“Lets form a club” was first heard as early as 1948 but it wasn’t until March 1949 when 18 like-minded people gathered at the ‘Jolly Sailor’ Public House on Hythe Quay, Maldon for the first General Meeting. During these early meetings the Club was born and named ‘Maldon Yacht Club’. The design and colours for the burgee were decided; green for the river, white for the crest of a wave and black for the mud!
In November 1950 plans were in place to build the first club house on the Hythe Quay at an estimated cost of £200 raised from membership loans. The new clubhouse was opened in July 1951 and was later extended in 1952.
An acre of reclaimed land (site of the current dinghy park) suitable for a new clubhouse was investigated and by 1963 the Club was entering into lease negotiations. By the early 1970’s the new dinghy park had proved to be a great success and had attracted new members. The possibility of a new clubhouse on the site started to be considered.
Planning permission for a barge to be moored adjacent to the Dinghy Park was given in November 1979. The ‘Jim Main’ barge was purchased for £1,750. A further £300 was paid to tow it from Green Hythe to the Hythe Quay where conversion work began in January 1980. It was all hands on deck on the weekend of 26th and 27th April to ensure that the newly converted ‘Jim Main’ could be towed from the Hythe Quay to its present mooring adjacent to the Dinghy Park on the 10th May 1980.
With a new Clubhouse came new sailing honours in the early 80’s. The Cock of the River open was won by Paul and Annette Springett in 1980 (first won by MYC in 1965). Nigel Musto attended the 470 Junior World Championships in Sweden and gained an excellent 5th place. He later became the 470 National Champion (the first National Champion in the Club’s history). 1982 saw a clean sweep by MYC at the Blackwater and Colne Dinghy Championships (Cock of the River for the second time in three years). The Stone Challenge Cup and the Coronation Cup were also won by Club members. In 1984 Kay Hedgecock and Annette Springett were the ladies 420 National Champions. They also achieved a marvellous 4th place in the 470 National Championships. As part of the British Team, Kay and Annette went on to 12th place in the 470 World Championships held in Scotland. Another lady member, Christine Brooks, took part in the selection trials for the World Laser Championships in this year.
For the remainder of the 80’s and into the 90’s the Club has has continued to thrive and promote the sport of sailing. Membership now stands at some 200. The fire that completely destroyed the Osea Sailing Clubhouse in December 1994 gave Maldon Yacht Club the opportunity to offer a helping hand and re-new old friendships. A number of Osea members joined the Club and have greatly contributed to our Club’s well being.
