About the Balmain Sailing Club

The story so far

The Balmain Sailing Club was first formed in 1885 in the heart of Australia’s early maritime industry based on the shores and islands of the western harbour.

The early sailors in the Balmain area were the shipwrights, sailmakers and watermen of the area and they created a uniquely egalitarian approach to sailing that cast aside snobbery and elitism and developed a truly grass roots sport.

These sailors pioneered the unique over-canvassed skiff classes that were built to the simple formula of a single rule governing how long they were and those classes live on today as the 18, 16, 14 and 12 footers that fly across the harbour every weekend and in the Olympic 49er class.

In early days of skiff racing the smallest crewed boats were tiny 6 footers dubbed Balmain Bugs and today the Balmain Sailing Club’s unofficial flagship is the only fully operational six footer – appropriately named, the Balmain Bug. There were also vibrant racing fleets of unmanned bugs which ranged in size from six inches (15cm) to 32 inches (81cm) and these too had clubs in the Balmain area.

Balmain Bug: Classic Australian Dinghy | Interparus

Sailing fleets in the Balmain and West Harbour waters were also the first to welcome women skippers and crew, sponsorship, racing for prize money and of course, betting on the races.

The annual Balmain Regatta which is the club’s marquee event was first held in 1849 and is now the last remaining community-based regatta of its kind in Australia. In its early days the regatta celebrated all kinds of aquatic events and alongside its sailing races the Regatta’s modern format has expanded to include an annual Work Boat Convoy which is a parade of modern and restored tugs, naval launches and working boats that celebrate the Harbour’s working heritage.

The Balmain Sailing Club in its modern format was revived by a group of keen sailors in 1995 after a long period of inactivity.

Taking over the premises of the Balmain 12 foot skiff club at the end of Water Street, Birchgrove the 1995 crew – several of whom are honoured as life members – brought the dilapidated building and deck back to life and established a fleet of yachts and dinghies and shortly afterwards took on the Regatta organisation.

BSC Life Members

Garry Ferres
Gordon Brown
Nick Storey
Allan Adolphson*
Andrew Frost
Jim McMahon
Doug Clark*
Nick Etvoushenko
Graham Hamilton*
David Stenhouse
Tommy Richardson
Frans Tkatchew
Lyn Evans
Jeremy Arnott
Campbell Reid

*Denotes the life member has passed away

The club’s active sailing school has also introduced hundreds of people to the sport of sailing including Jiang Li who in 2025 became the first woman skipper to win the Sydney to Hobart Race.

In recent years the club has undergone a continuous program of renovation and improvements including a replacement roof, remodelled interior, air conditioning, restored external deck area and modern, accessible floating docks and launch facilities.

Alongside its sailing activities the club is now a popular wedding and events function space and through funding relationships with both the NSW Government and Inner West Council, its new facilities are largely wheelchair accessible and the pontoon areas are shared with the public.

The club conducts Spring and Summer twilight races for yachts and dinghies and races as part of the combined West Harbour racing series. Events are held every second Sunday effectively year round.

2025–2026 Club Directors

Commodore: Campbell Reid
Vice-Commodore / Race Director: Chris Price
Secretary and Public Officer: Colin Grove
Treasurer: Joost Bekker
Director: Sharon Harvey
Director: Emma Thomas
Director: Louise Blair
Director: Ben Millar

Record of Balmain Sailing Club Office Holders

Year	Commodore / President	Vice Commodore	Treasurer	Secretary
1995–96	Margot Cross, President	–		Arthur King
1996–97	Margot Cross, President	–	Gerry Nelson	Arthur King
1997–98	Allan Adolphson, Commodore	–	Nancy Dumont	Arthur King
1998–99	Allan Adolphson, Commodore	Doug Clark, President	Nancy Dumont	Neil Morris
1999–00	Andrew Frost, Commodore	Doug Clark, President	Gerry Nelson	Arthur King
2000–01	Andrew Frost, Commodore	Doug Clark, President	Karen Hawkett	Arthur King
2001–02	Erica Kirby, Commodore	Doug Clark, President	Karen Hawkett	Neil Morris
2002–03	Erica Kirby, Commodore	David Stenhouse, President	Mike Nichols	Arthur King
2003–04	Erica Kirby, Commodore	David Stenhouse, President	–	Jennifer Cowan/Morton
2004–05	Alan Clark, Commodore	David Stenhouse, President	Arthur King	Philip Grove
2005–06	Alan Clark, Commodore	David Blackwell, President	Arthur King	Philip Grove
2006–07	David Stenhouse, Commodore	David Blackwell, President	Arthur King	James Steward
2007–08	Marni Raprager, Commodore	Steve Prince	–	Arthur King
2008–09	David Stenhouse, Commodore	Doug Clark, Vice Commodore	Ron Flood	Arthur King
2009–10	David Stenhouse, Commodore	Doug Clark, Vice Commodore	–	Arthur King
2010–11	David Stenhouse, Commodore	Doug Clark, Vice Commodore	–	Mark Cherrington
2011–12	John Blair, Commodore	David Stenhouse, Vice Commodore	Arthur King	Mark Cherrington
2012–13	John Blair, Commodore	David Stenhouse, Vice Commodore	Brian Wood	Mark Cherrington
2013–14	John Blair, Commodore	Brian Wood	Chantelle Hodgson	Michael Meehan
2014–15	Angela Catterns, Commodore	–	Chantelle Hodgson	Michael Meehan
2015–16	Campbell Reid, Commodore	Simon Oliver	Chantelle Hodgson	Michael Meehan
2016–17	Campbell Reid, Commodore	Simon Oliver	Chris Durman	Michael Meehan
2017–18	Campbell Reid, Commodore	Simon Oliver	Chris Durman	Conrad Johnston
2018–19	Campbell Reid, Commodore	Simon Oliver	Ed Tacey	Conrad Johnston
2019–20	Campbell Reid, Commodore	Alan Gregory	Ed Tacey	Colin Grove
2020-21	Campbell Reid, Commodore	Alan Gregory	Ed Tacey	Colin Grove
2021–22	Campbell Reid, Commodore	Alan Gregory	Ed Tacey	Colin Grove
2022–23	Campbell Reid, Commodore	Chris Price	Ed Tacey	Colin Grove
2023–24	Campbell Reid, Commodore	Chris Price	Ed Tacey	Colin Grove
2024–25	Campbell Reid, Commodore	Chris Price	Joost Bekker	Colin Grove
2025–26	Campbell Reid, Commodore	Chris Price	Joost Bekker	Colin Grove

About the Balmain Sailing Club

The story so far

BSC Life Members

2025–2026 Club Directors

Record of Balmain Sailing Club Office Holders

The future

Incident and Risk Plans

Constitution

Minutes of Committee Meetings

Proud Sponsors of the Balmain Sailing Club