Sailing Today

Glorious good Wood

The maritime city of Portsmouth can trace its history back to the middle ages. Through trading and shipbuilding it grew rapidly and today is a world famous Naval and civilian maritime centre. Approaching the Joint Services Adventurous Sail Training Centre (JSASTC) it’s clear that naval activities mesh seamlessly with civilian yachts and marinas while vehicle and passenger ferries and commercial ships pass effortlessly by. Ahead is the Royal Navy Submarine Museum while on either side is the South Coast Yachting Club and the Hornet Services Sailing Club.

“During WW11 this area was home to HMS Hornet and the high speed Coastal Forces MTB and MGB flotillas,” explains Tim Wood, Officer in Charge of the JSASTC complex. “In 1956 HMS Hornet was closed and a yacht club was formed for serving and retired naval personnel. A clubhouse was built and this was formally opened in 1964. By 1970 there were around 120 yachts berthed in the Hornet Yacht Club marina.” Interestingly, in 1945 a sailing club was also set up at Kiel in Germany based at the Olympia Yacht Haven.

Military background

Tim was born in 1962 in Birmingham. On leaving school he undertook an Honours Degree course

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