About the Balmain Sailing Club
Our Story – How it all began
The original Balmain Sailing Club was formed in October 1885, in the era of the wonderfully over-canvassed open boats that varied in length from the 22 footers down to the impossibly proportioned six footers – the hull was six foot wide and six foot long, but they were 22 foot from the tip of their bow-sprit to the end off the boom!
These eighteen foot open boats were the forerunners of today's thrilling eighteen foot skiffs that skim the surface of the Harbour today, and which have ultimately led to the Olympic Class 49ers.
The story of the development of the Club, the heady days and wildly popular events is part of Sydney sailing folklore and it probably best told by the various news articles held now by the State Library of NSW. This was when people watched from the shorelines around Sydney harbour when sailing was an entertainment to be watched and enjoyed.
The Balmain Sailing Club was re-established in 1995 after a period of little activity for nearly 50 years, when a community based group took over the lease for a premises at the foot of Water Street, Birchgrove, previously known as The Balmain 12ft Skiff Club. It was renamed the Balmain Sailing Club.
As the clubhouse and deck were in disrepair, a fundraising and building program was organised. Many enthusiastic and hardworking volunteers came along to transform the club into the facility it is today.
Some of the current members can still recall, among other things, the early working bee during which they turned over the deck timbers as the undersides were in good condition while the exposed surfaces had deteriorated badly.
Around the same time, a group was sailing on Mondays from Birkenhead Point -- the Birkenhead Yacht Club -- when this club disbanded a lot of members joined Balmain Sailing Club.
The Club was once again underway -- with the rebuilding of the deck, the inclusion of dinghies and the establishment of a sailing school. Under the guidance of the first office bearers and committee, the club began to grow and is still growing today.
Some cruising activity was enjoyed with picnic BBQs at Store Beach, the ‘Two Cats’ Race/Cruise (Tiger Town to Lion Island) and an annual Easter cruise. A cruising captain’s role was established and became part of the sailing committee. Sailaways were held to locations within Sydney Harbour, and there were always members undertaking longer voyages -- something that continues to this day.
The present
More than 70 boats now participate in the Friday twilight races, 30 boats on summer Sundays, and more than 60 now race in the new West Harbour Winter Series.
Today, the Balmain Sailing Club is a friendly, inclusive sailing club with active racing, training and cruising. The emphasis is on fun and friendly competition, in a beautiful waterfront location.
The future
We're writing that right now – why not join us and become part of the story!
2023-2024 Club Directors
- Commodore: Campbell Reid
- Vice-Commodore / Race Director: Chris Price
- Secretary: Colin Grove
- Treasurer: Ed Tacey
- Director: Sharon Harvey
- Director: Ray Miller
- Director: Chantelle Hodgson
- Director: Geoff Watkins
Incident and Risk Plans
Minutes of Committee Meetings
- Meeting Minutes - 21 February 2024 (PDF)
- Profit & Loss - 1 April 2023 to 21 February 2024 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 6 December 2023 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 8 November 2023 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 4 October 2023 (PDF)
- Profit & Loss - 2 months ended 31 October 2023 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 6 September 2023 (PDF)
- Profit & Loss - to 30th September 2023 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 9 August 2023 (PDF)
- Profit & Loss - to 31 July 2023 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 12 July 2023 (PDF)
- Electronic Circular Resolution (PDF)
- Minutes of the Annual General Meeting - 21 June 2023 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 7 June 2023 (PDF)
- Profit & Loss - 12 months ended 31 May 2023 (PDF)
- Fees Calendars 2023 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 5 April 2023 (PDF)
- Profit & Loss - 1 April 2022 - 31 March 2023 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 8 March 2023 (PDF)
- Profit & Loss - 1 April 2022 to 8 March 2023 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 8 February 2023 (PDF)
- Profit & Loss - 1 April 2022 to 8 February 2023 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 9 November 2022 (PDF)
- Profit & Loss - 1 April 2022 to 8 November 2022 (PDF)
- 2022 Balmain Regatta FInancials (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 12 October 2022 (PDF)
- Profit & Loss - 1 April 2022 to 11 October 2022 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 15 September 2022 (PDF)
- Profit & Loss - 1 April 2022 to 15 September 2022 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 28 July 2022 (PDF)
- Profit & Loss - 1 April 2022 to 28 July 2022 (PDF)
- Minutes of the Annual General Meeting - 20 July 2022 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 1 June 2022 (PDF)
- Profit & Loss - 1 April 2022 to 31 May 2022 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 4 May 2022 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 6 April 2022 (PDF)
- Profit & loss - 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 9 March 2022 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 9 February 2022 (PDF)
- Profit & Loss - 1 April 2021 to 9 February 2022 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 14 December 2021 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 1 December 2021 (PDF)
- Profit & Loss - 1 April to 1 December 2021 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 3 November 2021 (PDF)
- Floating Skid Re-Build Plans (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 6 October 2021 (PDF)
- Minutes of the Annual General Meeting - 1 Sept 2021 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 1 September 2021 (PDF)
- Annual Report 2020-2021 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 4 August 2021 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 7 July 2021 (PDF)
- 2021-2022 Committee Nomination Form (PDF)
- Notice of AGM and Election of Directors for 2021-2022 (PDF)
- Profit & Loss - 1 April 2021 to 7 June 2021 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 7 June 2021 (PDF)
- Profit & Loss - 1 April 2020 - 31 March 2021 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 10 May 2021 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 12 April 2021 (PDF)
- Profit & Loss - For year ended 31 March 2021 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 15 March 2021 (PDF)
- Treasurer Update - 16 February 2021 (Excel)
- Sail PASS: Use and Pricing - 16 February 2021 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 16 February 2021 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 16 December 2020 (PDF)
- Profit and Loss - For the month ended 31 December 2020 (PDF)
- Profit Loss - 1 April 2020 to 16 November 2020 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 18 November 2020 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 14 October 2020 (PDF)
- 2020/2021 Balmain Sailing Club Management Committee Minutes (PDF)
- Minutes of the Annual General Meeting 2020 (PDF)
- Profit Loss - April-August 2020 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 26 August 2020 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 22 July 2020 (PDF)
- RYA Webinars on the Future of Sailing - 17 June 2020 (PDF)
- Launch Pontoon Plans - 17 June 2020 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 17 June 2020 (PDF)
- Forecast - For the months ended 31 July 2019 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 15 April 2020 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 11 March 2020 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 12 February 2020 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 12 December 2019 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 7 November 2019 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 2nd October 2019 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 6th September 2019 (PDF)
- Annual Report 2018/19 (PDF)
- Meeting Minutes - 8th August 2019 (PDF)