History of Neyland Yacht Club

Neyland Yacht Club was formed in the early sixties by a band of keen sailors and friends, eager to establish dinghy racing on this part of the Cleddau.

Prior to the club being opened in 1963, dinghy racing took place off the Promenade, with the races being started by the sound of a car horn!

Gradually more sophisticated methods of starting and finishing races was introduced, with a voluntary collection of sixpence a week, going towards the purchase of cartridges.

The starters crew of Joan (The Bread) Griffiths, Joan (The Bush) Griffiths, Hywel Powell, Stanley Edwards, ably assisted by Jack and Stanley Griffiths, David Jenkins, Tommy Nicholas, Jack Bowen, Jack Whelham, and John Edwards, eventually established a permanent club, where today’s youngsters enjoy so many of the benefits created by these enthusiastic members.    

Racing took place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, with initially 3 GP14s. The numbers quickly increased to approximately 25/30, many having built their own boats, in garden sheds and bake houses!

A successful period followed, with many of the NYC crews gaining recognition at local, national and international events.

Interest waned in the eighties and dinghy racing became almost non-existent.

In 1991 a number of members decided that Neyland Yacht Club should revive the dinghy sailing.
A junior sailing section was reborn with the purchase of four “MIRROR” dinghies.

Senior members of the club trundled off on Sunday afternoons to the Haverfordwest swimming pool to practice capsize drill with the young sailors

An enterprising leasing scheme devised by the club, assisted parents to purchase boats, which resulted in a fleet of “mirror” dinghies training on Tuesday nights.  Racing soon followed with as many as 20 dinghies turning out on Thursday nights.

The next stage was to set up a training syllabus, teaching knots, capsize drill, boat rigging, and sailing a triangular course.

In 1997 the club reached a milestone in its history by becoming a recognised R.Y.A training establishment.

Currently around 75 children from various backgrounds are being trained at Neyland Yacht Club every Monday and Tuesday evenings, in what used to be regarded as an élitist sport.

Many of today’s juniors are now established in Welsh Area sailing squads, and a number are on the threshold of the Welsh team.

Cruiser racing is also a big part of Neyland Yacht Club sailing calendar.

The season starts in April with a series of  6 consecutive Sunday races sponsored by Neyland Yacht Haven.

The Wednesday night spring series sponsored by the Dale Sailing, and jointly organized by Neyland and Pembroke Haven Yacht Club starts around the middle of April for 10 consecutive weeks. There then follows a summer series for 10 weeks through to September. Interspersed with  these events are all the County Club regattas taking place throughout the summer.

The season ends with the winter series again sponsored by Neyland Yacht Haven, a series of 12 races run alternately with Pembroke Haven Yacht Club.

Neyland Yacht Club has a proud tradition of being a family orientated club, where visitors are guaranteed to have a warm welcome.

Besides having a full sailing programme, the club has a varied social calendar throughout the year.

Annual membership fees at present are probably the lowest in the area. Fees for membersgip and boat parking can be found under Membership.

A visit to the club would not be complete without having tasted the excellent cuisine provided by the chef Lee.

If you are a visiting, or have just moved to the area, and have an interest in boating, please visit us, you will not be disappointed. 

Home