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Sailing in the Bristol Channel

Enclosed by twin coasts, the Bristol Channel is dearly loved by those who choose to sail her waters. The uncommon tides and challenges provide a testing environment where sailors are called upon to finely weave the threads of their art to capture its advantage.

The large and rapid tides together with numberous drying sands has caused the Bristol Channel to have acheived some notority amongst those who are not familiar with it. However its challenges are readily overcome by any competant sailor, who has undertaken adequate preparation and planning.

As with sailing in any waters, you need to keep in mind your ports of refuge (most harbours dry), keep an eye on the weather (the channel faces West or South West, the direction of the prevailing winds) and keep a careful eye open for the very large vessels that use Bristol, Milford, Cardiff and Swansea.

Origins of the Bristol Channel Yachting Association

In 2003 the B.C.Y.A. assumed its current name, previously it was known as the Bristol Channel Yachting Conference.

The conference was formed in 1951. It succeeded an informal association of local clubs, initiated some 15 years earlier by the first Honorary Chairman of the Conference, N. C Hockley. Meetings had taken place annually - with a break during the war years - at which Regatta and inter-club racing dates had been arranged, and matters of general interest discussed.

Conference membership includes over fifty Cruising, Sailing and Yacht Clubs based along both coasts of the Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary, and inshore clubs in the surrounding area.

Should anyone be in possession of any archive material that would be of use to the BCYA would they please contact one of the officers below.

Constitution of the Bristol Channel Yachting Conference

1) It shall be called "The Bristol Channel Yachting Association"

2) It shall be a voluntary association of cruising, Sailing and Yacht Clubs. Any such Club having headquarters in the district shall be eligible for membership.

4) The objectives of the Conference shall be...

• To encourage sailing and motor boating activities in the Bristol Channel and promote interclub relationships.
• To coordinate meetings, lectures and presentations to support this purpose.
• To liaise with Welsh Yachting Association, RYA South West and the Conference of Yacht Cruising Clubs, to promote sailing and motor boating activities in the Bristol Channel.
• To maintain relationships with local Regulatory Bodies impacting on our sailing activities in the Bristol Channel. To co-ordinate and promote any 'open events' organised by member clubs.
• To provide an annual conference and other channels of communication between member clubs.
• To represent the collective views of member clubs to the local regulatory bodies and other national yachting organisations.

5) The Association shall be convened at a time and place to be agreed whenever required to do so by any three or more of the constituent clubs. In any event, the annual general meeting of the association will be convened normally in November annually, for the purpose of debating arising of common interest , and agreeing the Bristol Channel Yacht and Dinghy racing and rallying programme for the ensuing year. (This embraces all fixtures for races open meetings etc., regattas and rallies, and is the only comprehensive document of it's kind produced in the Bristol Channel.) The association racing committee meets concurrently with the AGM.

6) The officers of the conference shall be elected annually at the annual general meeting and shall comprise the Honorary Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Website coordinator, Journal Editor, Dinghy Chairman, Cruiser Chairman and Cruiser Racing Chairman. The Honorary Officers are empowered to convene meetings as required in the interest of the conference. This clause applies also to the Honorary Chairman and Honorary Secretary of the Handicapping Sub - Committee.

7) An annual subscription shall be payable by each constituent club to fund provision of stationery, postage and other conference operating expenses

Within available sources, every effort has been made to ensure that the information given in these pages was accurate at the time it was promulgated. No liability can however be accepted by the Bristol Channel Yachting association or it's constituent clubs, for any act or circumstance of any kind which might arise from the use of the information contained within these web pages. At all times these pages are intended as an aid and adjunct for use with Admiralty Charts and publications, or their commercial equivalents.