Bewl Valley Sailing Club (BVSC) is a sailing dinghy and windsurfing club that currently has approximately 920 full members (1,400 capacity). It is affiliated to the Royal Yachting Association and a registered RYA Training Centre. The club organises safety boat cover for sailing and windsurfing every Saturday and Sunday throughout the year. The purpose-built water sports club house is leased by Bewl Valley Sailing Club and its facilities are shared with Bewl Bridge Rowing Club and Bewl Canoe Club. In July 2010, BVSC was awarded £10,000 [1] by Sport England that was to be spent towards purchasing new training dinghies.
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| Membership | 1097 (2011–12) 1,151 (2010–11) |
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| Location | Bewl Water, Lamberhurst Near Tunbridge Wells Kent TN3 8JH |
| Country |  United Kingdom
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| Commodore | Mike Wilcock |
| Website | http://www.bewlvalleysc.co.uk |
Location
The club is situated at Bewl Water on the north side of the reservoir near Lamberhurst, Kent and offers members up to 700 acres of sailing area if all of the estauries and inlets are included. Most members sail in the 200-250 acre area south of the club house and launch slipways. The surrounding Kent High Weald countryside is part of a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Bewl Water reservoir is the largest stretch of open water in the South East and when full can hold more than 31,000 million litres of water. The reservoir offers one of the few large recreational open spaces in south east England located in a tranquil setting where there is virtually no background traffic noise. It can be accessed from the A21
History
Bewl Valley Sailing Club was founded in 1967 but no sailing took place until 1977 due to Bewl Water reservoir being under construction, lined with clay and then filled from the River Medway and local bore holes. In 2008, the Mariners of Bewl (MOB), an integrated sailing club for the physically disabled and able bodied elected to combine with Bewl Valley Sailing Club.[2]
Club racing and open events
There is organised fleet racing on Sundays for Lasers, Solos and Flying Fifteens in addition to Slow and Fast Handicap fleets. Other classes of boats regularly sailed at the club include the RS400, Topper, Optimist and Enterprise dinghies.
BVSC hosts a number of inland open meetings each year including events for Solos, Phantoms, Comets, Laser 2000s, Laser Vagos, Wanderers, Flying Fifteens and the London Windsurf Association.
General sailing
In addition to general sailing on Saturdays and Sundays, the club is open on Wednesday evenings from May to August and on each of the four summer Bank Holiday Mondays. During the month of August, the club house is open every day and safety boat cover is provided except during Youth Week during which there is no club sailing for ordinary members. Members also organise Away Cruises on tidal waters such as to Bradwell in Essex. The Midweekers, an informal group of members meet each Wednesday to sail or take part in another outdoor activity.
Social events
BVSC Family Week has ran for more than 20 years. The event continues to be organised voluntarily by club members and offers a full programme of water and land based activities including evening entertainment in the club house. Each summer some 250 family members camp onsite during the first week of the school holidays at the end of July(22-28 July 2012). The Club will also be holding 2 camping weekends during 2012 (4-7 May & 25-27 May). In addition The Club will be holding its annual Family open day on Saturday 21 July, when there will be opportunities to "have a go" at Windsurfing & Sailing.