Clyde Cruising Club

The Clyde Cruising Club was formed in 1909 with the object of encouraging cruising, cruising races and the social side of sailing. Although there are many other yacht clubs on the Clyde and West Coast of Scotland none of them cater specifically for the cruising yachtsmen.
Since its formation the Club has compiled sailing directions for the Scottish coast and islands from the Solway Firth to Buchan Ness. These directions have been completed from information gathered by Club members over the years presented in a manner suitable for yachtsmen. The first sailing directions were published in the Club journals of 1910, 1911, 1912 and 1913. In 1923 they were published as the Clyde Cruising Club Sailing Directions and have since run to ten editions. They have again been updated and are being published in sections. Sketch charts to be used in conjunction with the Sailing Directions were published in 1949 and have been re-issued several times since. A prize, first awarded in 1911 is given annually to the member who makes the most significant contribution to the Sailing Directions
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The Sailing Directions were so highly regarded that at the beginning of the war in 1939 all the unsold copies were called in by the Admiralty and issues to auxiliary vessels and coastal forces: copies are known to have been aboard some enemy vessels.

Since the first years of the Club musters, week-end cruises in company and handicap races have taken place during the season and have always been well supported. In 1913 a race round Holy Isle and Bute attracted an entry of 21 yachts but the race was sailed in very heavy weather and only one boat finished towing her dinghy, a condition of the race not now insisted upon.
The Club was accepted into membership of the Yacht Racing Association (now the RYA) in 1921. In 1925 Club yachts raced to the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club and the Royal Ulster Yacht Club in Belfast Lough. The first ocean race from Scotland was run from the Clyde to the Clyde via the Kish light vessel in 1933. Cruising races became very popular and the first Tobermory Race took place in 1932. In this year the Club became a member of the Clyde Yacht Clubs Association.
Now there are races to Ireland every year and the Blue Water Trophy Race regularly takes competitors to other countries
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Good seamanship and competent navigation have always been encouraged: this admirable tradition was started in 1913 when a syllabus was published in the Journal and arrangements made with the Royal Technical College in Glasgow for tuition each week. A certificate was awarded to those members who had passed in the examination, in the practical work in seamanship and who had completed 300 miles of cruising outwith the Firth of Clyde. Such classes are now run by further education colleges but the Club is still requested to comment on course syllabuses. Basic seamanship is still taught by Club members to the Dinghy Section members at Bardowie Loch and Club members are encouraged to obtain Royal Yachting Association qualifications.
The Club looks after members interests and those of all yachtsmen cruising in Scottish waters. The Club is asked to comment on proposed developments which may affect cruising yachtsmen and encourages those which are of benefit.

Cruising prizes, trophies and cups

Clyde Cruising Club has an impressive number of cruising prises, trophies and cups; these are awarded annually for logs, literature and seamanship. The Coats Cup and the Sailing Directions prize were first awarded in 1911.
John Dobie Memorial Trophy
Awarded to the yacht with the highest achievements in cruising and racing.
Coats Cup
The best cruise of the season, unrestricted as to duration or size of yacht.
Ogg Challenge Cup
The best cruise of the season not exceeding 21 days, but without restriction as to size of yacht.
Murray Blair Challenge Trophy
The best cruise of the season by a yacht of under 9 tons Thames Measurement and not exceeding 18 days.
Gibson Cup
The best cruise of the season by a motor yacht, a motor sailor, or a yacht cruising under engine.
Donald McNamara Trophy
A cruise of merit, unrestricted as to duration or size of yacht, but with no credit given to distance covered under power.
Transatlantic Tankard
This trophy will be awarded for the best log or narrative of a Transatlantic voyage by a Member either as skipper or crew member.
Sailing Directions Prize
A prize will be awarded for the best contribution of information for the sailing directions.
Barra Cup
The best log of the season submitted by a Cadet Member of the Club. Preference will be given to a log of a cruise to the Outer Hebrides.
Vatersay Cup
A log of merit submitted by a Cadet or Junior Member of the Club. When assessing the entries for the Barra and Vatersay Cups, the Judges will make allowances for age.
The Sunflower Salver
This salver will be awarded by the Commodore for a cruise of great merit, for an outstanding feat of sailing or navigation or for any other act or service which enhances the reputation of the Clyde Cruising Club.
The America Cup
This trophy will be awarded for the best performance in the Blue Water Trophy Race combined with the log or narrative of a cruise thereafter.
R.G.Mowat Trophy
This trophy will be awarded for the best maritime narrative submitted which is aligned with the aims and objectives of the Club. The Editor of the Journal will judge the award of this trophy from the contributions which he receives.
Ferrier Seamanship Trophy
The trophy is awarded to a person who is judged to have displayed a responsible attitude to the art of seamanship during the season, either on a particular occasion or over a longer period.
Caledonian Trophy
This trophy will be presented to the winner of a cruising competition which is judged solely on the distance a yacht covers during its cruise, anchorages visited and the route taken.
Cruising Musters
Several cruising musters are held each season at suitable anchorages where a variety of on the water and shore based events are held for all ages.

Publications

The newsletter “Tidelines”, is sent to all members.
The Year Book contains details of members’ yachts, sail numbers and handicaps, gives the sailing instructions for the Club’s races and details of the programme of all events for the year.
The Club Journal is a large publication containing logs, articles, poems and stories by members and is a pleasant record of each year’s activities.

Social Events

A formal dinner and dance and prize giving is held for members and their friends in November.
A varied series of lectures, film shows and social gatherings are held in January, February and March. These illustrated talks are given by both local and national personalities and are very popular with members and friends.

Sailing Directions

Clyde Cruising Club has compiled Sailing Directions of the Scottish coast for yachtsmen: amendments of these directions are published regularly.
The following volumes of Clyde Cruising Sailing Directions and Club publications are available from the Club Office.

Shetland Islands
Orkney Islands and North & North East Coast
Outer Hebrides
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan
Ardnamurchan to Cape Wrath
Firth of Clyde
Log Books
Members may also purchase clothing and other sailing accessories bearing club insignia.

Racing

Offshore Races
A series of offshore races is run each season with a points championship.
Blue Water Trophy Races
A long distance race of over 200 miles is run biannually and finishes have been provided for this race in Norway, Brittany & Ireland as well as in Scotland.
Inshore Races
Inshore and passage races with courses from 10 to 50 miles are run throughout the season.
Scottish Series
A sponsored series of races is run each year in May. This series has attracted over 280 entries and is now probably the second largest event for cruising yachts in U.K. waters.
The Club has a large number of handsome trophies which are awarded annually for the Club’s races. The variety of our races and competing classes ensures that these prizes are well distributed among the competitors. More than three hundred different yachts compete each year in the Club’s races.

Dinghy Section

The Club Trust owns Bardowie Loch where the Dinghy Section has a clubhouse and a fleet of GP14, Optimist and Laser sailing dinghies and challenger trimarans. Points racing series are run on specific evenings during the season and the Club championship finals are held in September each year.
The members are given tuition in sailing and seamanship and must pass the Club test before taking charge of a Club dinghy. A crew list is maintained so that some cadets can be invited to gain experience on member’s yachts. Board sailing takes place at Bardowie and the competition is keen. Instruction is given in this sport by members. The Optimist dinghies are available for the younger members.
The objects of the club are to encourage cruising and cruising races and foster the social side of sailing on the Firth of Clyde and elsewhere and to do such things as may be considered desirable to promote the interests of yachting generally.

Associations with Other Clubs
The Clyde Cruising Club is a member of:
The Royal Yachting Association
Clyde Yacht Clubs Association
The Irish Sea Offshore Racing Association
Scottish Inland Waterways Association
The Conference of Yacht Cruising Clubs
The Clyde Cruising Club has association with and co-operates with:
The Royal Ocean Racing Club
The Cruising Association
The Irish Cruising Club
Royal Cruising Club
And has contact with similar bodies in Europe and North America