History of the club bouys

At B.S.C. we normally race around our fixed club marks. Learning the names and location of the various bouys is a rite of passage for new club members and those learning to race on the river. All of our marks have names with historical significance, often connected to previous or current members of the club.

Ballast Hole

Aggregate from the land between the club and Saltcote was used by barges as ballast. This activity weakened to original sea wall and it gave way causing the flooding of what we now call the "ballast hole". If you stand next to the club bungalow on the sea wall and look to your left, that area is the Ballast hole. The mark is named after it.

Beacons

Named after the withies which mark the centre of the Osea Causeway.

Boundary

Is on the limit of Maldon Harbour Commisioners fiefdom.

Bunting

This buoy was added after the death of Jenny Baines nee Bunting as an acknowledgement of contribution of the whole Bunting family, including Pat and Trish who were the first Cadet Skippers. 

Clarks

Two theories: named after Clarks Creek on Northey Island, or after a shallow spit which extends NE from Northey Island and once had a PH navigation mark on it. Eithier way it's connected to Northey Island in some way.

Coopers creek

Named after Coopers Creek in Mundon, to the West of Lawling Creek. The bouy is maintained by Harlow and Blackwater SC.

Club Limit

The limit of the club start line gate, along with Colliers. Don't forget the actual line is marked by a transit with the withies on Northey island.

Colliers

Is named after the stretch of water known as Colliers Reach. The reach itself is named after the colliers—historical sailing ships and barges that transported coal and unloaded at Hanleys Wall for the railway. The name goes back to at least 1793 where it was mentioned in an act of parliament.

Doctor

The Doctor’s Buoy on the south side of Osea Island is said to have origins associated with Mr Charrington’s Temperance Seaside Resort on the island and his “cure for inebriety”. In theory no alcohol was permitted on the island but spirits were said to be sent from The Chequers at Goldhanger and tied to the nearest buoy for later collection at low tide. This wasn't the last time Osea Island would be used to treat addiction. From 2005 to 2010, it was a rehabilitation centre, and in 2008, Amy Winehouse attended the clinic on the island and sung about it in her song "Rehab".

Ford Creek

Two theories: named after a creek that goes up the Stumble towards the Osea Causeway - was originally a channel mark; or was once maintained by the Harlow Blackwater (Ford) Sailing Club – hence origin of name. Perhaps the Creek was also named after the Ford motor company?

Hilly pool

This is a channel marker, so it's red rather than yellow like most of the club marks. The origin of the name Hilly Pool is, for now, still a mystery.

Kraken

Because of it’s position in some chop / merging tidal streams it was named in honour of Charlie Stewarts story of sea monsters of the deep living there. Usually the furthest bouy we race to, and all racers tremble when they hear that a course contains 'Kraken', just as ancient seafarers would have trembled at the thought of the legendary sea monster.

Lock

Near the entrance to Heybridge Lock which leads to the Chelmer and Navigation canal, and is a replacement for SH navigation mark ‘Lock’ keeping racers out of the navigation channel.

Midway

Tw theories: Midway between Mundon and Clarks buoys or half way between Osea Road/ Shambles and old New Hall. Certainly it's midway between something and something else!

Mill Beach

Off Mill Beach Caravan Park - a popular ice cream stop for Cadet training weekends. It was originally laid and used by Osea Sailing Club and was adopted by BSC when Osea S.C. burned down and several members joined the club. 

Mud bank

Placed and named after a suggestion by Pat Bunting that a shorter leg was needed by Optimist racers either starting or finishing a race. Its equivalent on the SW side of the line is Bunting.

Muddy cove

Sandy Bight and Muddy cove were named after the river features they are adjacent to them.

Mumbys

Dedicated to Ed and Barbara Mumby who were long standing members from the 1950’s to late 80’s. Sailing an Albacore and Cruiser. Ed was Vice Commodore around 1970. He ran the race deck for over 15 years, training new people and particularly enjoyed the challenges of race deck over club week and cadet week.He was awarded MBE for services to Essex County Council’s ‘County Surveyors’ working on many schemes including Maplin Sands, later to be resurrected as Boris Island. His skills were deployed in part for the new BSC ramp planning and construction in 1970, lasting until 2026, working alongside Peter Wilson, Derek Leaver and others. Barbara supported generally and on the catering front, for events including barbecues. Famed for her fruit cake, marmalade and pottery. Nee Bolingbroke and daughter of Hale Westrop Bolingbroke.

Mundon

Named after Mundon, the village south from it on the Dengie peninsula.

New Hall

Named after New Hall Farm to the south.

Nipper

Was a replacement for Herring Point PH navigation mark and was given by the Marshall family. 

Osea Road

Close, but not too close, to the causeway between Osea island and the mainland where many a daggerboard and RIB prop has come a cropper on a falling tide.

Northey Point

Marks the corner of Northey Island where the tide is particularly strong.

Sandy Bight

Sandy Bight and Muddy Hole were named after the river features they are adjacent to them.

Shambles

Two theories: named after the Osea Causeway (perhaps because it is a total shambles if you accidentally hit the causeway on an ebbing tide), or after the creek which runs NE from the main river towards Osea Road.

South doubles

Port Channel Mark opposite North doubles. North doubles doesn't appear as a named mark on our official map, but we sometimes ask sailors to go between the doubles, for example when sailing the Dyer cup course.

Southey

Port Channel Mark - near Southey Creek on the chart.

Topper

Named after the plastic dinghy which is very popular with cadets and smaller adults. This was suggested by Ed Mumby as as going to Clarkes and Osea Road gave too long a race for the Topper class when it joined the club. See 'Mumbys'.

West Point

At the Western most point of Osea Island.

Wilson’s Point

Our newest bouy, laid in May 2026. Named after Peter Wilson, BSC member from 1951 onwards who died in 2023.

Sprite Trophies

The Sprite was designed in 1934, and is a key part of the history of the club. The class page is here: https://spriteclass.uk/

Club Week:

Terry Cup (Overall) - Mr & Mrs H.V. Terry 1950

Bunting Cup (1st Race Series) - Yvonne Richards & Ann Slack (both nee Bunting) 2024

David Marlow Salver - David Marlow 1983

The Thursday Cup - Peter Wright 1960

Sprite Week:

Heron Cup - Clifford Heron (date tbc) …but David Evan’s Grandparents

Single Handed Race Tankard - tbc

Crews Race Tankard - tbc

Regatta:

Marks Cup - S.J. Marks 1956

Round the Islands (first Sprite home):

Diamond Jubilee Cup - tbc

Series:

Copland Cup - Mr Edmund Copland 1919 (Blackwater One-Design racing and first awarded to Sprites in 1950)

Gray Cup - Mr W.H. Gray (Chris B has and can supply year)

Calamity Cup - Marcus Gallo 2021 (old galley breakage money box)

Barbrook Trophy - The Barbrook Family date tbc

Juno Mug - season award (assume named after Bevis Wright’s Sprite but will confirm)

We now also have a crew’s tankard that is awarded alongside and engraved for each cup for the crew to keep for the year… they are a collection of tankards that were originally awarded (for keeps) to the winner of each cup during the 50s and 60s and carry the club burgee/logo and are engraved with the original cup name, year won, and the winning boat and helm’s name. They were donated back to the club and we started this practice in 2025.

If you want to see one Tommy has last year’s Heron Cup one behind the bar.

Thanks to Chris Nichols, Patricia Parker, Marcus Gallo, Michael White and Anne Slack for their contributions to this page.