Clyde Cruising Club’s Dinghy Section opens the doors on a new era
Friday 21 May 2004
Clyde Cruising Club’s Dinghy Section, based at Bardowie Loch near Glasgow, voted RYA Scotland Club of the Year in 2003, has yet more to celebrate in 2004. Tuesday 25 May will herald the official opening of the stunning new clubhouse and training complex on the banks of the loch by Boyd Tunnock MBE, well known Clyde yachtsman and Managing Director of the family owned biscuit maker Tunnock’s.
This major project, the biggest in the club’s 94 year history, has pulled together support from throughout the club’s membership, individuals and trust funds, as well as an award of £175,000 from sportscotland to raise the huge £450,000 necessary to expand one of Scotland’s key sail training establishments.
Alastair Dempster, Chairman of sportscotland added: “We are delighted to have supported the Clyde Cruising Club Project with an award of £175,000 from the sportscotland Lottery Fund Sports Facilities Programme. This award demonstrates sportscotland’s commitment to providing quality, accessible facilities for people of all ages and abilities across Scotland.
The Clyde Cruising Club, founded in 1909, established its Dinghy Section in 1932 when Bardowie Loch was leased by the club to provide a suitable venue at which to teach sailing. The original clubhouse, incorporating a jetty, was established in 1933 for a mere £31 and a fleet of dinghies were commissioned. Sir Thomas Dunlop, then Commodore of the Clyde Cruising Club, opened the facility in May of that year.
The buildings extended and changed over a number of years to accommodate the growing numbers of people who wanted to learn to sail at the loch. New boats were acquired and eventually in 1955, the club purchased Bardowie Loch for £1,000. A new clubhouse followed in 1953 and in 1958 nine new boats from the drawing board of Glasgow’s GL Watson were launched on the loch.
The 70’s proved to be a decade of recognition at the club with the award of RYA Teaching Establishment status, which prompted the acquisition of yet more boats. However, in 1977, the sailshed was destroyed by fire, followed in 1981 by another fire which destroyed the clubhouse. A new clubhouse was built in 1982, but as the dinghy section expanded, it quickly became too small and outdated and in 1996 planning permission for the new club complex was approved.
In the past three or four years, plans for Bardowie’s new training facilities, befitting a club which has taught thousands of young people and adults to sail over the years, has moved from the drawing board to reality.
Clive Scott, Commodore of the club explained: “There have been so many people involved in making Bardowie what it is today and in taking this project from paper to fruition that it is impossible to single out individuals, but what is very clear, is that without that historic commitment and support from the yachting side of the club and tireless dedication of our strong team of instructors and bosuns, we would never have managed to get this fantastic training centre off the ground.
“It has been an honour for me to be involved with the Bardowie project and I know that I speak for the whole team when I say how proud we are of the fact that this new clubhouse will allow Clyde Cruising Club’s Dinghy Section to bring sailing to many more generations. It will be an exceptional facility.”
Alastair Dempster, Chairman of sportscotland added: “We are delighted to have supported the Clyde Cruising Club Project with an award of £175,000 from the sportscotland Lottery Fund Sports Facilities Programme. This award demonstrates sportscotland’s commitment to providing quality, accessible facilities for people of all ages and abilities across Scotland.
“The wide range of sailing programmes that the club offers is sure to encourage the local community to participate in sport on a more regular basis, helping to promote and achieve our vision of getting more people, more active, more often.”
The official opening will take place on Tuesday 25 May at 6.30pm for 7pm – there will be a truly festival atmosphere and invited guests, members of the local community and Clyde Cruising Club members, past and present, will be made welcome.
The Dinghy Section will follow the official opening with an Open Day on Saturday 12 June, to allow everyone interested to come along and try their hand at sailing. Training is to be held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings throughout the summer months
- Clyde Cruising Club’s Dinghy Section at Bardowie Loch has been a training venue for young people and adults alike from all walks of life. The club has excellent sail training in place for schools and has very close ties with Sailability Scotland – RYA Scotland’s organisation for disabled sailors
- Coaching on the loch takes place throughout the summer for which membership is available. The club owns a large fleet of dinghies for use by members.
- Pictures are available.