WEST HOVE
Local group...
HOVE LAGOON MODEL YACHT CLUB... Once upon a time 90 years ago in early 1929, six good and true men of Hove - three local business men and three artisans sharing an interest in model boats - met together and decided to start a model yacht club. Hove Borough Council had decided under the “Make men useful work” scheme during the 20s depression years to construct a model boat lake on swamp land adjacent to the sea. This scheme not only provided manual work for unemployed men, but when completed encouraged an economic hobby to construct and sail model yachts on the new lagoon. The council built two high ceiling shelters at the west end of the lagoon for tall yachts to be stored and provide shelter in bad weather. One of these is still in use to this day as the clubhouse for the model yacht club. It is rented from Brighton & Hove City Council, along with a council agreement between us and
35
“Mr Rusty” at Hove Lagoon in 1969
WEST HOVE LAUNDRETTE 312 Portland Road, BN3 5LP
SELF SERVICE & SERVICE WASHES ALL DUVETS & SPORTS KITS WASHED, DRIED & FOLDED CHEAP PRICES FREE COLLECTION & DELIVERY TO BRIGHTON AND HOVE & SURROUNDING AREAS OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Please Contact
07913869339 DRY CLEANING NOW AVAILABLE
Hove Lagoon Watersports. We work closely with them and enjoy the use of their small café area and toilets. We have the agreed sole use of the western half of the lagoon from 9am until 2pm every Sunday. By early 1930 the Hove and Brighton Model Yacht Club was formed. Model yachting became popular on the new lagoon and the club continues to thrive. It is now established as Hove Lagoon Model Yacht Club and runs a year-round racing programme, for mainly International One Metre Class yachts. Last year we started sailing the low cost DragonFlite 95 yachts, now sailed once a month as this is attracting interest, and it is hoped this will bring in more members. Making model yachts sail a course has always been difficult. Since the 70s when cheap Japanese radio control gear came onto the market our yachts are now radio controlled. Our races only take a few minutes depending on wind strength and direction around marker buoys setting out the course, and compared with full-size racing we get more starts, more racing and more fun. Like all good stories that start “once upon a time” there must be a happy ending, and there is. Hove Lagoon Model Yacht Club is a thriving local club always on the look-out for new members - details on our website www.hovelagooonmycwix.com - or just come and talk to us on a Sunday morning. Les Baker
Please send local articles about local events and items of interest to info@westhovedirectory.co.uk
35