In 1945, two teenagers were sailing 12-foot skiffs at Middle Harbour skiff club. They felt they weren’t treated fairly because the club’s focus was on the bigger 16-footers.

Those two teenagers were Bob Oatley, who went on to found the Oatley wine dynasty, and Bill Buckle, the legendary Northern Beaches car dealer.

Showing their entrepreneurial spirit early, and with a little help from an uncle who happened to be the Mayor of Mosman, they struck out on their own. On the 24th July 1945 Balmoral 12ft Sailing Club, later to become Balmoral Sailing Club (BSC), was formed.

They founded Balmoral Sailing Club and built our first clubhouse, originally located just a bit closer to the water than where we sit today. The parents of several of the founding members helped lay a large concrete slab and, in 1947, the first clubhouse was erected, a second-hand Nissen hut bought from army disposals for 92 pounds. ​The hut was finally demolished in 1975 and replaced by the current clubhouse. It underwent major renovations in 2020.

From that very first day, this club has been built by volunteers, people with a simple willingness to give back to the sport they love. It’s that same spirit that keeps us upright and moving forward today.