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During the
early fifties a keen spirit of competition developed amongst the local (working)
sailing boats in Ullapool and there were no doubt many unofficial races
convened. However, it is recorded that in 1957 Alec Ross and a newcomer, Dr
Freddie Whitley called a public meeting in the Caledonian Hotel, and as a result
of this meeting the Loch Broom Sailing Club was formed.
The founding
members were Alec Ross, Dr Whitley and a committee of enthusiastic sailors: Bill
Sloan (Manager of the Caledonian), and Duncan Duff (Joiner); James Macintyre
(Haberdashery shop) was the secretary. Early meetings were chaired by Lord
Cameron and held in Danny Gordon's fish hut on the pier.
The Club's
interest was in racing local boats of the Bata Ghearrloch type
(notwithstanding Dr Whitleys GP14). These were small local fishing boats based
on the design of local boats built at that time in Gairloch. For racing, the
traditional dipping lug rig was converted to Bermudan or Gunter and appropriate
second hand sails fitted. The boats were further modified by adding ballast
(lead keel strips) and by adding quarter or half decking of marine ply.
The Club
generated much local interest with its regular Saturday afternoon races around
buoys in the loch. A local entrepreneur even ran a book on the results. The
focal point of the Club at that time was the old pier and the Seaforth Pub and
the annual diner dance was held in the Caledonian.
During the late
sixties the focus of the Club moved to the wee pier and the Royal Hotel Bar. New
members, such as, A McRitchie (Policeman), Arthur Pollack (Caley Oils), Jimmy
(Ferry) Mackenzie (Customs), Ken Harper (RNMDSF), Robert Lang (Baker) and Roy
Osborne (Engineer) rejuvenated interest in sailing and racing. The Royal served
as the clubhouse and it was there that the races and results were pored over
and, often, a further challenge race was held after "refreshments".
Racing was keen
and protests virtually unknown. Annual competitions included: the Whitley
Memorial Cup (following the untimely death of Dr Whitley), the Merchant Navy
Quaich, a number of pennant races in aid of the RNLI and RNMDSF and, the
highlight, a round Isle Martin race for which a guard boat was hired.
A turning
point in the Club was when in the early seventies a grant was secured from the
Scottish Sports Council to build the Clubhouse in its current location at the
wee pier. With this came the need to formally develop a constitution and appoint
office-bearing posts of Commodore, Vice-commodore, Treasurer, and secretary.
Tuesday nights became Club night and darts a hotly contested sport along with
the usual banter and chat.
In the fifties
the club fleet comprised up to eight Bhata's (15 to 17 ft), essentially one
design and raced without handicap. The skippers made adjustments to hull and rig
to gain that essential edge. By the late early seventies there had begun a
change in the Club fleet. A number of skippers had begun to acquire larger
cruising yachts and had turned their attention and enthusiasm towards their
upkeep and sailing. Other skippers responded and moved up to Dragons (of which
there were three at one time), along
with Flying
Fifteens and a wide selection of other cruising yachts, including spells of up
to three Nicholson 32's and two Contessa 32's.
The Bhatas
faded away and their enthusiastic crews moved to other boats or other pastimes.
Perhaps the only remaining true original is the Mairi, which lies outside
Roy Osborne's house. It was from the hull of the Mairi that the template
for the Wee Hector was culled - so the spirit and tradition lives
on.
As the fleet
grew ever more varied it was necessary to develop a handicapping system and this
has been the source of much controversy and debate - continuing to this day.
Many systems were tried: Portsmouth Yardstick and others with various attempts
to adjust based on recorded results rationalised over time to take account of
boat, rig and crew. As ever though the fickle wind, start timing, and crew
psyche proved the most difficult to cater for - such is the excitement of
racing.
Parallel to
weekend, round-the-buoys racing, a separate cruiser racing class began to
emerge. Fiercely competitive races ensued with courses to Gairloch, Stornoway,
Kylesku, and such places. These included much social activity during the long
evenings away from home.
Thereafter,
cruising waters were extended to St Kilda, Orkney, Shetland, Ireland, Norway
and, Faeroese waters and, more recently, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Poland,
Iceland, and even America, Canada and Greenland.
Weekend and
distant cruising thus became an established feature whilst the racing edge was
whetted through the, alternate weekend, round the buoys races in a mixed fleet
of (handicapped) boats - happily; this is a pattern which survives to this day.
Since the early
nineties the demography of the Club began to change and newer (or grown up
older) members young families have led to dissolution of the cruising fleet's
activity. In an attempt to foster renewed interest, the Club, beginning in 1998,
purchased a fleet of Flying Fifteens, which have proven to be the catalyst for a
period of renewed and sustained interest in the Club and have rejuvenated the
ever-popular round the buoys racing. Membership thereafter began a period of
sustained growth.
Training has
become an integral part of the club's activities and many members have undergone
RYA training in Yachtmaster, Dayskipper, VHF and the like. As the number of
younger members began to grow it was decided in 2004 that the club should
purchase a fleet of three Pico dinghies and these too have proven to be popular
with children and adults alike and it is anticipated that they will cultivate
renewed and wider interest in the club and the sport of sailing.
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