125 Years for Blackwater Sailing Club
by Christine Brown 15 Jul 2024 10:33 BST
Blackwater Sailing Club 125th Anniversary Celebrations Briefing © Zoe Nelson
2024 sees Blackwater Sailing Club celebrate its 125 year anniversary. Formed in 1899 by twelve local men, the club has expanded over the years into one of the biggest on the estuary. It now has a steady membership of around 1100 ranging from social sailors to potential Olympic champions. Over the years members have competed all over the world with much success.
The celebrations were kicked off this weekend by a spectacular Parade of Sail with over 125 boats taking to the water in various craft, ranging from the smallest lugsail dinghy helmed by a former commodore to large cruisers. The weather was not kind to us and we are very proud that despite the strong winds and driving rain so many members turned out for the event in such awful conditions. As usual, safety cover was provided by the club and ribs were manned by our trained drivers and crew.
Meanwhile, on shore there were exhibition boards detailing activities at the club over the years. These covered changes in membership criteria, rule changes, the many and varied uses of the club premises, sailing and training activities and social events and the celebration of the club members and its volunteers. The club has only two full time employees and without the hundreds of volunteers we would not function so successfully. Apart from the actual work carried out, volunteering creates a lot of goodwill amongst the members. The work parties in particular are a good way of staying in touch in the winter when less time is spent sailing.
For this anniversary year, memory books have been created. These consist of members reflections of their time at the club and what it means to them; it is a very special place to so many. These items will all be added to during this year and form an excellent historical record of the club as it is now. There are original record books in the club archives dating right back to the beginning and these give a great insight into the social history of not only the club but of the local area generally. Some families are in their fourth and fifth generation of membership and family trees have now been documented. Also, two of our longest living members have been with us for 75 years, joining as cadets in their teens. One of them still visits the club weekly.
Immediately after the Parade of Sail the club's annual Round the Islands Race began and despite the challenging weather many stayed on the water for this. The course takes them around Osea Island and Northey Island. This race is part of our annual fundraising activities for the RNLI, with donations being made in lieu of race entry fees. This year the magnificent sum of £946 was raised. This brings the total sum donated by the club over the last twenty years to £15,000. After the race honorary club member Ken Harrison, Past Chairman of the Maldon RNLI branch, presented the club with a plaque commemorating this great achievement. This weekend was the beginning of our celebrations and we have much to look forward to over the coming months.
If you would like to visit the club with a view to joining then please contact our membership secretary, email
For more details see blackwatersailingclub.org.uk