This is the second volume of a multi-part history of the Exe Sailing Club, covering the years 1946 to 1983. It was compiled mainly by the late Peter Nigel Rowsell, known as Spud, and edited by Hedley Saunders. The book records the club's activities, racing successes, and the development of its main dinghy classes during this period.
This is the second volume of a planned series recording the history of the Exe Sailing Club, from its formation as the Checkstone Sailing Club in 1912 to the present day. This volume covers the years 1946 to 1983 and was mainly collated by the late Peter Nigel Rowsell, known as Spud, with editing by Hedley Saunders. It is intended for club members, sailing historians, and anyone interested in the development of competitive dinghy racing in Exmouth.
The book opens with a preface explaining the project and the origin of this volume, noting that Chapter 11, The Glory Years, was written first and inspired the rest. The contents list shows twelve chapters, starting with Memories of the Exe Sailing Club and then a series of chapters dedicated to specific dinghy classes: National 12s, International 14s, Merlin Rockets, Cadets, Enterprises, Mirror Class, Lark Class, and Laser Class. Later chapters cover The Exmouth Challenge, The Glory Years,…
The first chapter draws on the memories of two local sailors, Geoff Holman and Derek Rowsell, who grew up in Exmouth and raced at the club. Geoff, born in 1929, began sailing on his father's punts and progressed to a Utility Boat, winning the Shorthouse Cup in 1946. He later built his own National 12, Fancy, to a Proctor design, and the chapter details his racing career and the boat building that followed in the Rowsell workshop behind Camperdown Terrace.
Derek Rowsell's story continues the chapter, describing his early sailing in Utility Boats and his sponsorship by Ivor Williams, who had a National 12, Arrow, built for him. The text recounts the success of the Rowsell brothers, Brian and Spud, who built nearly fifty National 12s to the Smuggler design. Spud built his own boat, Spuddle, and finished 8th at the Torquay Nationals, helping the club win the Team Trophy for the first time. The chapter also mentions Bruce Banks, an Exe Sailing Club…
Later sections of the book cover the technical development of the classes, such as the introduction of terylene sails in 1955, which allowed larger roaches. The text names specific boats and their designs, including Dawn Star and Moby Dick, and describes the competitive club racing and open meetings of the era. The volume closes with chapters on the Exmouth Challenge and the loss of a flag officer, rounding out the historical record of the club during these decades.