Brief History of Chichester Yacht Club
Note: This site is still under development
Foreword
The history of Chichester Yacht Club is entwined with the history of its members. CYC has always been a volunteer-led organisation, so we have been indebted to those members who give up their time to help the Club remain successful especially those members who have served on our various committees supporting the Club sections and the General Committee.
We are especially indebted to the original members who agreed to establish the modern Club in its current form in 1966 and established our 3 main sections – Dinghies, Motors and Yachts.
The Club became increasingly successful over the next two decades. Therefore in the early 1990’s, having negotiated a new 70 year lease, the Club embarked on the initial phase of club development. In 2000, the Club initiated its own Millennium Project, integrating the Sloop and showers into the main clubhouse, together with a new Upper Deck, which has enabled the Club to develop its own external events business.
During the 21st century, the Club continued to become increasingly successful, by 2020 the membership was at an all time high, our RYA training courses were filling up and we had an excellent book of business of our external events. However with increasing Covid 19 infections in the UK, for the first time in our history the Club had to close on 20th March 2020.
Next two years proved to be a very testing time for the Club and the hospitality industry in general. But again due the loyalty of our members and staff the Club remained strong and viable.
The Club has always been open to anyone who has an interest in water sports in all its forms. After Covid the Club experienced an increasing in canoeing, paddle boarding and rowing. To such an extent the Club purchased its first rowing boat in May 2022.
The future of the Club looks bright. The Club continues to provide an active programme of racing and cruising, together with an varied social programme for our members. It is our members and staff that will continue to write the history of Chichester Yacht Club.
This history was originally written by John Ascoli (Commodore 1990-1992) printed in the Club’s Monthly Newsletter. The original texts have been edited for the web by Chris Lane, Robin Hamilton and myself.
Tony Mobbs
Commodore 2017-2022
The Club’s Early Years
One of the more intriguing questions about Chichester Yacht Club is the date when it was originally founded– are we talking about 1936 or 1966? This question was hotly debated when the decision was made to celebrate the Club’s 50th anniversary rather than its 80th in 2016!
It’s quite true that the Chichester Yacht club we know today with the Dinghy, Motors and Yachts Sections does date back to the mid 1960’s following the opening of the marina. However the original Club insignia and list of members date from a much earlier time when the clubhouse was the lock keeper’s cottage and the boats were moored in the canal.
The club was operated by Denis Vernon a local entrepreneur who lived in the cottage and ran an up market social and dining club for boat owners – the 1936 Rules stated that “No chauffeur, paid hand or any person in the employ of a member shall under any circumstances enter the Club House”!
Vernon even purchased the Frances and Jane a 120ft 3 masted schooner off the club as a possible new clubhouse!
All a far cry from our present aim to offer a friendly meeting place for families, friends and even their dogs!
1939-1945: The War Years
The early CYC (known as the Chichester Yacht Company) ceased operating with the outbreak of WW2 and the clubhouse as well as Birdham Pool were requisitioned by the Admiralty as part of HMS Sea Serpent. The Frances and Jane was considered too much a guide for enemy bombers so was broken up at this time.
1945 – 1966: Post WW2
Mr Vernon returned to the fray in the early 1960’s when he “re-formed” Chichester Yacht Club. The Lock keeper’s cottage was enlarged with a club room on the ground floor and living quarters above – which until 2004 still housed one of the club staff members. He also initiated the dredging of the Salterns to form the marina, a project he did not live to see completed but for which we must give him credit for starting.
1967-1999: Club Growth and Development
On 26th March 1967, following a successful resolution of a meeting held at the Egremont Club, Chichester Yacht Club was formally established. This was the time when the Club became a more traditional sailing club with the 3 main sections we still have today – Dinghies, Motors and Yachts.
It has always been the policy of the Club to foster Family Membership, with the children of members encouraged to participate whenever they can. The Club allows members who do not necessarily own a boat, but have a mutual interest in water-based activities in all their different forms.
Over the next few decades, the Club saw continued growth in its membership, together with activities both on and off the water. During the season, there were regular weekend Motor and Yacht cruises around the Solent, Occasionally, venturing further afield, with extended cruises to the West Country, the Channel Islands and the continent, in the right conditions!.
The Dinghy Section organised weekend races for both handicap and dinghy classes. Large fleets of Albacores, GP14, Solos, Lasers, Mirrors and Toppers could be seen regularly on the water. During the winter months for the more hardy sailors, the Club organised its open Snowflake Series. This series grew in both size and reputation, with entrants coming from across the south of England and beyond. At its peak, over 200 dinghies of all classes could be seen on the waters on a Sunday morning.
As the Club grew in size, it became clear that the original Clubhouse was becoming too small and over crowded at peek times. Despite the numbers, Edna and Norman Danes provided a good service via a small hatch and bar area.
The Club managed to negotiate a change to its lease, from a 5 years to a 70 years. This enabled the Club to invest significantly in the Clubhouse. The first major development occurred in the early 1990’s under Commodore John Ascoli with the construction of the new Restaurant and Bar with meals served from the kitchen hatch and which saw a dramatic increase in membership and activities both on and off the water.
2000 – Present: The Millennium
In 2000 the Commodore initiated a Millenium Project which firstly created the walkways and patio in the garden area and then the major development of the Sloop and east end of the club buildings. Part of the pressure behind what became known as Club Development Phase Stage 1(CDP1) was the fact that the whole area used by the Dinghy Section was in a poor state – a leaking roof, rising damp in the changing rooms and multiple levels in the flooring.
During CDP1 the whole of the east end of the Club was demolished with the office moved to a Portakabin on the garden patio. This also meant that the Dinghy Section ran their winter Snowflake Series in a couple of large tents but the show went on regardless!
CDP1 comprising the new Sloop, Changing Rooms and Office areas were all officially opened by the John Davis OBE the Harbour Master in June 2006
There was a requirement by the Planning Department for CDP Stage 1 that the rebuilt Sloop and East End should also include a first floor with gables to mirror the Marina Lock house even though the club had at that stage insufficient funds at that time to complete the interior. However it was soon realised that the vacant and unfinished upper floor offered great opportunities and according to one team CDP team member “a million pound view over the water” so that funds had to be found to complete the job. Hence CDP Stage 2 was launched with a fund raising appeal and levy to the membership.
The result was that the final stage was officially opened in July 2009 by Rod Carr the Chief Executive of the RYA. The Upper Deck has since that time hosted numerous meetings, lectures, training sessions for Club members together with events, dinner parties, weddings and wakes for both members and external guests all of which make a positive contribution to Club funds and enable Club subscriptions to be contained.
2020 -2022: The National Pandemic
At the start of 2020 all indications were that we were looking towards a very successful year. The membership was increasing, our Club Training Courses were filling up and our external events bookings were the best we had ever had.
However, rumours were growing of a possible new virus spreading throughout the population in China. These rumours proved to be correct and the virus started to spread around the world, including the UK.
The contagion was so virulent, that on 20th March 2020, the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, made the decision to lockdown the UK.
So for the first time in our history, the Club had to close its doors to our members. The marina road to the Club was shut and the Harbour Master had banned any form of boating in the harbour.
The Commodore initiated the Club’s Major Incident Protocol and established a Major Incident Committee, consisting of the Club Officers and key members of staff, to take over the day-to-day operations of the Club and to try and keep up with the ever changing government regulations and guidance to businesses.
The Club became a virtual club overnight. We learnt a new term to “Zoom”. The sections remained in communication with each other organising social evenings, on-line dinner parties, quiz nights and even virtual on-line racing.
The Club remained closed to members until 4th July, when we were allowed to let members into the Club again, albeit under strict government guidelines. The priority was to clearly protect members and staff alike. There was a one-way system in operation, the restaurant tables had to be socially distant, perspex screens were erected to protect both Club members and members of staff and table service was introduced in the bar and restaurant.
The Chancellor, Rushi Sunak, introduced a “eat out to help out” scheme which encouraged members to return to the Club. Club training could re-start under strict rules and members could sail again, but only with family members.
However the virus continued to mutate and on 26th December 2020, once again the Club was in lock down conditions. However this time the harbour remained open, so sailing was permitted and the Club started to operate a takeaway service from the Club.
With the rollout of the new Covid vaccine, the Club was able to reopen in April 2021 for Garden Service only and as further restrictions were lifted in May, the Club could start to return to some degree of normality.
Throughout the whole Covid crisis, with the loyalty of our members and dedicated hard work of our staff, the Club continued to be viable and the service to members remained high. A special mention should be given to the members of the Major Incident Committee, who spent many long hours behind the scenes ensuring the Club remained viable and a safe and protected environment for members and staff alike.
The financial position of the Club after Covid was such that we were able to purchase two new pontoons for the Dinghy Park.
2022 – Rowing at CYC
The Club has always been open to change. During the early years of the 21st century, there was an upsurge in smaller crafts using the water. Canoeing grew in popularity, together with Stand Up Paddle boarding (SUP) and even model boat racing.
Around the harbour, a number of other sailing clubs were exploring the new growing sport of gig rowing. Itchenor, Bosham and Dell Quay were early adopters. It was only a matter of time before CYC joined in.
Rowing is the most recent organised activity at the Club – In May 2022 the Club acquired a Celtic Long Boat “Cygnet” having previously had a Gig on loan as a trial from the Cornish Pilot Gig Association. There are today around 80 members in the Rowing Section with a core who participate in regattas and competitions – in fact our ladies and combined crews won 4 trophies from races against the 8 Celtic Long Boats in the 3 nearby harbours in 2023-2024!
The Future
The Club continues to offer a range of get-togethers when members can discuss subjects of mutual interest or just have a drink and a meal in the restaurant. So, after almost 90 years since Denis Vernon provided his up market dining club from the Lock keeper’s cottage, the modern Chichester Yacht Club is still known as a place to meet socially and share the club’s beautiful location in Chichester Harbour. As a past Commodore remarked somewhat in jest – “CYC is a restaurant which sometimes goes sailing!
The Club continues to have a reputation as being a friendly, welcoming club for members and visitors alike, both within the harbour and the wider Solent beyond.
The future of the Club looks bright. The Club continues to provide an active programme of racing and cruising, together with a varied social programme for our members. It is our members and staff that will continue to write the history of Chichester Yacht Club.
If you have a story that could contribute to the history of the Club, especially from our earlier years, together with any supporting pictures then please contact the Club’s Office on office@cyc.co.uk
