Brief History

The Brighton and Seacliff Yacht Club was formed when the Seacliff Sailing Club and a group of sailors from Brighton came together in October 1919 and appointed Mr Benjamin Benny as Commodore.

The Twenties

• Land for a clubhouse was leased from the Minister of National Pleasure Resorts.  The registration fee and stamp duty amounted to the equivalent of $1.25.
• Clubhouse built in 1926 for 450 pounds was opened on Jan 29 1927 with a membership of 70

The Thirties

• Membership affected by the depression but rejuvenated in the late 30s
• Weekly racing on Saturdays took place around a fixed course
• The ‘famous’ Sharpie dinghy was introduced to the Club

The Forties

• After the war, member numbers grew to 116
• Major upgrade to the Club took place

The Fifties

• The Payne-Mortlock Sailing Canoe and the Rainbow were introduced to the Club
• 1st rescue boat added to the Club fleet

The Sixties

• Lightweight Sharpie, International 505 and Holdfast Trainers introduced
• 505 World Championships held at BSYC, the first Australian yacht club ever to hold a World Championship
• By the end of the 60s there were 11 classes of dinghy including 90 Herons

The Seventies

• The heyday...over 1000 members and 330 registered boats
• The Club hosted the 420 Worlds in 1972 where Club members were first and second
• Increased classes included the Mirror, 420, 303, 470 and ‘trailer’ sailors TS16 and Austral 20

The Eighties

• The Club hosted a national championship every year during the 80s
• 505 Worlds held again in 1983
• Interschool regatta introduced
• The club was now recognised as Australia’s ‘World Championship Club’ having extensive experience at running prestige small boat sailing events.
• The Advertiser referred to BSYC as the largest off-the-beach sailing club in the southern hemisphere

The Nineties

• Membership began to fall and by the end of the decade steadied at around 450
• A ‘Future Directions’ committee was formed and recommended the development of junior sailing

The 2000's

• Fleet sizes declined at the start of the century resulting in reduced revenue
• Function centre introduction and the bar becomes the Club's biggest income earner 
• 505 World Championships held in 2007
• Towards the end of the decade membership numbers reinvigorated, especially juniors
• In 2009/10 all BSYC members are state champions in EVERY class sailed at BSYC

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