1945 - 1966: Post WW2

Mr Vernon returned to the fray in the early 1960s when he re-formed Chichester Yacht Club. The Lock keepers cottage was enlarged with a club room on the ground floor and living quarters above which until 2004 still housed one of the club staff members. He also initiated the dredging of the Salterns to form the marina, a project he did not live to see completed but for which we must give him credit for starting. 

Original Clubhouse

1967-1999: Club Growth and Development

On 26th March 1967, following a successful resolution of a meeting held at the Egremont Club, Chichester Yacht Club was formally established. This was the time when the Club became a more traditional sailing club with the 3 main sections we still have today Dinghies, Motors and Yachts. 

It has always been the policy of the Club to foster Family Membership, with the children of members encouraged to participate whenever they can. The Club allows members who do not necessarily own a boat, but have a mutual interest in water-based activities in all their different forms.

Minutes of Founding Meeting -1

Minutes of Founding Meeting -2

Minutes of Founding Meeting -3

Minutes of Founding Meeting -4

Minutes of Founding Meeting - Attendees

Over the next few decades, the Club saw continued growth in its membership, together with activities both on and off the water. During the season, there were regular weekend Motor and Yacht cruises around the Solent, Occasionally, venturing further afield, with extended cruises to the West Country, the Channel Islands and the continent, in the right conditions!.

The Dinghy Section organised weekend races for both handicap and dinghy classes. Large fleets of Albacores, GP14,  Solos, Lasers, Mirrors and Toppers could be seen regularly on the water. During the winter months for the more hardy sailors, the Club organised its open Snowflake Series. This series grew in both size and reputation, with entrants coming from across the south of England and beyond. At its peak, over 200 dinghies of all classes could be seen on the waters on a Sunday morning.

Snowflake Race committee Boat

As the Club grew in size, it became clear that the original Clubhouse was becoming too small and over crowded at peek times. Despite the numbers, Edna and Norman Danes provided a good service via a small hatch and bar area.

Busy Times

Restaurant Serving Hatch

Open Bar

Bar looking North

Main entrance to the Bar

The Club managed to negotiate a change to its lease, from a 5 years to a 70 years. This enabled the Club to invest significantly in the Clubhouse. The first major development occurred in the early 1990s under Commodore John Ascoli with the construction of the new Restaurant and Bar with meals served from the kitchen hatch and which saw a dramatic increase in membership and activities both on and off the water.

John Ascoli turning the first sod of earth, together with Peter Hughes (Architect)

Clubhouse under construction

John Ascoli at the official opening of the new Clubhouse 1992

Last updated 17:05 on 10 January 2025