Sandbox
Our History
Sailing boats have been plying the waters of the North Sea for over 2000 years. In the late 19th century as commercial sailing was in decline the new sport of sailing for pleasure developed. Southwold has been involved in that sport since the earliest days with the first recorded regatta at Southwold held in 1869.
Late 1940s
In the beginning there was a river, the Pub, a few mooring stages, a few boats and a few remnants of brick walls beneath where the club house sits to this day. Mid 1940’s a small group of keen sailers were frequently afloat and sailing on the river, at sea and up past the bridge in any type of boat that hands were laid on.
The Harbour Inn was essentially the club house and used as changing rooms, for meetings and social gatherings.
In 1949 The current site was acquired, a disused net pickling shed. A small band of dedicated volunteers set to work at the weekends and created the first club house.
A set of Rules were accepted, the club became constituted, flag officers were appointed along with their relevant flags and a flag pole raised in which to fly them- this marked the official beginning of Southwold Sailing Club in 1949.
The subscription cost £1 a year and fund raising was constant, of paramount importance if progress was to be made.
The club didn’t possess a safety boat until 1956. Until then the club enjoyed good relations with the fisherman and would lend a helping hand when things got hairy.
Our first safety boat was called the John Svoboda, in honour of a U.S.A.A.F captain, who worked on the boat without stint to make her sea worthy.
The boat had been a ships lifeboat and did long and stalwart service.
