It is likely that model boats have sailed on the Long Pond on Clapham Common since the time that the pond first became available for public use. Evidence suggests that model yachts have been sailed there since the mid 1800s and firm evidence exists that there was a Club formed to sail on the pond in 1870 and that regular races were held on most Saturday afternoons.
There is little evidence of the type of boat that was sailed, or their size, but they probably ranged from small pieces of wood with matchstick masts sailed by small boys, to much larger hand-built models of Cutters, Luggers, Yawls and Bermudan rigged yachts capable of fine performances.
There is reference in the Boys Own Paper to the “Clapham Club” holding its annual regatta in September 1887 and that the boats sailed were based on “ the 3, 5 and 7 Tonner” full sized craft, probably rigged as cutters. It is evident then that model yacht racing was firmly established on the Long Pond by the late 1880s. At this time the sport of model yachting was growing in popularity, This is evident by the proposal to form a governing body, the Model Yachting Association (MYA).The first moves to constitute such a body were made in 1888 but things dragged on and it wasn’t until 1911 that the MYA came into existence bringing with it generally accepted racing rules, although it was not until some time later that different classes of racing yachts were formulated.
Contact Info
Address:
Clapham Model Yacht Club
1 Rookery Road
Clapham
Email: markdicks@sky.com
Website: cmyc.wordpress.com/about
