Shotley Sailing Club was originally formed in 1969 by a small group of sailors who wished to put moorings down in the waters along the North shore of the River Stour in and around the Ganges pier and the old Railway pier, now simply known as Shotley or Bristol pier. Harwich Harbour Authority would only negotiate with an organised legal entity to control the moorings and therefore a few founder members established the club.
The club’s objectives were to promote water based activities and provide facilities for anyone who wished to get access to the local waters.
The mooring positions were then leased from HHA at a cost of £10/annum and the foreshore between the piers was leased from Suffolk county council for a fee of £1 /annum and used to store dinghies and launch boats.
A slipway was built and a dolphin erected which acted as a scrubbing post and a base for race officials
At this time and until 1976 the Ganges naval establishment remained in operation
From 1969 until 1976 the club operated out of the Bristol Arms, and used an old summerhouse adjacent to the Bristol Arms on Queen Victoria drive as a club house on Sunday mornings. The summerhouse disappeared when the Bristol arms was extended in the 1980’s . The club then moved into a purpose built clubhouse which it uses to this day. The original club house site and adjacent land was originally leased from Suffolk County Council but the club purchased the site and adjacent areas, including the foreshore, from the County Council in October 2005
Shotley Sailing Club is a warm friendly sailing club committed to promoting sailing as an all round family activity in all it’s forms, from racing to pottering about in and around the River Stour area.
The club welcomes new sailing members, please see the contact details page or pop down when the club is open and speak to one of our members.
For more information, visit the website below: