That Reminds Me: History of Pembs Yacht Club on 100th anniversary

This year is the Pembs Yacht Club's centenary and to commemorate this, their honorary treasurer, Henry Lloyd, has provided me with lots of interesting gen regarding its early days.

The first Yacht Club was officially formed in 1923, with the late Sir Hugh Thomas of Castle Pill as Commodore. In those days meetings took place from time to time at the former Great Western Hotel at Neyland.

By the late 1920's the club had moved to Milford, and a headquarters had been established in the back room of the Kings Arms, at Hakin Point, from where racing took place.

Throughout the Thirties other clubs were being formed in the county, and the original function of the PYC at Hakin, which was to represent all Pembrokeshire sailing, diminished and it became a purely local club, no longer controlling all harbour events.

In 1938, a coffin maker by the name of Williams of Aberystwyth, built, at a cost of £65 each, what was to become the PYC's best loved boats - the 18' O.D. class - for a number of local owners. Because of their almost unlimited crew capacity, these yachts proved very popular, especially with young sailing enthusiasts who had not aspired to a boat of their own. These 18 footers were never reefed.

When the wind freshened, another person, or sometimes 2 or 3, were shipped on for the extra weight. It was not unusual in those days to see youngsters lined up along the Point, praying for a good strong breeze. They all knew that these yachts could be manned by anything up to a dozen in rough weather.

They were also used for ferrying everything but the kitchen sink to beach picnics, and bottles of beer were kept cool and passed from yacht to yacht on a line in the sea. These fine boats eventually disappeared when the club decided to adopt the G.P. 14 as the standard racer.

GP14 on Gellyswick (Image: Jeff Dunn)

Major problems arose when changes on the Board of Milford Dock Co. led to the withdrawal of all facilities which had been enjoyed at Hakin Point, but fortunately, the then Milford Council came to the rescue, offering the club a lease on some old, condemned cottages at Gellyswick. 

Greatly relieved club members immediately formed a "task force" that included carpenters, masons, electricians, ditch diggers and plasterers, and those who weren't artisans, willingly acted as tradesmen's mates. Apparently, their wives were astonished to see their spouses - particularly those who normally evaded DIY duties like the plague - suddenly become so "energised."

So much so, that within a few months the place became habitable, and the PYC moved in.

The 1959 Regatta took place, the PYC had arrived at Gellyswick.

In the early days, the PYC was a "men only" stronghold, but in their 1948 AGM, in the upstairs room of the Kings Arms, the female sex finally made their entry. Soon, a small group of them began to do a little catering, nothing too grand, Belton's Butchers basket full of sandwiches, and slices of Wellin's slab cake in a shoe box when sailing at Angle or Dale.

Great Western Hotel, Neyland (Image: Jeff Dunn)

On Regatta days they commandeered the old boatshed at Hakin Point, and raised money selling sandwiches filled with fresh crab, scrounged from the French lobstermen, and cups of tea brewed in an old boiler.

When the move to Gellyswick happened, despite the dramatic transformation of the old cottages into a more modern HQ, there was still one facility missing. A "Ladies" loo. It was the arrival of the Royal Yacht Britannia, with Queen Elizabeth on board, that finally decided things. They realised that there was no way that Her Majesty could be invited to call, because if she needed to make use of a "throne, " there was no facility there for a "Royal Wee."

So by means of raffles, dances, whist drives, jumble sales, barbecues, and a bazaar, enough cash was raised to procure a "Ladies Powder Room" with "Pink pearl" seats adding a touch of luxury. 

The younger element of the yachting world were also welcomed into the fold and on 5th March 1965, a Youth Section room was officially opened by the Director of Education for Pembrokeshire.

In 1972 the PYC was accepted as an R.Y.A - approved Teaching Establishment.

I am extremely grateful to Henry for all the information, and TRM wishes Gellyswick's Pembrokeshire Yacht Club a happy hundredth birthday and congratulations to all who've helped her sail for so long.

Gellyswick caravan park (Image: Jeff Dunn)

Here's a few snaps to go with it.

1. A GP14 enjoying the Gellyswick waters.

2. The Great Western Hotel in Neyland, where early meetings were held.

3. The Gellyswick Caravan Park..which was situated just around the corner from the PYC club.

That's me finished for another week, except for more of those words of wisdom, which today comes from Mr. Edmund Wilson: "As I grow older, I have learned to read the papers calmly...and not to hate the fools I read about."

Take care, and please stay safe.