120 years of sailing at the Narrabeen Lakes Sailing Club.

Back in 1904 two brothers George and Thomas Sneesby (know the name?) began taking their 16 ft skiffs out on Narrabeen Lake to race each other.

When this was noticed by other boat shed owners they were quickly joined, in 1905, by Willis Douglas and Don Maclean and so evolved a sailing club which became known as the Narrabeen Lakes Sailing Club. By the 1930’s it was home to the largest fleet of 16 footers in Sydney.

A few interruptions to sailing occurred due to World Wars and a drought which saw the Lake reduced to mud flats, but by the 1970’s the Club reached its peak with close to 100 boats racing regularly under the control of Commodore Chris Leyland, another well known name.

This large membership lead to the building of the Club House which burnt down in 2021. Classes at this time included Moths, Herons, Sailfish, Laser and open class for Cherubs, NS14, Manly Juniors and others. We now have a Sailboard class competing regularly.

For a bit more details on our proud history, refer to this instructive article.

2021–Present: Rebuilding After the Fire

On 27 November 2021, a fire originating in the adjacent paddle shop engulfed the NLSC clubhouse at Jamieson Park, destroying the building, the entire Learn to Sail fleet, the committee boat, and most members’ boats stored on-site. The presence of asbestos in the debris prevented salvage efforts, leading to the eventual demolition of the structure .

Despite this setback, the club's resilience shone through. Generous support from the sailing community and local organisations enabled NLSC to continue its programs. The Open Skiff association lent a trailer with ten boats, Whitworths donated eight new Optimists, and the Northern Beaches Council provided storage containers and coordinated site assessments .

Plans for a new clubhouse have been in development, with community consultations leading to a proposed design featuring enhanced facilities. However, funding challenges have delayed construction, with the project now anticipated to commence in late 2025.

https://www.northernbeachesadvocate.com.au/2025/02/06/sailing-club-left-waiting/

In the meantime, NLSC continues to operate from temporary facilities, offering Learn to Sail programs, coaching for experienced young sailors, and hosting races. The club celebrated its 120th anniversary in February 2025, marking over a century of sailing tradition and community spirit .

For some more recent history, refer to these more recent annual reports: