sailing Club has a long-standing friendship with the Société des Régates du Havre yacht club from France. That club was founded way back in 1838.
In October 2016, the club had 1,442 members. The clubhouse has a bar, a restaurant, and changing rooms. Its outdoor area looks out over the beautiful Bosham Channel.
Sailing Activities
Club Races
The club has a busy dinghy sailing program. Dinghies are small sailboats. Races happen every weekend from early March until the end of October. There's also a Winter series of races leading up to Christmas. The club often offers handicap racing on Sundays. This means different types of dinghies can race fairly against each other.
The main types of dinghies sailed at the club include the Laser, Finn, Wayfarer, International 420, RS Feva, Topper, and Optimist. The club also hosts special "Open events" for many of these boat types throughout the year.
Depending on the ocean's tide, races start from different places. Sometimes they start from a platform at the end of Bosham Quay. Other times, they start from a line at Cobnor, near the entrance to the Bosham Channel. Or, they might start from the club's special boat, "Glad Emma," which anchors in Chichester Harbour.
RYA Training Courses
Bosham Sailing Club is an approved training center by the RYA. The RYA is the UK's national governing body for sailing. The club offers many courses. These include lessons for dinghy sailing, powerboat driving, and sailing theory. Both members and non-members can take these courses. The club is also a place where you can take tests for the ICC. This certificate shows you are skilled enough to sail boats internationally.
Classic Day Boats
The club has a very active group for its Classic Day Boats. There are over 100 of these boats! These are older style yachts. They look like the boats that raced in Chichester Harbour before the 1950s. They don't have enclosed cabins for sleeping. They also have a special fin, called a centreplate, that can be moved up or down. These boats are built stronger than dinghies. They can be left on an open mooring in the water.
Each September, the club hosts its yearly Classic Boat Revival. This event is for classic racing dinghies and dayboats. Yachts & Yachting magazine has called it the "premier classic small boat event in the UK."
Bosham Junior Week
Bosham Junior Week is a special week-long sailing event. It happens every August. It's for young sailors, called Cadets, aged 8 to 18 years old. The event takes place at the Cobnor Estate, near Chidham, West Sussex. Young people have been racing at the club since the 1920s. Junior Week, as it is now, started in the 1980s.
A special trophy is given out each year. It's for racing on the windiest day of the week. This trophy remembers Glyn Charles, an Olympic sailor and club member. He sadly passed away during the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
In 2017, 149 young sailors took part in Junior Week. They sailed in 107 different boats.
Annual Regatta
Regattas are sailing competitions. They started in Chichester Harbour in the 1800s. Back then, they were races between the fishing boats from each village in the harbour. Local customs officers used to organize them.
The first Bosham Regatta that we know about happened in 1903. From 1908 onwards, the club's Commodore (who was Colonel A.T.Simpson at the time) took over organizing the event. An annual regatta has happened every year since then. There have only been a few breaks for World Wars or bad weather. The oldest trophy still given out at the regatta is the Eadie Cup. It was first presented in 1923.
Famous Members
Many notable people have been members of Bosham Sailing Club, including:
- The 2nd Earl of Iveagh (1874–1967)
- Charles Currey (1916–2010) – He won an Olympic Silver Medal in sailing (Finn class) in 1952.
- Admiral Sir Anthony Griffin (1920–1996)
- Air Vice-Marshal John Downey (1920–2010)
- Admiral Sir John (Sandy) Woodward (1932–2013)
- Bowen Wells – He was a Member of Parliament from 1979 to 2001.
- The 3rd Earl of Iveagh (1937–1992)
- John Nelson – He was the Chairman of Lloyds.
- The 4th Earl of Iveagh
- Sarah Ayton – She won Olympic Gold Medals in sailing (Yngling class) in both 2004 and 2008.
