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The Club was founded in 1953 and moved to its
present site in 1963 and is affiliated to the Corus Sports and Social
club. It is open to Corus employees and all members of the public
wishing to sail monohull dinghies, where you can sail throughout the
whole year. Originally the Steel Company of Wales Sailing Club sailing
took place in 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. 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 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.
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.
Eddie Morgan, April 2008.
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