Yarmouth Sailing Club sits next to the swing bridge over the River Yar at the western end of the Isle of Wight. It?s a friendly, informal, inclusive club with over 800 members run on a volunteer basis. It is an?RYA?Training Centre and as such delivers dinghy sailing, power boating and first aid training to its members. A welcome is always extended to visiting yachtsmen.
The first general meeting of the Yarmouth Sailing Club was held in The Wheatsheaf in Yarmouth on 30th October 1969, with 37 people attending. It was decided that there was a need to encourage sailing for local families and young people in the safe waters of the River Yar which was not being met by the Royal Solent Yacht Club. The two clubs remain complementary to each other and enjoy a harmonious relationship, with many people being members of both. At this first meeting, 5 people were asked to act as a steering committee. A lease on the old toll house on the Yar Bridge, which had last served as Yarmouth Customs House, was obtained. This building conveniently adjoined the public dinghy park.
On 29th November 1969 the County Press reported that there were now 70 members and that two meetings of the steering committee had been held and a competition launched for the design of a club burgee. A management committee was to be elected of 12 “practising and experienced water-men and -women”. Subscription was initially set at ?3 a year with an entrance fee of ?3. Cadet members paid ?1 and junior members 50p. It was noted that the Founder Members’ entrance fees would be waived.