I was a member of the Up River Yacht Club at Hullbridge, on
the River Crouch, and also of the Marconi Sailing Club on the River Blackwater.
Being a member of a club can be advantageous, particularly when it comes to
paying for moorings and winter lay-up. Clubs have useful facilities such as
changing rooms, showers, toilets, a bar, a lounge and even a dining room. Depending
on the size of a club, it will have a slipway, and maybe a jetty or a pontoon.
There will be secure storage for tenders and dinghies, and there may visitors’
moorings.
Most sailing clubs organise racing and cruising events, and
if crews are required, usually willing hands can be found. Novices always want
to gain experience.
At the heart of a club there’s the social hub, usually
centred on the bar where members come together. Those who enjoy organising
events will always be in demand, and there are never enough helpers for maintaining
a club’s premises. Helpers are required for the annual regatta, both ashore and
afloat to work rescue craft, and operate race control. At the end of the
season there’s the AGM, and the annual dinner and dance when prizes are given
and speeches made.
Well, I’m not a member of the Belton Way Small Craft Club at
Leigh-on-Sea, but from casual observation, it is obvious that the members are a
laidback crew who enjoy close company in their tiny shack, known as, ‘The Green
Hut’. There’s hardly a time that I’ve passed by and not seen someone there and
the flag of St George proudly flying at the flagstaff. What a great vantage point they have
overlooking the top end of Leigh Creek. From their balcony while sipping tea
and smoking fags they can view happenings towards Two Tree Island Nature
Reserve, Benfleet Creek, Canvey Island and beyond to the Thames. For them,
there’s never a dull moment: perhaps the flooding or ebbing tide, wading birds,
a yacht being scrubbed on the slipway, passing cloud shadows, sparkling reflections, a
distant spritsail of a Thames barge, or the local yacht, ‘Nancy Grey’.
Not for them the Royal this or the Royal that, the Blue
Ensign defaced; not for them a posh entrance hall with silver trophies
displayed in glass fronted cabinets; not for them a club tie and jacket; but
for them a mud stained floor, a creaking door and paint spattered jeans; for them deep friendship founded on comradeship
from the past, the telling of tales, imagined adventures and a pure love of things
nautical, all manner of boats; sailing, fishing, mucking about and glorying in
the mud, a snooze, a carton of fresh cockles and copious mugs of darkly brewed
tea.
Links
Belton Way Small Craft Club
Leigh-on-Sea Bank Holiday Amble Part 2 (With a photo of the ‘Nancy
Grey’)
Up River Yacht Club
Marconi Sailing Club
3 comments:
Hello Bill, that sounds just my type of club. I was a member of Bradwell Quay Yacht Club while I had my Leisure 17, but relinquished my membership when I sold her. That is a lovely club though, with friendly and helpful members. Unfortunately, they don't have very much in the way of lay-up facillities.
Richard,
The last time I visited Bradwell Quay Yacht Club was to see a Leisure 17 with a view to buying her, but she was in dreadful state. The owner had placed a misleading advert at Apollo Duck describing her as being in good nick.
I've had that before.
This sort of deception can be expensive and time wasting for the person viewing. The worst case for me was a Four 21 at Thorney Island, Chichester Harbour. Photos showed the boat as pristine, but when I saw her, she was a wreck!! Seeing her cost me a day, plus money for petrol. The owner was unrepentent.
Cheers,
Bill.
Hello Bill, what a miserable experience for you, especially traipsing all the way to Chichester Harbour. I must be lucky, all the boats I have ever been to view have been more or less as described.
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