History of the BRSC

2021 marks the 90^th anniversary of the founding of the Beaulieu River Sailing club. In 1931, Lord Montagu’s grandmother Pearl, along with other local residents who loved sailing together on the river decided to form a club. They raced mainly in Scows or Lymington Prams on Sunday afternoons through the Spring and Summer to and from Buckler’s Hard. In June that year a group came together to form a committee that named the club, designed the burgee, set the rules for membership and racing and devised a programme of events including a winter dance to be held in the Domus in November. The club’s ambition was to make sailing enjoyable for everyone, regardless of experience. Membership was open to those who lived on or near the river.

In 1934 some members wanted to have a larger boat than a scow and it was decided to introduce a fleet of Sharpies for two handed sailing. They were built in Christchurch by Elkins Yard at a cost of £40 each. All the boats had to be given names beginning with the letter M. By 1937, the club had more than 100 members and racing moved to Gins where there was a bit more space and a rough clubhouse was erected.

During WW2, the river had to be cleared of all boats and was requisitioned by the Royal Navy. There was to be no racing, no private yachts and absolutely no access to the river where secret D-Day operations were mustering.

As time went on new classes of boats were introduced, the Laser, Optimist, and Topper but the Scow went on regardless. To this day you will see club sailing most weekends on the river. In the Spring and Autumn racing is done at the top of the river by Palace House at Rope Factory Field and in the summer after the marathon ‘down river race’ the fleet moves to Needs Ore where they race in the area from Lepe to Gins. The fleet of scows is around 65 boats and the club has some 400 members. Membership rules are still strictly applied; the club requires its members reside in the Parishes of Beaulieu, Exbury or East Boldre so as to maintain a truly local camaraderie to the club.

Mary Montagu-Scott, Commodore, BRSC

In 1932 the club sought recognition from the RYA and for the next five years leased the Agamemnon Quay at Buckler’s Hard at the bottom of the village street. The annual membership was fixed at 5s 10d.

Racing commenced at 3pm and tea was served on the lawn outside the Master Builders afterwards for a special price of 2s 6d. A beautiful trophy of a model scow was presented for the winner of the first series. By the mid 1930’s there were around 35 scows in the fleet and an annual regatta and an ‘ocean’ race out into the Solent at Lepe.

Soon after the war, racing started again and in 1951 a regatta, with Sharpies and Scows participating, took place between Buckler’s Hard and Gins. In the mid 1950’s Buckler’s Hard was becoming too busy with tripper boats and the BRSC moved to a new home at Needs Ore near the river entrance. A clubhouse was built and the membership swelled with new local families.

In the 1960’s Scows started to be built in fibreglass and the Palace Quay boatyard in Beaulieu made them for £135 from kits supplied by Halmatic. The Scow fleet grew steadily as well as a new Finn and 420 class. The club had some superb sailors, some with successful Olympic ambitions and some that competed in national and international racing. Interclub racing against other local clubs was popular and a junior summer sailing school was started near the top of the river at Bignalls. Many children have learnt to sail in the tricky wooded upper reaches of the Beaulieu River where the wind is fluky and tide strong and the mud inevitably gets everywhere. Sailing was very much in the spirit of Swallows and Amazons with a focus on fun, picnics and friendship as well as an opportunity to learn to sail and row skilfully.