The Formation and History of the Glasson Sailing Club.
April 1961 - Six individuals began the ground work towards the formation of a sailing club.
The First Site
12th April 1961 - The first move was to secure a section of the Lancaster Port Commissioners land at the rear of the Victoria Hotel at Glasson Dock, the first letters were sent to the Port Commissioners.
On the 15th May 1961 a sketch plan of the site was sent to the Commissioners.
19th June 1961 -the Port Commissioners gave consideration to the proposals and offered the land on a tenancy of twelve months and thereafter from year to year, subject to three months notice on either side. The area of land offered was in the region of 600 square yards.
The First Clubhouse
April 1961 - Negotiations were started with Mitchells of Lancaster (Brewers) Limited to rent a portion of the outbuildings of the Victoria Hotel at Glasson Dock, adjoining the land offered by the Lancaster Port Commissioners.
May 1961 -Provisional consent was given by the brewery (Mitchells of Lancaster).
July 1961 - The terms of the tenancy were agreed. Since then the terms have been altered and the Glasson Sailing Club, as it is now called, will be able to rent the premises as long as it requires them or until such time as the Club is disbanded.
September 1961 - A site meeting was held with the brewery to discuss alterations to the premises. A letter was then received from the brewery offering to pay for the alteration and reinstatement of the property, this was accepted.
November 1961 - A set of provisional plans were submitted by the brewery and accepted.
February 1961 - The plans were submitted to the Magistrates Court at the brewster sessions for approval and were duly passed as satisfactory.
The Big Day
March 1962 - The Club was finally formed and membership was open to the general public.
April 1962 - The first Annual General Meeting of the newly formed Club was held at which it was agreed that the Club should be called the Glasson Sailing Club, the Club rules and constitution were then submitted to the meeting and approved.
October 1st 1962 - The Club took possession of the Port Commissioners land.
October 8th 1962 - The Club took possession of the Clubhouse and changing rooms.
October 20th 1962 - The Clubhouse was officially opened. (The clubhouse referred to is part of the Victoria Hotel and the slipway was at the eastern end of East Quay, all that remains are a small flight of steps and a few stumps.)
October 22nd 1962 - The Club began negotiating with British Railways for the use of their old slipway which would give the Club access onto the river Lune. November 1962 - Agreement was reached with British Railways over the use of the old slipway and a licence was granted to the Club giving its members the right to cross the railway property between the Club premises and the slipway.
December 1962 - The Club applied to British Railways for a tenancy of the land adjoining the Club's premises and the slipway, this was refused. The Club tried every month in 1963 for a tenancy of this land but were not successful until December 1963, when the railways agreed to look into the matter further.
April 28th 1964 - British Railways agreed to rent to the Club an area of land, at the top of the Club's slipway and adjoining the Club premises, consisting of 433 square yards or thereabouts for the sum of £40 per annum, this was accepted by the Club. Application was then made to the Lancaster Rural District Council to use this land as a dinghy park, permission was duly granted.
May 1963 - Work was started on the rebuilding of the old slipway. The original remains were removed and a completely new structure built some 60 feet long.
June 1964 - The Club obtained planning consent from the Port Commissioners to erect a balcony over their land affixed to the front of the Club house. The balcony was erected in July 1964.
August 1964 - The slipway was extended a further 20 feet, making a total length of 80 feet. The Club also purchased three ex-army pontoons which are now moored alongside the slipway and are used for mooring dinghies after they have been launched. Also in August the Club held its first open regatta on the river Lune, this was a well attended meeting with entries from all over Lancashire and the surrounding districts. During this period the Club arranged a winter series of races for the dinghy members, this series was open to members of the Morecambe Bay Sailing Association, to which all the sailing Clubs around Morecambe Bay are members.
Spring 1965 - Further extensions to the slipway were planned and completed. The slipway is now 110 feet in length.
During the summer of 1965 the Club arranged a full series of races for both the dinghy and offshore sections. These races were held on the river Lune, when the tide was suitable, and on the Lancaster Canal basin on the days when the tide was not available. The following special events were also held:
The Glasson Sailing Club was formed with the object of promoting interest in all forms of aquatic sport, the membership of the Club is open to all members of the general public no matter what colour or creed.
The types of craft sailed by the Club members are as follows:-
The Club members also own a large variety of coastal and ocean cruisers from 18 feet to 54 feet in length.
Dinghies:
1962 - 4
1963 - 10
1964 - 22
1965 - 40
Offshore Boats
1962 - 3
1963 - 9
1964 - 14
1965 - 19
It has been suggested that the above figures for offshore boats are a little optimistic.
In 1965 each winter the Club arranged a programme of film shows and lectures which were held every Wednesday evening from the first of November to the first of April. These programmes covered a very large range of subjects mainly on sailing but a small proportion are on subjects of general interest. These meetings were advertised in the local papers and were open to the general public.
Club facilities were as follows:-
| Class | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sailing | - | 8 | 21 | 23 |
| Family | - | 17 | 25 | 32 |
| Junior | - | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Social | - | 30 | 38 | 25 |
| Crew | - | 1 | 7 | 9 |
The above figures are at the 28th February each year. These figures do
not include any of the schools or university as they pay differently.
The Club was financed by the following means:-