The Club... From Humble Beginnings
From Humble Beginnings
Conception
Broadstairs Sailing Club was first conceived in September 1935 when Harry Arthur Dipple met and discussed the question of a town sailing club with Archibald Robert Boult.
Further meetings were held on 5th January 1936, and 30th May 1936, and the Officers of the club were appointed. Some racing took place in the summer of 1936 but it was not until 1937 that racing really got underway and a programme organised.
The original annual membership of the club was one Guinea, or by arrangement not less than 1/- (5 pence), and life membership was five Guineas. Harbour dues in 1935 were 7/6 per annum (37½ pence). We have been fortunate that our membership has been mainly local residents and an important leisure pursuit in the town.
First Boats
By the time of the first races in 1937, Mr Dipple had arranged the purchase of five one-class boats which were built by Cooper’s of Conyer. They were 14′ open boats of Bermudan rig and had a very good performance; we also had about eight handicap boats, ranging from a 27′ Naval Whaler, ‘Wanderer’, ketch rigged and owned by Jim Cole, Terry Wooster and George Bailey, to a number of open 10′ and 12′ dinghies, mostly gunter and gaff rigged. ‘Freelance’ was owned by Geoff Miskin, and later by Jim Cole. ‘Alert’ was owned by Jack Croom.
Clubhouses
When the club was first formed we didn’t have a clubhouse and used to meet in the Droit office adjoining the café opposite the Tartar Frigate. After the war the Committee met in the backroom of the Crown Inn, which was run at the time by the father of Club member Norman Smith. The first Clubhouse was a large wooden hut in the garden of the Esplanade Hotel (now the site of Copperfield Court). We acquired this and started a bar in 1948.
In 1951 a loft above a garage in Alexandra Road became available and with a lot of hard work put in by Club members it became quite an attractive Clubhouse and bar. A particular memory of interest was the rather old sofa, and it soon became accepted that if a male and a female member were often found to be occupying it, then a collection for a wedding present would eventually be made!
Throughout the years, the club has had a good number of matrimonial successes!
Our present clubhouse, in Harbour Street was acquired in 1957, first rented from Broadstairs Council and eventually purchased for £16,000. A great deal of work has been put in [and continues to be put in… see refit] by members to achieve the pleasant and functional state that we enjoy today. In 1927 the property was known as the Chinese Lantern Café and a murder was committed there, a newspaper clipping telling reporting it is framed in the bar. As a result the building is said to be haunted.