To read more about CSCs history
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About The Columbia Sailing Club, located on Lake
Murray, is organized as a nonprofit corporation under the laws of the
State of South Carolina, and is committed to providing educational and
training programs to the community on all aspects of sail boating. Club
activities include sailboat races, regattas, race management training,
youth sail camps, boating safety, first aid and a host of other
activities that promote the sport of sail boating. The Club's facilities include a well-protected marina, 4 launching ramps, a gin pole, and other sailing-related amenities. The marina, shown below, has 100 berths for sailboats from 22 to 33 feet in length. Land parking slips accommodate an additional 100 boats.
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The Beginning The first sailing club on Lake Murray was established in the 1930’s, but dissolved when the winds of war blew across the world. Its commodore in 1936 was George V. Sumner, who later became the founder of the Columbia Sailing Club. It was Sumner’s lake home, “Hickory Dock” which became the focal point for Lake Murray sailing in later years. Two doors away lived Robert H. Webster, another sailing enthusiast, and between the two the nucleus of CSC began to emerge. Other sailors, including Ben Knowlton, moored their sailboats in the Sumner/Webster cove. Knowlton, a New Englander, sailed year round in his Hampton. The founding of the Columbia Sailing Club occurred on the back porch of Martin Jones Sr.’s home at 630 Pickens Street on July 17, 1957. R. H. “Bob” Webster was elected chairman, and charter member. |
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![]() George V. Sumner |
![]() R. H. "Bob" Webster |
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The First Regatta |
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The Property Bob Webster and his daughter, Sally, happened one day to sail by a piece of land near the dam that appeared to be an island. Bob inquired into the property at S C E & G and found that it did not exist on their maps. It had been intended as fill for the construction of the dam, but was left alone when workers ran into hefty boulders. Webster paid the power company one dollar for a lease of the land to CSC for the “erection of a temporary judging shelter for sailboat races.” It was on this tenuous lease that the club functioned until the spring of 1977. With great optimism—especially since the lease contained a provision through which S C E & G could call for its land back, in original condition, upon 30 day notice—CSC put in a crude road, cleared land and built a small clubhouse which was designed by member Reid Hearn and fabricated by a Savannah firm. It arrived on a flatbed truck. Each member was assessed $100 to help with costs and a bank loan was personally secured by the flag officers because the bank was uncertain about lending money to an entity called a “sailing club.” It was generally accepted that the old lease would one day have to be replaced with a more business-like arrangement, and in April, 1977 the big step was taken. CSC bought the land. Each member was assessed $100 and 20 life memberships were sold for $1,200 each. The remainder of the purchase price was financed. |
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"Not
long after I heard the news of the land deal from Webster, I was eager
to see the site. He told me where it was and how to get to it. No road
had been cut so my family and I slogged through the brush and over the
borrow pits to examine what was to be the Columbia Sailing Club.
~ John Wrisley 11 Feb. 2009 |
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Midlands Regatta The 1960 Midlands Regatta was held on our leased property in May and occurred in May every year, with the exception of 1962 and 1972, when they took place in August. We were the hosts of the South Atlantic Yacht Racing Association (SAYRA) Championships in those years. The Midlands Regatta is now conducted in the fall and includes the infamous Midlands Regatta Oyster Roast. |
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| To be continued... | |