There is considerable documentary evidence to indicate that ‘recreational’ sailing was taking place in Christchurch Harbour long before 1874, the year it is generally accepted that the Sailing Club was formally organised as a club, based next to Place Mill, at Christchurch Quay.
Reports in the newspapers of the day, The Salisbury Journal, Hampshire Chronicle and Christchurch Times, show that some recreational sailing was taking place in the early 1800’s. Fishermen’s regattas were a regular feature at Mudeford, originally only for the fishermen but by the 1860’s the reports show that they included the yachts of the ‘gentlemen’ living nearby who had their own race starts. The Tucker, Ricardo and Mills families, all founder or very early members of the Sailing Club, took part and provided generous prize money.
The Yachting World magazine, Vol. Ill, of 1894, in a report about ‘The Christchurch Sailing Club’, stated that regular racing had taken place ‘?for over 25 years?’ i.e. at least as early as 1869. At this time there were no cups, only prize money. It also printed a set of photographs of members’ yachts and is the earliest report found to indicate the actual age of the Club.