Welcome to Maldon Yacht Club
Good luck to everyone competing this season.
Letter from the Commodore in our anniversary year
Dear Member,
Welcome to 2024 and the 75th Anniversary year here at MYC ! By the time you read this 2023 will be long gone, and many of us, as is tradition, will be contemplating the new year diet plans that we will “Definitely” stick to this time !
Its not only Christmas and new year celebrations of course, there is also the inevitable, comforting delve into the biscuit barrel ,as we wonder how to cope with those dark, cold and wet days before we can get our water based passion, in whatever form, ignited once again, only to discover that all of the previous seasons sailing gear has mysteriously shrunk !
Having completed my first year as Commodore many things have changed that affect the role.With the onset of more readily accessible technology, social media and all those things that were not such an influence my first time around some 22 years ago! Many things whether good bad or indifferent are still there at our committee meetings bringing the same discussions ,debates and hurdles to clear, plus all the new things that go with them !
There was a lot to consider and discuss in 2023, and 2024 promises to be equally as challenging for the committee and its officers ,therefore the non- programmed part of our season is still quite a busy time, and we have lots to do if we are going to be ready.
I would like to take this opportunity and extend thanks to all of the committee members ,Officers and Trustees, who take the time and responsibility to keep our club running, of course there would be no point without our clubs members, so i would urge everyone please to support the club ,the committee ,and our activities both on and off the water whenever you can, and hopefully we will all have a bumper year to look forward to in 2024 ! There will be regular updates through the season to keep an eye out for.
Like many other clubs, we have ,and will need to continue changing with the trends of the twenty first century, and above all ,hold on to our most wonderful and unique position on the River Blackwater, no other club has an aspect quite like it !
I wonder if our founding members and pioneers of MYC ever imagined the Club would still be here 75 years later ! Thanks to the very first Commodore Mr Ron Werhli followed by Mr John ‘Mac”McKinlay (the man who introduced the Snipe Class Sailing dinghy into the Club) which had many successful seasons both at home and away representing MYC. 1956 was Mr Eric J Kempton and also my birth year! I was a cadet member by the time Mr Douglas W Catt took on the role in 1964, and not to forget my Grandfather Mr Lesley Eric Lancaster 1960 -1964, the first of four occasions that he held the role and still the only person to achieve this thus far, but then he, along with my Grandmother, Louisa “lou” Lancaster ,did live and breath MYC for fifty five years until old age finally had the last say . Mr Eddie Wetherell has three visits to the office and always provided top class leadership.
Whether MYC can last another 75 years remains to be seen, but for now let us say a big thank you to those founder members in the best possible way and reward them with a great season on and off the water at MYC !
Hope to see you all there for good sailing and happy times
Ian R Varney Commodore
You can expect a warm welcome and a relaxed atmosphere at Maldon Yacht Club. Established in 1949 the MYC is a small but thriving sailing club situated at the end of the promenade opposite Byrhtnoth. The Clubhouse is a converted barge which provides a galley, bar, changing rooms and a clubroom.
Despite the rather grandiose name of Maldon 'Yacht' Club, the club is actually a small dinghy sailing club. We have a racing fleet that takes part in organised races throughout the year & plenty of 'potterers' who sail for fun whenever they can, tides & weather permitting.
Access to the river is via the club's own slipway affording approximately two hours sailng on a reasonable size tide. A comprehensive weekend racing schedule ensures that there is plenty of sailing for those with a competitive spirit. However, sailing at MYC doesn't just take place at the weekends.
There are a growing number of 'midweeker' members who simply enjoy 'messing about on the river' A variety of dinghies, kayaks, canoes and rowing boats can be seen on the river at high water. MYC own four different sailing dinghies that are available for members to use free of charge. More details will shortly be available on our 'join us' page.
The History of Maldon Yacht Club
Lets form a club was first heard as early as 1948 but it wasn't until March 1949 when 18 like-minded people gathered at the Jolly Sailor Public House on Hythe Quay, Maldon for the first General Meeting. During these early meetings the Club was born and named Maldon Yacht Club. The design and colours for the burgee were decided; green for the river, white for the crest of a wave and black for the mud!
In November 1950 plans were in place to build the first club house on the Hythe Quay at an estimated cost of £200 raised from membership loans. The new clubhouse was opened in July 1951 and was later extended in 1952.
An acre of reclaimed land (site of the current dinghy park) suitable for a new clubhouse was investigated and by 1963 the Club was entering into lease negotiations. By the early 1970's the new dinghy park had proved to be a great success and had attracted new members. The possibility of a new clubhouse on the site started to be considered.
Planning permission for a barge to be moored adjacent to the Dinghy Park was given in November 1979. The Jim Main barge was purchased for £1,750. A further £300 was paid to tow it from Greenhithe to the Hythe Quay where conversion work began in January 1980. It was all hands on deck on the weekend of 26th and 27th April to ensure that the newly converted Jim Main could be towed from the Hythe Quay to its present mooring adjacent to the Dinghy Park on the 10th May 1980.
The 1980's was a successful period in terms of winning awards for the club sailors. The Cock of the River open was won by Paul and Annette Springett in 1980 (first won by MYC in 1965). Nigel Musto attended the 470 Junior World Championships in Sweden and gained an excellent 5th place. He later became the 470 National Champion (the first National Champion in the Club's history). 1982 saw a clean sweep by MYC at the Blackwater and Colne Dinghy Championships (Cock of the River for the second time in three years). The Stone Challenge Cup and the Coronation Cup were also won by Club members. In 1984 Kay Hedgecock and Annette Springett were the ladies 420 National Champions. They also achieved a marvellous 4th place in the 470 National Championships. As part of the British Team, Kay and Annette went on to 12th place in the 470 World Championships held in Scotland. Another lady member, Christine Brooks, took part in the selection trials for the World Laser Championships in this year.
For the remainder of the 80's and into the new millenium the Club has has continued to thrive and promote the sport of sailing. The emphasis on racing has been matched by a raised enthusiasm for potterin about on the river by midweek sailors. These intrepid sailors brave most conditions in their selection of classic and modern boats just soaking up the beautiful location at the head of the Estuary.
The image below is inspired by the one above
This picture features many of our current committee members gathered around the MYC seat situated on Hythe Quay by the Jolly Sailor Public House.
A plaque on the seat reads...
"The Maldon Yacht Club, founded in 1949 and now situated at the eastern end of the promenade occupied this site from 1951 to 1980"
This later picture was taken on Sunday 9th October 2016 & shows the retiring commodore (Pat White) shaking hands with the newly appointed commodore (Pauline Marshall)
Members from left to right, seated; Keith Gower, Pat White, Pauline Marshall, John Green.
Standing; Jack Snow, Hazel Green, Ian Barratt, Sarah Graves, Clive Marshall, Ian Varney, Bob Rowbotham, Kevin Green, Roberto Maranca, Len Minter. It was decided to reproduce the picture here in grayscale in order to compliment the 1980's version. A full colour version of the same picture can be seen elsewhere on the website.
The club has remained healthy throughout the 1990's & right up to the present day with a good number of new & old members. Competitive racing takes place at weekends when the tide allows & these are still fiercely contended. Cups & trophies are awarded yearly to participants & winners. As reported on our home page, weekday sailing continues to grow steadily. If the tide is in & the conditions are favourable you'll find a number of MYC boats & Kayaks enjoying the river.
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