A History of County Antrim Yacht Club
Saturday
25 October 1902
Formation of Club at John
Wylie’s residence
Present
Robert Todd, William Craig,
Robert Auld Snr, Robert Auld Jnr, John Wylie (1st Captain), H.E.
Wylie and A Wylie
Decision taken to form Whitehead
Sailing Club
Decided to call a public
meeting on Thursday 30th October to draw up rules and appoint Office
Bearers – Members to be enrolled.
Meeting held in Victoria
Café
Object of the Club – To
encourage and promote amateur sailing
Half model of the Waverley
on display (now mounted on the current fireplace)
No entrance fee, but fees
due from 1/1/1903 – 10 shillings
John Wylie - Captain
(designed the Waverley)
Robert G Todd – Second
Officer (presented the Todd Cup)
Decision taken to use the
amended RNIYC rules
First General Meeting to
discuss and sanction rules
Burgee to be Red with a
White W (copy currently on display in the General Room)
First Sailing Committee
formed
Starting House situated to
the West of the Cable House (cable ran from Whitehead to Portpatrick – removed
in 1951)
First Club House opened
Waverleys to sail at 7.00
p.m. on Wednesdays and 3.30 p.m. on Saturdays
Concerts to be held in July
and August to raise funds for the Club
First Regatta held 22 August
1903
Auld Challenge Cup sailed for at Whitehead Annual Regatta by Whitehead One Design Class – Boat winning cup twice to become the owner
First Ladies Race for the
Duff Challenge Cup presented by James Duff of Blackhead
New class – Insect Class
were considered
Annual General Meeting held
at Victoria Café due to extra room required. Spring and Autumn AGM’s held
Hailcock Rock – proposal to drill a hole 12 inches deep x 2 ½ inches in diameter to erect a post – this was left to the Property Committee and the cost was not to exceed 10 shillings
Proposal for first Club
Dance to be held in winter 1906. Dances were held over the years at either
Royal Hotel, The Royal George Hotel or The Rhinka
Proposal for Club House to
be extended.
5
August 1908
Midland Railway Company
agreed to give £50.00 towards groundwork for new Club House
Architects for new Club
House to e Gregory & Hall (original drawing on wall beside General Room
door)
Cost of building Club House
- £415.00 – Dowther Brothers agreed to give £15.00 for the old Club House
(photograph on General Room wall)
Opening Day to be 5 June
1909
Proposal to change name of
the Club to County Antrim Yacht Club due to large number of people who were
members who also lived in Belfast.
Proposal to change the
burgee to blue pennant with a yellow Irish/Celtic cross
Billiard Table purchased for
£75.00 (including fittings)
Cost to furnish the Club
House - £65.00
ByeLaws – Club open from
9.00 a.m. – 11.15 p.m. except Sunday 12.00 p.m. – 9.00 p.m.
A Member shall not introduce
the same visitor more than twice in any one year
Ladies only allowed in Club
House until 7.00 p.m.
Billiard Table – tickets had
to be purchased from the steward – no-one to get on the table
No card playing on a Sunday
Boatman employed for 18
shillings per week
Steward employed for 15
shillings per week with an extra 2 shillings & sixpence for Sundays
Paymaster General could not see his way to putting in a letter box as
requested by the General Committee
Club fete – different amusements
Mr Bolton Waxworks
and Shadographs
Mr A Wylie Hat-trimming
and Box making
Mr John Hay “Aunt
Sally”
Mr Gamble Ariel
flight
Mr McCausland Hobby
Horses
Antrim Artillery Band hired for 3 days for £15.00
Club tents supplied by Tedfords
1918
R J McKeown MP Vice
Commodore presented the Billiards Cup (this is currently played for each
Christmas and is the longest running trophy in the Club)
First won by H Magill
1925
McCalmont Trophy presented
by Col. R.C.A. McCalmont DSO who succeeded his father as Commodore (1913-1924)
1926
Todd Cup presented for Waverley Class by Robert G Todd who was to be Commodore 1925 – 1938
Yachtmen’s Cup presented by
Sailing Members for Mid Week Points Races
Landmen’s Cup presented by
Non-Sailing Members for Saturday Points Races
(At this time the Ulster G P
for motor bikes could not be held at the same time as the Whitehead Regatta
Decided to hold a dance on
Regatta Day in the evening and that an orchestra to be engaged for this purpose
The sleepers at the top of
the slipway were having to be constantly replaced
Fees – Senior Members
£1-11-6 Lady Members £0-5-0
Mr James Glover (Captain)
indicated his intention to present a perpetual Rose Bowl for the Ladies Race –
to be known as Empire Furnishing Company Rose Bowl
Boatman’s wages increased to
£2.00 per week
1944
Sailing
Committee requisites £5.00 purchase of material and gear required for launching
of yachts
One bottle of whiskey only
to be issued from the bar for consumption nightly
£350.00 to pay for slip – Wm. Logan & Sons Ltd
No Member of the Club is to receive more than 1 glass of whiskey
between 9.00 p.m. – 10.00 p.m. After 10.00 p.m. the whiskey to be given out
until it is finished.
Permission given to purchase 1 dozen whiskey glasses
James Magee proposed as a
new Member
Sea Hawks admitted to the
Club as a Class
Advert for the Club Punt in
Belfast Telegraph – under £20.00
Purchase of 4 bats and 1
dozen balls for new diversion for the Ladies
- Table Tennis
Public phone discussed, but
deemed to be unwanted at this time
Special Meeting held due to
loss of ‘Fair Maid’ and crew. Sailing and social activities cancelled for 1
week.
1952
John Wylie – founder Member
died
Admiralty Chart of Belfast
Lough displayed
Snooker Table recovered,
re-cushioned and new pockets £64-19-6
6d per person per ½ hour
Hugh Kennedy purchased plans
of GP 14 Class
Prompt closing of the bar at
11.30 p.m. was emphasized while all singing and noise was to be stopped at
midnight
Upper part of slip completed
in concrete - £130.00
1955
Calwell Cup presented for GP
14 Class
1956
Auld Cup presented for
Juniors
1959
Beach Road premises acquired
£300.00 to extend slip – shelved
1960
Plans to fix balcony at a cost of £2346.00
Gates acquired for Beach Road - £15.00
Fencing acquired for Beach Road - £15.00
Royalty of 2 guineas to CAYC
for plans of the Waverley
Sara Annett joined the Club
Wooden steps at side of Club
House replaced by concrete at a cost of £150.00
First Junior Committee to be
formed
Table Tennis Table made for
£5-12-6
1914-18 War Memorial Plaque
moved to left hand side of fireplace
1939-45 War Memorial Plaque
(new) moved to right hand side of the fireplace
Presented by Mr John
McKendry
Wood carving presented by Mr
John Henshaw
February
1964
McCalmont Trophy was deemed
to be irreplaceable. No valuation could be given and decision taken to keep it
in the Bank all year round except for Captain’s Night. (The trophy has now been
valued at approx. £25,000)
Waterproof cover for the
snooker table cost £9-10-0
Framing of architects’
original drawing completed
Installation of pay phone
First Aid kit purchased
Moveable bar purchased for
£90.00 (still used every Regatta Day as an outside bar facility)
Request made for Double
Diamond draught beer at bar was made although there was some opposition from
the Guinness drinkers
Klaxon horn presented to
Club by Mr Gerry Easton (still used for Points Racing)
First inflatable Rescue Boat
purchased
New slip completed
Workman Trophy presented to
the Club by J R Workman from RNIYC for the Lake Class which were now being
sailed at CAYC
Electric winch finally in
position
George Thomas joined the
Club
Purchase of 4 Olympic Marks £21.92 each with the
moorings extra
Proposal that a Commodore’s Board be put in place
pending verification of valid information. (This was subsequently completed in
January 1991)
Increase in membership subscription to £7.50 for
Ordinary Members
Proposal for building changing rooms passed.
Proposal to purchase Dory for £1340 + Vat @ 12 ½ %
less 12 ½% discount including engine
First Gaming Machine installed
Glass washer purchased for the bar
Harry McKee joined the Club
Neville Hack Trophy presented to the Club by Mrs Hack
Laser Rose Bowl
presented to Irish Laser Association (Ulster Branch)
July 1982
Consideration for
extension of bar area
March 1983
Purchase of new Rescue Boat - £900.00 to fix old one. Cost of Sea Rider
£1500.00
May 1984
Harry McKee to arrange for extension of bar store
July 1984
D J Elwood joined the Club
September 1985
New cash register - £550.00 less allowance for old register of £50.00
January 1987
Letter received from D J Elwood re. Break in to the Club. Lost all his
tapes – Committee decided that he should be totally reimbursed.
August 1988
Successful European Scorpion Championships held at the Club
October 1988
General Room finally refurbished
January 1989
Voluntary bar staff took control of bar for a period of 1 year to
improve financial position of the Club
April 1989
Six ‘Optimists’ were purchased via a Sports Council grant. These small craft have been a tremendous success in encouraging young sailors in the Club to ‘have a go’. The Optimist Class are single handers ideal for juniors in the 5-15 year old bracket though in reality most move into the Mirror or Topper Classes by the age of 12/13.
August 1990
John Lewis and Roger Kernaghan sailing ‘Roobarb’ won the Irish Scorpion Championships after an intensive two year campaign. A major accolade for the Club.
1991
Club receives Royal Patronage: H.R.H Duke of York
May 1991
The ‘Flying Fifteen’ Class
began to develop when Sheela Lewis purchased ‘Charley Brown’. This was
subsequently followed by Jim Rankin in ‘Blue Moon’ and Shane Haveron in
‘Bonnie’. Laser class consists of at least 20 boats.
June 1991
A very successful Ulster Laser Championship attracted 70 boats and this was sponsored by Northern Bank. Brian Erskine, North East Regional Manager at the time and former Club member, presented the prizes and recollected some memorable times at the Club re-establishing many old friendships.
July 1993
The Club hosted the Ulster Laser Championships which had an entry of 94 boats. This stands as a record for any provincial championship ever held for the Laser Class in Ireland.
August 1993
The Flying 15 fleet had increased to six and was continuing to attract new interest. The RYA courses continue to be successful with growing numbers of Juniors.
June 1994
The ‘Topper’ Class began to develop with five boats actively racing and attending regattas. Junior members have included Chris Moore, Sarah Moore, Graeme McKenzie, Deborah-Ann Perry and Patrick Smyth. The juniors are seen as the life blood of the Club in the years ahead.
July 1995
The Commodore, Mr Harry Carse and 3 guests are invited to a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.
June 1996
Fourteen Flying15’s were registered at the Club. The sight of many masts in the bay and a huge turnout during points racing on Monday and Wednesday nights was very encouraging. Peter Waugh, Des McKendry, Tim Taylor, and Stephen Canning in addition to those mentioned above have had extremely close racing in this very competitive class. In order to keep costs under control and provide fair sailing only old boats under sail number 2660 are allowed to compete.
July 1996
A number of the juniors entered the Irish Topper Championships with a reasonable degree of success.
August 1996
Many of the senior members with young families are clearly determined to provide boats for their children to encompass the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) training courses which have been held at the Club during the last 4/5 years. This commitment will ensure the survival of CAYC. The Club is now a recognised training centre under the RYA scheme.
Top of Form
Bottom of Form
Keith Black ends his two years as Commodore, one of the longest standing members to have sat on Committee. (One short break off Committee and he is still doing it...Bar Convener 2000 and in 2001 Sailing Secretary)
Sheela Lewis is voted onto Committee as First "Madam" Commodore
"New Slip" has major renovation work carried out, £12,000. Club members are levied and many offer an additional donation. Also £1,000 donation received from a "Business contact" No loan was required.
July & August 2001
Record number of RYA courses run
at the Club.
Another successful Raft Race,
£1000 donated to the RNLI
March 2002
Snooker Team win 3rd Division
Larne & District League
August 2002
Centenary Regatta, well attended
approx 70 yachts. A beautiful morning
of sailing, followed by a fog bound afternoon with racing abandoned.
Fortunately there were results from the first round of all classes participating.
October 2002
Centenary Formal Dinner Dance.
Quality Hotel, Carrickfergus : 25th
October 2002 the Club is 100 years old
to the Day !