About Corus Sailing Club

Originally with the Steel Company of Wales Sailing Club sailing took place in works holding pools and later moved to the docks of Port Talbot. The Steel Company of Wales became part of British Steel in 1957. Under the stewardship of Mr Fred Cartwright who was the manager of the the British Steel works at Port Talbot and Mr Ray James who was the planning engineer Eglwys Nunydd  reservoir was opened in 1963 to service the works. Both keen sailors they were instrumental in moving the works sailing club from the docks to the reservoir.

The map was supplied by Stan Williams July 2009.

In 1957 the Porthcawl and Kenfig sailing club was founded using Kenfig pool, now part of Kenfig nature reserve, as a base. During the 1966 season it became clear to the members that the British Steel sailing club provided a size and facilities which would much better suite the development of sailing. Porthcawl and Kenfig sailing club was disbanded and its members joined the British steel sailing club.

As a result of this "merger" there followed a period of close association between Porthcawl and British Steel sailing club which can be seen from the clubs trophy cabinet.

• The Offshore Challenge Shield - originally presented to the club by Porthcawl Town Council. Councilor David Howell-Jones was chair of Porthcawl Town council and was instrumental in providing sponsorship. The offshore race was originally held off Porthcawl and is now awarded to the winning Corus club member at the Llanstephan Offshore Weekend.
• Porthcawl and Kenfig Open Regatta Trophy (awarded between 1957 and 1966)
• Porthcawl Marine Fireball Cup

The association with the steel works is also represented by a number of trophies.

• The Commanders Anchor - engraved SCWYC (Steel Company of Wales Sailing Club) and first awarded in 1966
• The Junior Champion Helmsman Challenge Cup, engraved with the letters SCWYC and first awarded in 1957.
• The Handsome Transom originally awarded for the Enterprise class and being in the shape of a dinghy transom. Presented to the club by Mr Fred Cartwright.

The club began to outgrow the clubhouse which was of wooden construction. Under the clubs longest serving commodore, Arthur Gough, a new clubhouse was constructed. Arthur was a draftsman at British Steel and drew the plans up himself. A loan of £10,000 was arranged with British Steel to be paid back over 10 years. Construction was undertaken by the Borough of Afan Community Program Agency with help from British Steel and club members as part of the Manpower Services Commission Community Program. The new clubhouse was opened on the 14th September 1985 by Mr. D C Williams M.A. J.P. Chairman, Area Manpower Board. A plaque above the kitchen servery commemorates the event. The old wooden clubhouse was removed and rebuild adjacent to the British Steel Sports and Social club where it remains to this day and is used as the Band practice room. The photos. below show the old clubhouse with the new clubhouse under construction in March 1985.

Corus was formed out of the 1999 merger of British Steel and Dutch group Hoogovens. Anglo-Dutch steel firm Corus was taken over by Indian rival Tata Steel in October 2006. There are no plans at present to re-brand the company to Tata Steel so the club remain as Corus Sailing Club.

Anyone with any further information (or corrections) or photographs on the clubs early days then please let me know. My thanks to current Corus member and former Porthcawl and Kenfig member Alan Edwards for the above information, April 2008. Also to Stan Williams for  updates and photos with regard to the club construction, December 2008/July 2009. Stan, a Corus employee, now retired, and club member since 1981 installed the new clubhouse electrics along with Arthur Gough in 1985.

Eddie Morgan, July 2009.