Why Bosham Sailing Club is steering a course to a healthy and long future

More than a million pounds has been pledged by Bosham Sailing Club members, enough for the club to buy the iconic Old Mill on Bosham Quay which has served as its clubhouse since 1956.

The purchase, part of a larger transaction that has seen the Manor of Bosham change hands for the first time since 1924, guarantees the future of the sailing club and the sailing regattas that have been a beloved part of life in Bosham for residents and visitors alike for more than a century.

“The future of sailing in Bosham is now more assured than at any time in the club’s long history,” said Bosham Sailing Club commodore Frank McCormack.

“We have been able to take advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy our clubhouse thanks to the incredible generosity of members and the huge support of the new Lord of the Manor.

“This is a great moment that heralds an exciting new era for the club. All the flag officers are confident that we can move the club forward to an even more dynamic and successful future.”

Purchase of the freehold to the Old Mill comes eight months after Bosham made national headlines when the Manor of Bosham – comprising not just the Old Mill but also the Quay, the dinghy park, moorings and miles of Chichester Harbour foreshore – were put up for sale on the open market. There were concerns that an overseas investor might snap up Bosham as a “trophy” purchase.

The successful bidder was in fact local resident and sailing club member Franck Petitgas whose stated intention was to assure the sailing club’s future in keeping with the nature and heritage of Bosham.

The former trustee of the Chichester Harbour Trust, said: “Our paramount aim is to preserve and enhance these environmentally and historically sensitive surroundings so they can be enjoyed by the Bosham community, and beyond, for many generations to come.”

To purchase the freehold, along with a 999-year lease of the dinghy park and access to the quay, Bosham Sailing Club members had to pledge £1m towards the total sale price. The target was met and then exceeded within a few months.

The last time the club was offered a chance to buy the clubhouse was in 1970. The price then was £30,000 but the offer was turned down as “too risky”.

The sale of the Bosham estate brings to an end nearly 100 years of ownership by the Guinness family.

The estate was bought in the 1920s by keen yachtsman Rupert Guinness, 2nd Earl of Iveagh. Bosham Sailing Club, which was established in 1907 by local fishermen and recreational sailors, originally had its clubhouse in a room in a village pub and then a former Second World War motor gun boat moored at Bosham Quay, before being granted a lease on the historic Old Mill.

Today Bosham Sailing Club is a thriving sailing and social hub, an RYA Training Centre and a British Youth Sailing Recognised Club that is known for Bosham Junior Week – last year 160 sailors aged eight to 18 took part in 115 dinghies – as well as the renowned Bosham Regatta and Classic Boat Revival.

The club maintains an active racing fleet of both modern dinghies and classic day boats, is home to a large cruiser fleet and has recently added a new paddlesports section comprising a rowing gig, rowing skiff, kayaks and paddleboards.

McCormack said the club’s newly-acquired security would enable all aspects of sailing, sail training and club social life in Bosham to be developed further for everyone, from Olympic-class sailors to beginners.

He said: “The commitment of members in pledging such a large amount of money shows how important the sailing club is. Their commitment will energise us all and ensure Bosham Sailing Club faces the brightest future in its 113 years.”