History

The Club was founded in 1949, and a timeline can be found below in relation to the development over time to the Club we know and love today.

If you are interested in reading more about the Dovey Yacht Club we can recommend the following book, copies of which can be found at the Club.

"The Beginnings of the Dovey Yacht Club" by Searson Thompson.

We are proud for our historial tie to the GP14, whcih features the Aberdyfi Bell emblem,  and are hosting the Welsh National Championship 2022 at DYC. 

DYC Commodores (Photo Left)

Top Row Bill Bracewell, David Tildesley Meryl Gover Michael Blamair-Brown, John Alcock Pete Benson

Bottom Row John Benbow, Searson Thompson Jane Grainger, Steve Round, John Tildesley

Photo by Colin Grainger

1950

Captain M Rowlands

 

1951

Brigadier Templar

 

1952

James Nesbit Evans Esq.

 

1953-1958

E. Howard Davies

 

1959-1962

Colonel David H Tildesley.

 

1963-1964

Searson J Thompson Esq.

 

1965-1966

Ralf Davies Esq.

 

1967

Philip Thompson Esq.

 

1968-1969

Searson J Thompson Esq.

 

1970-1971

David G Benbow Esq.

 

1972-1973

Arthur C Richardson Esq.

 

1974-1975

Walter Brindley Esq.

 

1976-1977

Stanley N Bottrill Esq.

 

1978-1979

Albert H Evans Esq.

 

1980-1981

Brian S Whittaker Esq.

 

1981-1983

Jeff Pearce Esq.

 

1983-1986

David Collins Esq.

 

1986-1991

David G Benbow Esq.

 

1991-1993

Robert F Heywood Esq.

 

1993-1996

J.C.A.Tildesley Esq.

 

1996-1998

Meryl Gover

 

1998-2000

Bill Bracewell

 

2000-2002

Michael Blamire-Brown

 

2002-2004

John Alcock

 

2004-2006

Timothy A. Brown Esq.

 

2006-2008

Peter Benson Esq.

 

2008-2009

Stephen Round Esq.

 

2009-2010

Jane Grainger

 

2010-2011

Robin Druett Esq.

 

2011-2013

Bob Usher Esq.

 

2013

Jacqui Bracewell

 

2013-2017

Bob Usher Esq.

 

2017-

Des George Esq.

 

This is a transcription of the board at the top of the stairs leading to the lounge.  The Commodore would like to continue entries to the present year.  Former Commodores and members are asked to forward suggested important events etc., with year, to the Commodore. 

 The Ebb and Flow of the Club’s History from 1949
 

1949                First meeting of Dovey Sailing Club held in Bryn Awel Aberdovey

                        Members’ subscription was 2/6d.    
     

1950                Captain Rowlands – Admiral - later Commodore
                        No sailing on Sundays
                        43 Members
                        First trials of G.P.14

                        Silting up a problem
 
 
The original Club House
 Old Club House

1951                Commodore: Brigadier Templar
                        Bell logo adopted for G.P.14 boats
                        Whist drive in aid of funds
                        Sailing rules drawn up
                        Subscription rose to 5/-
                        Clubroom - Celtic House

                        D.S.C. asked to form committee for proposed Y.G.P.14 ‘o’ boat
 

1952                Commodore: James N. Evans
                        Headed note paper
                        Ration permit renewed

                        Offer of clubroom in the ‘Brit’
 

1953                Commodore: E. Howard Davies
                        Coronation arrangements
                        1st accident insurance policy
                        Membership cards
                        Badges – silver 7/6d – chrome 3/6d

                        Club ties
 

1954                Commodore: E. Howard Davies
                        Beach shelter renovated
                        Starting cannon renovated

                        D.S.C. represented on G.P.14 Association Committee
 

1955                Commodore: E. Howard Davies
                       Club’s original minute book lost

                        Meetings in Celtic House
 

1956                Commodore: E. Howard Davies
                        Starting races by gun not allowed on Sundays
                        Decline in membership

                        Welsh Championships
 

1957                Commodore: E. Howard Davies
                        76 railway sleepers (7/- ea) used to facilitate boat recovery

                        Keys problem with clubhouse
 

1958                Commodore: E. Howard Davies
                        ‘Moth’ boat proposed as class
                        Storage room acquired behind Jones’ ironmongers
                        ‘Working ladies’ consulted
                        Finance - credit balance £100.10s.0d

                        Untidy clubroom complaint
 

1959                Commodore: David H. Tildesley
                        Motor horn instead of gun to start races
                        G.P.14 terylene sails not permitted
                        Finance - credit balance £221.8s.7d.

                        J.B. Tyler becomes G.P.14 national champion
 

1960                Commodore: David H. Tildesley
                        Sailing club car badges 10/6d
                        Rent of club shelter £3.6.3 half year
                        Terylene sails allowed
                        Press secretary appointed

                        Finance – credit balance £315.15s.2p
 

1961                Commodore: David H. Tildesley
                        Institute approached for clubhouse room rental

                        Annual dinner dance held at George Hotel - Walsall
 

1962                Commodore: David H. Tildesley
                        Rumblings of a possible new clubhouse on foreshore
                        Club ‘stickers’ on masts

                        A bench seat for club members proposed
Royal Visit i963
 

1963                Commodore: Searson J. Thompson
                        £500 invested in Defence Bonds

                        Subscriptions £3.3.0d pa
 

1964                Commodore: Searson J. Thompson

                        Club constitution rules completely revised
 

1965                Commodore: Ralph Davies
                        Advert for Cleaner 30/-per week

                        Church services held
 

1966                Commodore: Ralph Davies
                        A.G. Meetings to be held in August

                        Cost of cleaning clubhouse 30/- a week
 

1967                Commodore: Philip Thompson
                        Foreshore development going ahead
                        Three offshore racing buoys lost

                        First G.R.P. GP14 on show in Aberdovey
 

1968                Commodore: Searson J. Thompson
                        Clubhouse outline planning approval received. Est cost £7,790
                        Proposal for water ski-ing

1969                Commodore: Searson J. Thompson
                        Fund raising for new club house
                        Dovey Sailing Club becomes Dovey Yacht Club

                        Sailing to water-bourne activities
 

1970                Commodore: David G. Benbow
                        Work goes ahead for new clubhouse

                        Donation to retiring President R.Y.A. HRH Prince Philip
 

1971                Commodore: David G. Benbow
                        D.Y.C. and G.P.14 featured in G.P.14 Mainsail Magazine
                        Club celebrated its 21st birthday and opening of new clubhouse

The New Club House

                        Cutter race
 

1972                Commodore: Arthur C. Richardson
                        Dinghy park tarmacademed
                        Club acquires its own rescue boat

1973                Commodore: Arthur C. Richards
                        Problems with power boats

                        Fuel shortage

                        Annual dinner & dance – Corbett Arms
 

1974                Commodore: Walter Brindley
                        Boat lease granted 28 years
                        Club finances good
                        Galley charges Tea 5p, Coffee 7p

                        Annual Dinner Dance Parlours Hall Bridgnorth
 

1975                Commodore: Walter Brindley
                        Starting cannon stolen
                        53 GP14s / 4 Solos / 21 Mirrors / 27 odds and sods

                        Dinner Dance Mount Hotel Wolverhampton
 

1976                Commodore: Stanley N. Bottrill
                        Junior boat ownership thriving
                        General water shortage

                        Clywedog SC seeks permission to sail in estuary
 

1977                Commodore: Stanley N. Bottrill
                        Membership 267
                        New safety boat

                        Newsletter proposed
 

1978                Commodore: Albert H. Evans
                        First issue of ‘Dovey Bell’ – journal of DYC
                        Picnic Island proposals
                        Dinghy fleet 14 G.P.14/mirror/solo

                        ‘Singing’ halyard
 

1979                Commodore: Brian Whittaker
                        OOD’s to wear arm bands

                        New Treasurer reports OK except for 6p unaccounted for
 

1980                Commodore: Brian Whittaker
                        40 solo’s racing
                        Senior citizen membership £1

                        125 moored craft in estuary
 

1981                Commodore: Jeff Pearce
                        Finances in the ‘red’

                        Toppers rated unsuitable for the estuary
 

1982                Commodore: Jeff Pearce
                        Prince Charles and Diana ‘call in’
                        Host for Welsh Mirror Class Open

                        Sailboard Open
 

1983                Commodore: David Collins
                        Membership 156

                        Clubhouse timberwork deteriorating
 

1984                Commodore: David Collins
                        Club finances healthy again
                        Balcony renovated (balustrade)

                        Sailing attendances down
 

1985                Commodore: David Collins
                        More sand problems
                        Over 50’s attend course in Cowes I.O.W. for solo’s – David Benbow

                                & Vic Gowers represent D.Y.C.
 

1986                Commodore: David Collins
                        Decline in dinghy sailors
                        Increase in sailboarders

                        Club accused of becoming a ‘gin’ palace
 

1987                Commodore: David Benbow
                        Objections to new clubhouse
                        ‘Graduate’ national championships
                        Annual dinner dance Penmaendovey
                        Sand silting problem

                        Objections to ‘drinks’ licence
 

1988                Commodore: David Benbow
                        Cutter race revived

                        £50,000 needed for new clubhouse
 

1989                Commodore: David Benbow

                        Whitbred Round the World Race – Archy Coghill in ‘Integrity’ lying First with
                                 2,000 miles to go
                        Annual dinner & dance in Aberdovey for first time at ‘Plas Penhelig’
 

1990                Commodore: David Benbow
                        Two yacht club boats compete in Three Peaks Race
                        Serge trains 27 new members

                        8 cruisers sail to Ireland
 

1991                Commodore: Robert F. Heywood
                        New clubhouse opened

                        Visits from H.M.S. ‘Aberdovey’ and H.M.S. ‘Dovey’
 

1992                Commodore: Robert F. Heywood
                        Yacht club wins Carnival trophy
                        First handbook with names and addresses proposed

                        New rescue inflatable acquired
 

1993                Commodore: J.C.A. Tildesley
                       Visit from Ocean Club ‘Francis Drake’ 65’  ketch – Charlie meets the skipper – a female!

                        Stan Hugill plaque unveiled by Tony Davis of the ‘Spinners’
 

1994                Commodore: J.C.A. Tildesley
                        The refuge collapses

                        Revised constitution drawn up
 

1995                Commodore: J.C.A. Tildesley
                        Membership 300

                        V.A.T recovered
 

1996                Commodore : J.C.A. Tildesley
                        Lounge improvements
                        Bar ‘broken’ into

                        Bristol Festival of the Sea ‘Bonnie’ ‘Tremay’ and ‘Bootlegger’ attend
 

1997                Commodore: Meryl Glover
                        ‘Gambit’ Sigma 38’ finishes Ninth overall in 24 hour race Cowes I.O.W.
                        David and Sheila Morris ‘Bonnie’ competed and finished Peking Paris Race for vintage cars

 
1998                Commodore: Meryl Glover
                        ‘Gambit’ brings home the ‘silverware’ from National Championships in Cork, Ireland
 

1999                Commodore: Bill Bracewell
                        Club finances healthy
                        Youth sailing and training week successful

                        Des George masterminds new ‘Dory’ safety boat
 

2000                Commodore: Bill Bracewell


 

A full program of events every year