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This is an old revision of HomePage made by DaveCooper on 2012-01-05 15:13:14.

 

This history of Overy Staithe Sailing Club is presented as a Wiki: that is, it is a collaborative document that everyone is invited to contribute to. (Wikipedia is the best-known example, but I'm not expecting this to get so big!). The original text was written by Andy Turner from the club's records and from Peter and Melba Beck's cuttings books. Contributions, suggestions and criticisms are cordially invited.

A Brief History of Overy Staithe Sailing Club – Founded 1928.

A General Meeting was held on August 31st 1928 of interested visitors and locals in St Clement’s Parish Room to discuss the formation of a sailing club. The objects of the club were to be:
· To encourage the art of sailing.
· To promote healthy competition
· To hold frequent races.

The following were duly elected:President: Mr De Paula; Vice Presidents: Mr Lorrimer; Major Henderson; Mr Tabra; Mr Shepherd; Mr Phillips; Dr Stewart and Colonel Hales.
Members of the Committee were:Chairman – Rev C.E.Haines; Vice Chair – CaptM.Woodget; Secretary – Mr D. Carruthers; Asst Secretary – Mr A. Bell; Treasurer – Mr S. Everett;
Other Committee members were: Mr W. Haines; Mr J. Stoker; Mr May; Mr R. Woodget; Mr J. Riches.
The Annual Subscription was to be 2s 6d and vice presidents were approached for donations.
The first committee meeting was to take place on September 3rd 1928 at the residence of Mr W. Haines and the first sailing club race on September 5th 1928.
The first Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the club took place on September 3rd 1929 where Capt M. Woodget, ex Master of the Cutty Sark, was elected as the first Commodore. Rules of the Yacht Racing Union were formally adopted and the balance of the club’s accounts was £4 9s 3d.
A Silver Challenge Cup was presented by Dr Crossley Holland.

In 1934 Mr S. Everett was elected Chairman and Mr De Paula President. Major Henderson was elected Commodore and subs were increased to 3 shillings per year. The club had now been affiliated to the YRA.
The Lorrimer Cup was to be a handicap race with Stella and Ballerina as the scratch boats. There was much discussion of the maximum sail area of boats to be raced (80 square feet)
In 1935 the Secretary was asked to write to Holkham Estate for permission to erect a starting post on the bank. The cost of building a concrete slipway was also discussed.Course marks were to be Walpole Buoy, West Beach buoy and Chalk Bank Buoy to the north of Gun Hill (weather permitting).
The last recorded committee meeting before the war was held on June 1st 1936 with Major Henderson as Commodore. Other committee members present were F.Haines, N.H.May, M.Smith, D.Smith, R.Woodget. Local residents were to be encouraged to join the sailing club with a reduced membership fee of 2s/6d, ordinary membership to be 5s.

After the second World War a meeting was held at Flagstaff House on 28th December 1949 to re-form the sailing club. Present were: Mr Haines, Mr Green, Mr Bell, Mr May, Mr W. Haines, Mr R. Scoles, Mr W. Moore, Mr P. Noyes, Mrs Green, Miss Green, Andrew Green and Mr P.W.Webb.
Mr Allan Bell was elected Commodore and Mr C.Green Vice-Commodore.
At a Committee Meeting in February 1950 at Flagstaff House there was further discussion of building a slipway and an estimate from Welcome Thompson was accepted.

Third formation of the Sailing club.
A meeting of those interested in re-forming the Sailing Club for the second time was called on the 15th January 1961. Present were Peter Beck, Audrey Earle, Robert Wilson Stephens and Gilbert White. The club was granted a loan of £25 from the Regatta Fund. Annual membership was to be half a crown (2s 6d).
Gilbert White was elected Commodore, Audrey Earle Vice-Commodore, Peter and Mel Beck “Organisers”, Mr May Treasurer and Joe Scoles “Gun Man”. Other committee members were Nelson Scoles, Billy Scoles, Marshall Raisbury, Francis Scoles, Billy Moore, Sheila Disney, Ned Thompson and Robert Wilson Stephens.
The club was to be known as “Overy Staithe Sailing Club”.
Simon Coombe presented a Cup. Audrey Earle’s converted longshore boat was used as a safety boat.
The AGM in 1962 was held in Peter and Melba Becks’ flat. Peter was appointed Treasurer and Robert Wilson Stephens as Secretary.The possibility of holding a “Round the Island” race was discussed. Also in 1962 it was decided to have an Annual Prizegiving at the Boathouse (2s 6d each). Lady Sylvia Coombe was invited to present the prizes. Commander Grenfell donated a silver cup to be raced for by Lady Helmsmen.
The 1963 AGM was held at the Boathouse. The committee decided to send £3 each to the following charities: Deep Sea Fishermen; King George’s Fund for Sailors and the Shipwrecked Mariners Society and this has continued to the present day as pennant races.
The 1964 AGM was held at the Boathouse. New elected committee members were Bill Fillenham, Ken Miller and Mr Ayres. The need for a Fairways Committee was discussed as yachts were being moored on the sailing course. The committee discussed the need for a signalling system for life saving. Sheila Disney was made an Hon Life Member of the sailing club.

The 1965 AGM was held at the Boathouse. 90 members had attended the prizegiving the previous evening at the Boathouse and generous thanks were given to Peter and Melba for organising this. Bill Williams was elected to the committee and agreed to act as starter.Negotiations were proceeding with the Crown Commissioners and the Nature Conservancy for the lease of navigable waters of the creek to a Fairways Committee.

At the 1966 AGM Dr Cooper and Mr Hoare were elected to the Committee.
Other committee members were Gilbert White (Commodore), Audrey Earle (Vice Commodore), Mr Miller, Mr Moore, Mr Fillenham, Mr Thompson, Nelson Scoles, Mr Ayres, Peter Beck and Robert Wilson Stephens. It was agreed to hold the Annual Social and Prizegiving at the Moorings Hotel (5s 6d per head had been quoted).It was agreed to merge the funds of the sailing club and the regatta committee.The committee urged the Fairways Committee to take action regarding the silting up of the creek.

The 1967 AGM took place on January 1st. It was agreed to notify the OK Class Association that OSSC sails OK Dinghies and to ask the class association to mention this in their Handbook.£75 was donated as a contribution towards the repair of the Chalk Bank.
At the January 1969 AGM Gilbert White resigned as Commodore and Dr Cooper was elected in his place. Other committee members re-elected were Bill Fillenham, Mr Hoare, Mr Mason, Garry Maufe, Ken Miller, Mr Moore, Mr Ryan, Nelson Scoles, Ned Thompson, Gilbert White.A social committee was formed. It was agreed to hire the village hall for the Regatta Prizegiving. The committee discussed a problem with the Overy Creek Mussell and Cockle Fishery Order, in that there was no provision for the sailing club to put down course marks or to recover capsized boats. It was agreed to object to the order.
It was agreed to hold the Annual Prizegiving and social in the Village Hall. There was also discussion as to whether to buy a club rescue craft.
Authorisation to buy a rescue boat was given at the 1970 AGM, up to a maximum expenditure of £450, including the engine.The club purchased a 12.5 foot Avon rubber dinghy for use as a safety boat, seen in the picture being examined by Francis Scoles (owner of Sharpie K71 (Tern 1)) and Peter Beck. (see plate 1). It was agreed that people racing should wear personal buoyancy.
Peter Beck and Francis Scoles with the club's first rescue boat

At the 1971 AGM Audrey Earle resigned as Vice Commodore and was made an Hon Life Member. Bill Fillenham was elected Vice Commodore in her place.
The 1971 Regatta week highlights were: (see plate 2). OKs finishing 1st, 2nd and 3rd within 10 metres of each other in the Nod Race (Jamie Pritchard, Peter Beck, Andy Turner).
Dave Cooper being thrown out of his OK on to the marsh, running along after his boat and re-mounting it to sail to the finishing line!
Ingerlise Maufe and Paul Goakes winning the ladies race in Honey Bun.
Garry, Marit and Nina Maufe winning the Lorrimer Cup in their Jewel Topaz.
Peter and Mel Beck winning the Haines Cup in Honey Bun.
cuttings
At the 1972 AGM Paul Goakes, John Heffer and Andy White were elected to the committee. William Scoles joined the committee at the 1973 AGM.
Joe Scoles used his shotgun firing live cartridges to start the races when the sailing club was re-formed but this was taken over in 1962 by Bill Williams, also using a shotgun. His Jack Russell terrier, Nell, loved used cartridges and always set up a howl as Bill raised his gun to the firing position, thereby alerting all the locals to the fact that the start was imminent and leaving the visitors perplexed. Bill was presented with a Mary Robertson painting of the Boathouse in 1971 by the Commodore Dr Peter Cooper in appreciation of his services.
In later years Peter Beck used a shotgun to start the races from the sea wall, and after firing the starting gun strolled down the bank, put the shotgun into the front buoyancy tank of his OK, and still went on to win the race!

Initially the club start line was where the current finishing line is off the quay. The start line was then moved so that one end was on the marsh near the wreck at the end of the cockle path and the other end was on the sea wall by the mud dock.

1972 was the year that 61 years old John Winter borrowed a Peter Beck built OK, Cockeyed Optimist, from Tim Storer and proceeded to show us “youngsters” how to sail. I well remember how he shot off from the start line in the Earle Cup, never to be caught over two laps. John of course had an excellent sailing pedigree in that he crewed for Sir Peter Scott in their International 14 before the War and invented the trapeze wire. They won the Prince of Wales Cup, the premier event in International 14 sailing, in 1934, 1938 and 1945.
The children’s race in 1972 was won by Simon Sanderson, crewed by Julie Beck, in a Heron.
The Ladies race was won by Janet Sanderson, crewed by Andy Turner, sailing her Sharpie Fortuna, second was Julie Beck in Honey Bun and third was Claire Bullman (Wathes) sailing an Enterprise, probably with her father Dr Bullman.
For other regatta results see plate 4 below.
Dr Peter Cooper presents Bill Willliams with a painting
72 regatta press clippings

1973 was one of those regattas with a big tide and a long wait for the sea breeze to come in, although as usual there was a strong wind for the Nod Race.

The Haines Cup, with 59 entries, was again dominated by OKs, accompanied even then by grumbles about their handicap. First was Peter Beck in Younger than Springtime, second was Andy Turner in Hemogoblin(it was red) and third was Dave Cooper in Twin Soliloquy. Paul Goakes in Stirrer (OK 1018) won the Nod Race with future Commodore Bill Fillenham second and Rod Tidd in another OK third. In the Regatta races Peter Scillitoe won the Thursby Cup for Sharpies in K116 Northern Lights.
In the foreground of plate 5 is moored the “Centipede” belonging to Garry and MarritMaufe. This type of craft, made by Fairey Marine, was dropped from search planes to airmen or sailors waiting to be rescued from life rafts during the War.

The 1974 AGM was not held until May due to the previous winter’s fuel and power crisis. A special vote of thanks was passed to the Beck family for their great assistance to the club and its members.
In 1974 Julie Beck grabbed the newspaper headlines as a 12 year old. She held off a “strong challenge” from Captain H. White in another Twinkle 12 to win the Stella Trophy and also the Ladies Race .

Another future Commodore, Peter Russell, won the Stratton Cup with his wife Chris in a Family 14 “Merlin”. Andy Turner won the OKs with Paul Goakes in second and Dave Cooper third. The Thursby Cup for Sharpies was won by Richard Cracknell in “Sea Witch” from Peter Scillitoe in “Northern Lights”. Richard Cracknell also won the Regatta Tankard in his Sharpie from Ronnie Scoles in “Cassiopea” and Mark Winter in “Dita”. The Wilson Stephens Trophy for children under 16 was won by David Hart and Giles Catchpole (see picture) in their Mirror “Forty Winks” with Julie Beck second and Mark Lambert in a Solo third.
74 regatta press clippings
74 regatta press clippings
Plate 7 below shows Richard Faire’s Sprite “Kestrel” pinching to windward trying to clear its wind from the Firefly ahead in the Regatta of 1974.
Richard Cracknell from Wells again scored a double first in his Sharpie “Sea Witch”, as did Peter and Chris Russell in their Family 14 “Merlin”.

Dave Cooper won the Earle Cup for OKs and MaritMaufe won the Douglas Carruthers Bowl in a Firefly.
Robert and Sue Wilson Stephens won the Evans Cup in their Enterprise “Galloper”.

At the 1975 AGM Dr Cooper resigned as Commodore and Bill Fillenham was elected in his place. Peter Russell and Ken Miller were elected Vice Commodores. The committee comprised Peter Beck (Treasurer), Robert Wilson Stephens (Secretary), Gilbert White, Paul Goakes, John Heffer, Garry Maufe, Nelson Scoles, William Scoles, Ned Thompson, David Cooper, MaritMaufe, Rod Tidd, Andy Turner and M.Whyman. The social committee was Gary and MaritMaufe plus Nelson Scoles.
The Headline for the Regatta of 1975 was “Erratic Wind and Strong Tides”.

There was another wait for the wind to fill in and some nail biting from Race Officer Peter Beck. Francis Scoles was driving the safety boat.

Paul Goakes in his new OK “Cotton Jenny” was untouchable on the water that year, winning both the Earle Cup and the CaptRix Trophies for OKs as well as the Haines Cup.

Mark Beck was beaten into second by “Saffron” (J. Ormond) in the Stella Trophy for Twinkle 12s and Mark Winter in the Sharpie “Dita” won the Regatta Tankard from Terry Hill in another Sharpie “Annabella”.

The Thursby Cup for Sharpies was won by Terry Hill in “Annabella” (K76) with John Scoles second and Roger Raisbury in “Lightning” (K14) third. The Douglas Carruthers Bowl was won by Colin Ayres with third place going to Andrew Green in something new called a Laser.

75 regatta press clippings

75 regatta press clippings

Neither the Commodore nor the Treasurer were present for the 1976 AGM on January 4th. Bill Fillenham was inspecting coastal damage from the flood tide the night before and Peter and Melba were bailing out the Boathouse. Another wait for wind in the 1976 Regatta. Sharpie K 106 in the picture (plate is “Miranda” and K79 is “Teriodin”.

76 regatta press clippings

It was agreed by the committee that both helm and crew in the Grenfell Cup had to be ladies. Importing male crews was banned, even if they had wigs on.

At the 1976 AGM Robert Wilson Stephens resigned as Secretary after 16 years and Andy Turner took over. Subs were raised to £2. Gilbert White was made an Honorary Life Member. Claire Bulman (Wathes) was elected to the committee.

In 1977 a Racing Sub-Committee was formed comprising Claire Bulman, Paul Goakes, Rod Tidd and Andy Turner.

The 1977 Regatta was a windy affair withover 70 entries on both days. A young “P.Mason”, nowadays known as Sam, came second in an Enterprise in the Evans Challenge Cup to Robert Haines.

The Crossley Holland Cup pursuit race and the Stella Trophy for Twinkle 12s were won by Mark and Paul Beck in “Honey Bun”. The Thursby Cup for Sharpies was won by Mark and John Winter in “Dita” (K31). Jerry and Fraser Clark won the Green Trophy for Mirrors, Andy Turner won the Earle Cup and CaptRix Trophy for OKs. Wendy and Jamie Pritchard won the Drayton Trophy for clinker built boats in their Firecrest “Honey”. Matthew Hall Smith won the Storer Trophy for Lasers.

The 1978 AGM recorded the death of Ned Thompson.
Another tide over the marsh for the 1978 Regatta. Andy Turner, somewhat hung over from his wedding, managed to win the Earle Cup and the CaptRix Trophy for OKs. British Sharpie Champion Tony Barnham won the Thursby Cup for Sharpies in “Anabella” (K76) from W.Haines in Tern 1 (K71) and V.Thomas in Tern 2 (K73), whilst Terry Hill won the Regatta Tankard on day 2, also in “Annabella”.

David Hart won the Evans Challenge Cup in an Enterprise and Mark Beck in Honey Bun won the Lorrimer Cup from Garry Maufe in J 49 “Topaz” and Nick Heffer in the Jewel “Fairy”. Andrew Storer won the Storer Trophy for Lasers whilst celebrating his 18th birthday.

78 regatta press clippings

78 regatta press clippings

78 regatta press clippings

Paul Goakes was again in fine form in 1980 sailing his OK Cotton Jenny (K1798) He won the Nod Race with Mark Beck in Honey Bun second. Peter Smith in a Twinkle 10 “Shrimp” won the Haines Cup from 43 starters, again with Mark Beck in Honey Bun second.

80 regatta press clippings

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