Yachting in Barrow

Sailing on Walney Channel in about 1905 - BLC 280/SY/WAL 2
Copyright: Cumbria Archive and Local Studies Centre, Barrow-in-Furness
Programme for a regatta and land sports detailing sailing races in Walney Channel- Furness Collection Z2451
Copyright: Cumbria Archive and Local Studies Centre, Barrow-in-Furness
Letter confirming the right of Barrow Yacht Club to be called Royal Barrow Yacht Club 1881 - Furness Collection Z 2258/2
Copyright: Cumbria Archive and Local Studies Centre, Barrow-in-Furness

Barrow Yacht Club

The Barrow Yacht Club was established in 1870 under the patronage of the Duke of Devonshire, the Duke of Buccleuch and James Ramsden. The club met in the old Railway Goods Office on the pier where the members installed a billiard table and news room. The entrance fee was 1 guinea with a yearly subscription of 1 guinea. The first regatta was held at the end of June 1871 between the Mersey Regatta and the Clyde Competition. The first match was  a race from Mersey to Piel with a prize of £50 given by James Ramsden. The following day several races were held and these were watched by a large number of people from Blackpool, Fleetwood, Morecambe and Whitehaven, brought by special trains put on by the Furness Railway Company. On the Sunday the yachts sailed to the Clyde, again competing for £50, this time offered by Schneider. In 1875 the club had 70 yachts and 170 members.

In 1873 Edward Wadham recorded the race to the Clyde in his diary

10 July 1873. By 9 o’clock train to Piel, to see the Yachts start for the Clyde but they declined to do so owing to the heavy wind – arranged for them to start by the night’s tide – Returned to Piel at 6 o’clock with Mr Williams and got the Yachts started at
half past nine – Sir James remained at anchor in Piel roads

The club added the Royal to its name in 1881. Business meetings were held in
the County Club. In the Barrow News and Mail Almanack of 1904 the club is
recorded as being suspended.

Barrow Sailing Club

Inaugurated in 1906 with a view to encouraging amateur boat-building and boat sailing. Regattas are held from time to time on the Walney Channel and the Club at present enjoys a flourishing membership. The club house is situated on the Barrow side of the Channel.

From Furness Year Book 1914

This article is based on an exhibition created by Cumbria Archive and Local Studies Centre, Barrow-in-Furness.

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