2027 Marks the centenary of the Brightlingsea One Design Class which was adopted by Brightlingsea Sailing Club at their AGM of March 1927.
And so 100 years after Robbie Stone launched his boat and called her “Jean” after his four-year-old daughter – and seventy-five years after the Brightlingsea One Design Association was formed, we can look forward to the privilege of enjoying the sailing and social events that will mark our centenary.
Somewhere between twenty and thirty comparable designs from the early 1900s may have once existed. But only a handful have survived and continue to race after 100 years.
Current statistics for the BOD show that of the forty-five boats built, thirty-seven remain today and that the present record racing turnout stands at twenty-three boats set at Pyefleet Week 2015.
Fortunes vary in all things but BSC, CYC and the BOD Association must take considerable credit for the overall success of the Class. Enthusiasm has been maintained by the clubs by putting on popular events, everything from the Thursday Evening Series to Pyefleet Week, and even the InterGalactics as I recall!
In the meantime, since 1952, the Association has exercised careful control and timely updating of the boat, the rig and the equipment. The original low Bermudan rig was both attractive and modern in 1927, and the early years of the fleet are epitomised in the wonderful Freddie Armes photo which now forms the President’s Trophy and hangs in the Sailing Club (sunlight and “diminished repeat!”).
Very doubtful though whether the boat would have survived as a racing class without what was a controversial rig change in the early 1950s, especially against the backdrop of rapidly developing modern boats and expert sailors.
But survive it has, alongside all the super planing dinghies which began with Uffa Fox’s International 14 “Avenger” in 1928, then onto the skiffs, and finally (perhaps?!) the super quick foilers such as the Moth.
Why? Because the close tactical “displacement” racing is fun, and compliments rather than competes with the attractions of the lighter boats. And somehow the boat retains a look which is a unique and lovely part of the Brightlingsea waterfront. And as one of the very few surviving local one design classes still racing the BOD holds a permanent place in any National or even International assessment of similar craft.
BSC can feel very proud of the sponsorship it gave so long ago, and we can all look forward to the celebrations 100 years later.
Pyefleet Week 2027 will feature strongly in those celebrations and full details will follow. In the meantime, you can find out more about the fleet at brightlingseaonedesign.com.
Malcolm Goodwin
President BOD Association
Brightlingsea One Design 
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