[Introduction]
[Blithfield Reservoir]
[BSC History]
[The Committee]
[Blithfield Hall]

Our History

The origins of Blithfield Sailing Club can be traced back to a meeting in Rugeley on Wednesday 15th February, 1967. This meeting had been called to form a group to negotiate for permission to sail at Blithfield. From this meeting the Mercian Yacht Club, forerunner to Blithfield Sailing Club, was formed.

Following lengthy negotiations, approval in principle was received in March 1969. Further meetings to complete the details were held and on 24th September 1969, Blithfield Sailing Club was formally constituted.

Then followed the lengthy procedures of applying for grant aid, preparing plans for the clubhouse, raising money from prospective members and then seeing all hopes realised with the building and equipping of the clubhouse. the building commenced on 31st March 1971 and was handed over to the club on 1st January 1972. Boats actually took oto the water for the first time on 4th March 1972. The official opening was on Saturday 20th May 1972 by Lord Burntwood. Organised racing commenced with the Autumn series points racing. The original classes of boats in 1972 were Fireball, Merlin Rocket, GP14, and OK.

In April 1996, the club became a RYA recognised teaching establishment. On 24th May 2000, Sport England awarded the Club a grant from the Lottery Development Fund to extend the clubhouse facilities and purchase new training boats. Today the classes are, Osprey, RS, Merlin Rocket, Laser, General, Sailboard and Optimist.

The Blithfield emblem, the Bagot Goat is used by kind permission of Lady Nancy Bagot.