The Oxford & Cambridge Sailing Society is a group of Oxford and Cambridge sailing Blues and Half Blues. Their influence on UK and international sailing, particularly team racing, has been quite disproportionate to their small numbers of just over 300 people. Since the founding of the Oxford & Cambridge Sailing Society (O&CSS) in 1934, members have competed in 13 Sailing Olympics and won eight medals (three gold, three silver, and two bronze).

The society (O&CSS), Oxford & Cambridge Sailing Society (O&CSS) website was formed in 1934 by Cambridge Half Blue Stewart Morris, along with three of his contemporaries; Morris was later to win a gold medal at the 1948 Olympics. The aim of the society was "to keep members of the two clubs together after coming down from the university, and encourage team racing throughout the country, at the same time maintaining a high standard of helmsmanship". The two clubs referred to are the Oxford University Yacht Club, Oxford University Yacht Club (OUYC) website (founded in 1884) and the Cambridge University Cruising Club, Cambridge University Cruising Club (CUCrC) website (founded in 1893).

The society has always limited its membership; 24 sailors were elected in the first year and since then four to ten of the best sailors from Oxford and Cambridge have been elected each year as they graduate. Occasionally non-blues are elected because of their later achievements in either competitive sailing or sailing administration. Good histories exist of the societyAtkins, Jeremy (2009). 75 Years of Port [History of O&CSS], Jeremy Atkins, Southam CV47 9PF. and of the Oxford University Yacht Club (1884–1994Atkins, Jeremy (1984). A Hundred Years of Sailing at Oxford University, Jeremy Atkins, Leamington Spa CV32 6EE. and 1994–2009Atkins, Jeremy (2009). 25 More Years of Sailing at Oxford University, Jeremy Atkins, Southam CV47 9PF. ) – available in some libraries and from their author.Jeremy Atkins, Thorn Villa, Thorn Way, Long Itchington, Southam, Warwickshire CV47 9PF, United Kingdom - jeremy at bjatkins dot demon dot co dot uk A brief history of the Cambridge University Cruising Club is maintained on that club's website. History page of the Cambridge University Cruising Club's website

International honours

Like many sports in the 1930s, Oxford and Cambridge students and alumni competed at the highest sailing levels. In the 1936 Olympic yachting trials, half of the recently formed society's membership took part. Since then, society members, usually after their student days, have continued to compete with success at the highest levels in sailing. In 2011 the top three sailors in the International 14 Dinghy World Championships were all members of the society, as was the OK dinghy World Champion and Yachtsman of the Year, Nick Craig., Yachts & Yachting article on Nick Craig's successes The skipper of the winning Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing entry in the 2014/15 Volvo (round-the-world) Ocean Race and two-times Olympic silver medallist, Ian Walker, is a member. Five-times winner of the International 14 World Championships, Archie Massey, is also a member, as is Nick Craig, five-times winner of the OK Dinghy World Championships.

It is unlikely that any UK sailing club, particularly one that has had such a small membership, can boast of such a record. Details of the society's Olympic involvement are tabled below. 1936 – Berlin/Kiel Chris Boardman, Miles Bellville, Charles Leaf 6 Metre Gold Peter Scott Single hander (O-Jolle) Bronze Stewart Morris Team Manager Kenneth Preston, Francis Preston 8 Metre 1948 – London/Weymouth Stewart Morris Swallow Gold Peter Scott, John Winter Olympic Committee Kenneth Preston International Jury 1952 – Helsinki Kenneth Preston 6 Metre 1956 – Melbourne Jonathan Janson Dragon Bronze Tom Paxton Reserve Richard Creagh-Osborne Finn 1960 – Rome/Naples Jonathan Janson Dragon Sir Kenneth Preston Team Captain Richard Creagh-Osborne Reserve Peter Scott Chairman, International Jury 1964 – Tokyo/Sagami Bay No participation – but see footnote re Jonathan Janson 1968 – Mexico/Acapulco Iain MacDonald-Smith Flying Dutchman Gold 1972 – Munich/Kiel Simon Tait Dragon David Wilkins (IRL) Tempest Iain Macdonald-Smith Reserve 1976 – Montreal/Kingston Phil Crebbin 470 Iain Macdonald-Smith Soling David Wilkins (IRL) Tempest 1980 – Moscow/Tallinn David Wilkins (IRL) Flying Dutchman Silver 1984 – Los Angeles No participation – but see footnote re Jonathan Janson 1988 – Seoul/Pusan Roger Yeoman Flying Dutchman David Wilkins, Peter Kennedy (IRL) Flying Dutchman 1992 – Barcelona David Wilkins, Peter Kennedy (IRL) Flying Dutchman Iain Macdonald-Smith Selector 1996 – Atlanta/Savannah Ian Walker 470 Silver Barry Parkin Soling 2000 – Sydney Ian Walker Star Silver Barry Parkin Soling 2004 – Athens Ian Walker Yngling Coach Barry Parkin Selector 2008 – Beijing/Qingdao Chris Atkins Chairman, Selectors 2012 – London/Weymouth Annie Lush Women's Match Racing Chris Atkins Chairman, Selectors David Wilkins, Jo Lucas Race Team

Jonathan Janson, having competed in 1956 and 1960, was also involved in most of the subsequent Olympic regattas up to 1992 as a Vice President of the International Yacht Racing Union (IYRU) – now World Sailing. His duties including overseeing the pre-Olympic regattas, International Jury service, and other roles.

The following sailors have represented the UK in the biennial World Team Racing Championships.

Name Team Championship Result Amanda Best (now Hampson) 1995 – West Kirby, UK Gold Ed Smith 1998 – Miami, USA Silver Dan Quinn 1998 – Miami, USA Silver Chris Lynham (Killed in a motorcycle accident that same year) 1998 – Miami, USA Silver Rob Sherrington 2001 – Lake Brno, Czech Republic 5th Rob Sherrington 2003 – Auckland, New Zealand Silver Rob Sherrington 2005 – Newport, USA Bronze Richard Guy 2001 – Lake Brno, Czech Republic 5th Richard Guy 2003 – Auckland, New Zealand Silver Tom Hebbert 2001 – Lake Brno, Czech Republic 5th Tom Hebbert 2007 – Gandia, Spain Silver

Team racing

The society is known for its involvement with the Olympics, having competed in every Summer Olympic game since 1936.

Founder Stewart Morris had experienced the occasional team race in his youth on the Norfolk Broads, where the professional skippers raced against their amateur owners from time to time. When he went up to Cambridge in October 1927, he sailed in three Varsity Match against Oxford (1928–1930), and experienced intense team racing competition, fuelled by traditional Light Blue–Dark Blue rivalry. The sailing Varsity Match was first held in 1912, but was interrupted between 1915 and 1919 by the First World War and in 1940 by the Second World War. Over the years, the standard and tactics of the team racing improved considerably, and great rivalry existed between the University teams. A fuller history of the match will be found on the O&CSS website., Varsity Match history page of the Oxford & Cambridge Sailing Society (O&CSS) website

Stewart's desire to bring together members of both teams to continue team racing, and to promote this aspect of the sport, was the reason for forming the society. By organising matches against other sailing clubs, the society began to promote team racing and, in time, facilitated the development of events such as the West Kirby Sailing Club Wilson Trophy., Wilson Trophy website That event is now the single most prestigious open team racing event in the UK, with an international entry and reputation. The society's vital role is referred to in the record of West Kirby's initial planning meeting: "Support would have to be gained from the Oxford & Cambridge Sailing Society, which was the most important body sponsoring team racing.", and (Sir) Cyril Clarke, one of the three West Kirby helmsmen who provided the stimulus for the first 'Wilson' event,Team racing#History of Team Racing in the US, UK, and Ireland, History Section of Wikipedia Team Racing Article was a member.

Since then, team racing has grown both in popularity and skill levels, with the sport becoming international and a Team Racing World Championships Team Racing World Championship history Team Racing World Championship past results starting in 1995. The UK Royal Yachting Association and UK Team Racing Association (UKTRA) UK Team Racing association website actively promotes team racing and holds an annual UK Championship and Ladies Championship. There is also an annual British Universities Sailing Association, British Universities Sailing Association (BUSA) website. Team Racing Championship, contested after several rounds of regional qualifiers. UK schools are also active with annual championships organised via the British Schools Dinghy Racing Association,, British Schools Dinghy Racing Association (BSDRA) website and the National Schools Sailing Association., UK National Schools Sailing Association (NSSA) website Society members play a leading role in the organisation of all these events, and the society's ladies team won the UK National Ladies Championships four times during the five years 2004—2008, and again in 2013. Furthermore, Bruce Hebbert, the instigator of the European 2K Keel Boat Team Racing Series, 2K Team Racing website is a member.

Vintage port

One less serious aspect of the club is also worth commenting on. In 1936, a member donated 48 bottles of vintage port for consumption at the annual dinner. Grateful members subsequently elected him president for a term, and in 1946 the society started investing its own funds in vintage port. This ‘liquid’ investment strategy has proved most successful. Excellent port is available at annual dinners at extremely low cost, the society's reserves have steadily appreciated, and bottles of port are occasionally sold to provide funds to buy newer vintages for future generations to enjoy.

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