Club History

In 1970 a group of sailing enthusiasts (only a few of whom had boats) decided to create a club with the aim of providing a sailing facility on the eastern side of Plymouth. The assets at the time were very easy to document: money – none; premises – none. Customary in such circumstances a public meeting was called, and by the end of the evening a committee of twelve people, said to be ‘volunteers’, was formed.

An early requirement was to find premises, and Langs House was discovered, a redundant bakery languishing in a rather sorry state on Oreston Green. The asking price was £1,750 and it clearly needed massive renovation. However, by this time the finances boasted £7.5s.0d so naturally the purchase went ahead. Competitions and debate ensued regarding a name and burgee, and six months after that first meeting a Laying Up Supper of the ‘Plym 70 Sailing and Power Boat Club’ was attended by 80 people, very few of whom actually had a boat to ‘Lay Up’.

Undoubtedly the greatest asset to the club was the unbridled enthusiasm of the members. What a challenge to our volunteer professional builder to teach an assorted variety of eager but unskilled workers the rudiments of drain-laying, wall-building and plumbing. Obviously the bar went in first, and has remained the centre of activity ever since.

The club grew rapidly, affiliating to the R.Y.A. and P.P.S.A. and playing an ever increasing part on the sailing scene in Plymouth. Our fleet of yachts and dinghies increased and were regularly raced from the Oreston line. By 1984 it was decided to extend the premises, partly because our windswept outside conveniences did not compliment our increasing stature as a Yacht Club following our recent name change to "Plym Yacht Club"!

Ten years later the club house was again refurbished, this time to provide comfort as well as beer and pasties.

Our yacht fleet rapidly outgrew the river and safety demanded that racing must start in the Sound. We were fortunate to secure permission from the R.A.F. to use the end of Mount Batten Breakwater, and following the subsequent closure of the military station we were able to build our own start box on the pier.

When the infilling of the cockle bank caused the narrowing of the river the dinghy fleet also relocated. The boats are stored at the Mount Batten Sailing and Watersports Centre, which is also the base for the increasing number of National Championships and other events hosted by the club.

Throughout the years our social activities have been varied and numerous incorporating many fund raising events, particularly for the R.N.L.I. Although our membership is now world wide the family aspect on which the club was founded is still central to our organisation.