Club History

History Highlights

Highlights of the history of the Belmont 16ft Sailing Club compiled by Gary Beecham.

 1921

 Club Formed after an inaugural meeting on 13th May 1922. 

President: Mark Reid
Secretary: Albert Smith
Treasurer: George Johnson 

1922

Original Club Shed was located over the water on Brooks Parade, Belmont (Opposite the now Belmont Towers).  Built during 1922.

First competitive race - 7th October - won by "Clift" skippered by Jim Parker

First Interclub Race - 24th November - won by "Britannia" skippered by Clarrie Ingall (Toronto) 

1923

The First Clubhouse was officially opened on the 7th October 1923.

First Lake Championship - 17th February - won by "Vaccine" skippered by George Fennel (Toronto)

First Belmont Club Regatta - 31st March - won by "Royal" skippered by R. Launder (Sydney) 

 1922/23 Season

 First Club Championship - won by "Arlene" skippered by Charlie Newton 

1932/33 Season

First Belmont owned Skiff to represent NSW at an Australian Championship held in Perth, WA and transported by ship was "Swansea"

Owner:  Tom Humphreys
Skipper: George Fennel
Crewed by: Tom Humphreys, Foss Fennel, Jack Biddlecombe, Sandy McKay

At the regatta the boat was actually nominated as a representative of Toronta 16ft Sailing CLub as that was where George Fennel was a member however the boat was owned by Belmont's Tom Humphreys. 

1936/37 Season

First Belmont owned Skiff to represent NSW at an Australian Championship held in Brisbane, QLD and transported by ship was "Opah"

Owner: Tom Humphreys
Skipper: Colin Humphreys
Crewed by: Tom Humphreys, Boyd Humphreys, Arch McKinnon 

1938

First Life Member - Jack Lunn 

1945/46 Season

First Belmont owned Skiff to become NSW State Champion, winning the series of only one race was "Youth"

Owner: Barry Hayman
Skipper: Billo Hayward with his own crew from St George club. 

1946/47 Season

First Belmont owned & crewed Skiff to win a NSW State Championship was "Aneas"

Skipper: Boyd Humphreys
Crew: Allan Beveridge, Allan Dawson, John Blain, Athol Crockett 

1948

VJ Dinghy fleet departed Belmont 16ft Sailing Club to form their own club. 

1951/52 Season

First Northern Zone Champion was "Radar".  This was the first official Northern Zone Championship and team selection series for the NSW State Championship.

Skipper: Keith Carpenter
Crew: Billy Smyth, Les Phillips, Jack Russell, Jim Marker 

1952

Club relocated to present location 

1954 

First member elected Life Member of NSW Skiff Association - Tom Humphreys.  Followed by Alf (AJ) Beecham in 1967.  The only two members to date to achieve this honour. 

More coming soon . . . .

We Support