royal north devon yacht club

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North Devon Yacht Club

North Devon Yacht Club was originally formed in 1905 as the Taw and Torridge SC.

Two years later the Round House on the quay was leased as the clubhouse and heated arguments arose between the members over finance. Some influential members had joined only to play bridge, so when in 1910 a deficit arose in the accounts, it was suggested that one of the club’s few boats be sold. Sailing members were not amused.

Another issue was that women members had been given equal rights to the men, which some on the committee wished to revoke. The result was a breakaway group forming the North Devon SC. Hostilities were postponed in the Great War and they eventually reunited in 1926 – with the name changing to North Devon YC after World War II. The first sailing craft of the club were designed by Morgan Gites, and the commission was to build a sturdy boat able to stand the strong winds from the Atlantic and the conditions of the estuary. The boat was called the Taw and Torridge One-Design and was built by the Appledore firm of Hinks, Waters and Blackmore for a cost of £24 complete with sails, iron centre board, oars, ballast and anchor. These lasted until 1926, being replaced by a new one-design fitted with the ultra-modern Bermuda Rig. These boats were in service until the Wayfarers were introduced in 1960. In 1971, the old railway line closed — it now has wide leisure use as the Tarka Trail — and the former Instow station and yard was purchased, and a new clubhouse built.

There are some famous names associated with the club. The first commodore was Rear Admiral Sir Edward Chichester who played a significant part in the Spanish-American War of 1898. At any rate on his death, a squadron of USA ships escorted his body home. The Chichester name will give a clue to another famous member, Sir Francis Chichester, who sailed the world in ‘Gypsy Moth IV’. Henry Williamson, author of Tarka the Otter , was an active member in the 1930s. Nowadays the club has 550 members, of which just over 100 are cadets. The majority of members own boats, there are some 70 cruisers, 25 dayboats, 40 motor boats, a large monohull and fast catamaran fleet and 35 Sprint 15 Sports — the largest such fleet in the country. The club owns a fleet of Picos, Sport 14s and Wayfarers for training purposes. The club is also an RYA teaching establishment, providing instructors and safety boat courses, dinghy sailing courses and RYA courses for cadets.

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Location and sailing area of North Devon Yacht Club North Devon YC is near Instow, a picturesque village on the estuary of the Rivers Taw and Torridge. The village is six miles from Barnstaple and three miles from Bideford. Most visitors travel from junction 27 of the M5 up the North Devon link road A361 to Barnstaple, then following the grandly-named Atlantic Highway A39 towards Bideford. Instow is signposted off this road. The sailing waters are always interesting. Tides at Bideford range from 6.3m on a high spring tide to 2.9m on a neap. As we sail on the estuary, we can only get on the water about two hours before high tide. Most races start from Inner Home about one and a half hours before high tide and head out to Puttermouth buoy or up towards Bideford bar at Inner Pulley. In light winds you have to get out of the tide if possible. The tide runs less fiercely off Instow beach and there are back eddies off Appledore. The downside is that you run the risk of running aground on Instow beach and the wind is often fickle off Appledore. The tide runs particularly fiercely in the main channel between Appledore and Inner Pulleys, especially near the lifeboat moorings. The solution is to go amongst the moorings off Appledore where the tide is lighter. The danger is catching your rudder in moorings, or worse still, being too brave and catching rudders on the rocks at the edge of the water – very expensive! Once out into Skern Bay or by Pulleys, you usually get more constant wind. The water round Inner Pulley is often a challenge. The prevailing wind is straight off the sea. Inner and Outer Pulley buoys guard the notorious Bideford Bar, which visiting yachts are rightfully wary about. The waves as the water reaches the bar are often breaking above you. For the dinghy sailors keeping upright is the main issue here. With a good Force 4-5 wind, the sailing is however superb. Dinghy sailors should give Inner Pulleys a wide berth. As you round it the tide is pushing you onto it – it’s big and green and makes an awful sound when you hit it. For visiting cruisers, getting into the estuary requires careful handling. On the one side is Bideford Bar, on the other is North Shore – basically an extension of Saunton Sands beach, with Braunton Burrows behind. At night, entrance involves lining up the leading lights which gives a safe passage into the estuary but the margin for error is not that great.

Facilities There is a large clubhouse with lounge, bar and kitchen facilities, plus a control tower is on the second floor. The changing rooms are housed in the old station waiting room – but much refurbished. Access is easy with good parking at the clubhouse and vehicule access to the boat park. The boat park accommodates all cruisers for winter storage.

What the sailors say

Steve Richardson is a member of the Sprint 15 fleet and also owns a Wayfarer. He has been a member for four years.

“When I moved to Instow, I wanted to get back into sailing which I hadn’t done for a number of years. This club has been fantastic. It’s really friendly and has a brilliant atmosphere. People came out with me to get me going again, and nobody seemed to mind when I was last in by miles, keeping the rescue boat out long after the rest were in!”

“The Sprint 15 fleet is very active. Sunday races are the busiest with 20-plus 15s sometimes. Helms take it seriously, but there is a good level of banter. The bar is a good place to mull over the race and discuss the near misses and the capsizes. On a summer’s day after a race, sitting on the balcony with a pint, looking out over the estuary after a race has got to be one of life’s little pleasures.”

“Throughout the winter and in the season, there are many dinners, barbeques and other events that keep people together.”

Pat Hughes is vice commodore. She sails a 30ft MacWester Wight ketch ‘Hideaway’.

She said, “The club is a jolly and friendly place. It is so diverse, and with all the different boats it makes it interesting. The club is in a stunning setting. It is special because a lot of people who sail here started off as cadets so they keep an attachment to the club.”

Marylee Scott is aged 17, and a cadet member and instructor. She has sailed at the club for some eight years. “The club is very welcoming to new members. People are always willing to help. Cadets are a great opportunity to meet new people, making new friends but learning to sail as well. We have social events every month when we all meet up. In cadets week we sail off to Crow Point for a picnic. The racing games are a lot of fun.”

Vital statistics

Contact: North Devon YC, Instow, Bideford EX39 4HW

Website: www.ndyc.org includes pictures, weather information and a webcam

Membership fees: Family £80 plus £14 joining fee, Cadet £31; temporary membership £26 per week

Boat park: Cruiser winter fees £3.80/ft

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Call for entries – RNLI fundraising exhibiton Instow

Posted on 27 june 2022 in news.

RNLI APPLEDORE

MIXED MEDIA ART EXHIBITION

NORTH DEVON YACHT CLUB, INSTOW

20 to 23 OCTOBER 2022

This Annual exhibition is run by RNLI Appledore Guild, in order to raise funds to support the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. It takes place at The North Devon Yacht Club, Instow.

Key dates 2022

Application opens: Friday 1 July 2022

Application closes: Monday 1 August 12 midday

£10 submission fee, (no refund) 25% commission on  sales.

Exhibition open to the public            Thurs 20/21/22 Oct: 10am to 5pm

                        Sun 23 Oct 10am to 2pm

Exhibition closes to the public    Sun 24 Oct: 2pm

Dismantle & collect your Artwork:    Sun 24 Oct: 3pm – 5pm

For application form, please email: [email protected]

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Membership Renewal

Published 9:08am on 5 jan 2023.

It is that time of the year.  We have been testing the membership renewal process and hopefully have got the system running.  When you log into your portal  https://ndyc.org/login  you will see a notice that your membership has lapsed.  This is because the membership period runs to 31st December.  We have prepared the memberships so that if you now click on renew ( https://ndyc.org/renew ) you should now see the same grade of membership prepared for 2023.

You will shortly receive an email generated automatically asking you to review your membership and update where needed or renew.  If you have any problems please contact the secretary.

Last updated 12:04pm on 9 August 2024