Tata Steel Sailing Club was founded in 1953 at the Port Talbot steel works holding pools – please see ‘Early Years’ section below. It is now situated on Eglwys Nunydd reservoir, at Margam near Port Talbot - very conveniently accessed from the M4 motorway. The reservoir forms a sizeable open fresh water lake, approximately one mile long by half a mile wide offering great dinghy racing as well as providing ideal safe training. The club also welcomes wind surfers. In addition, Swansea University Sailing Club and Sea Scouts form active parts of the membership.
The club house, boat house, car park, large level boat compound, starter’s hut and three slip ways are all located within the secure Tata Steel works area. These facilities have benefitted from steady improvement over the years and there are plans to continue with more development in future years.
Being a membership club with about 170 members, the culture and atmosphere reflects that of the Flag Officers and members and is notable for its friendly and welcoming approach with a strong self-help character.
Dinghy racing takes place throughout the year on Sundays and Wednesday evenings with a wide variety of classes and competencies competing for quarterly series prizes. TSSC is proud to hold several open meetings each year along with a widely recognised annual Regatta open to allcomers. Informal sailing takes place on Saturdays.
The club is a RYA accredited training centre and RYA British Youth Sailing recognised club. Regular training sessions and other activities take place throughout the summer for all ages beginning with young members from six years of age.
Galley and Dining Hall
Hot food and drinks are available. We operate an honesty box system with a hot water boiler for drinks, microwave ovens, gas cooker and dishwasher facilities avaiable for use.
Snacks are available at all times.
The galley is normally manned during Open events, with a ful hot menu available on the day
Changing and Shower Facilities
Fully central heated changing facilities and hot showers are avaiable for both male and female members and guests.
Toilets suitable for wheelchair users are available whenever the club is open.
More photographs can be seen on the Clubhouse Gallery by clicking HERE
Tata Steel Sailing Club is located just off Junction 38 of the M4.
If traveling from the East, i.e. traveling from the Cardiff direction take the first exit off the J38 roundabout.
If traveling from the West, i.e. traveling, from the Swansea direction take the 3rd exit off the J38 roundabout.
The exit off the roundabout is signposted "Crematorium". The Crematorium is a few yards on the left, carry on past this and follow the road round, passing the British Oxygen Plant on your right, until you see the entrance gates of the reservoir on your left.
Speed limit on the reservoir roads is 20mph. You will see the club house on your right on a promontory into the reservoir. Look out for the right turn, up a narrow lane, which is obscured by bushes as you approach.
To gain entry to the reservoir you will need the code to the sailing club's combination lock; this is given to members when membership fees have been paid. Visitors, or prospective members who may be interested in finding out more about the club need to ring the clubhouse on 07951 553 488; a member will then come to the gate to let you in.
Eglwys Nunydd is the name given to an area of land South East of Margam which at one time was a Grange belonging to Margam Abbey. It is often thought that there was a Nunnery or even a Convent there but this is not the case. Eglwys Nunydd was not a Convent, but from records of the 16
th Century there existed a pre Norman church named Eglwys Nunney which was thought to be dedicated to Saint Non the mother of Saint David. Over the many years the name has become altered until today the area is called Eglwys Nunedd.
A. L. Evans, "Margam Abbey"
The reservoir was constructed on marshy land within this area by surrounding the marsh with walls on three sides and allowing the area to flood.
“The Steel Company of Wales Sailing Club” from whom we are descended, moved to this artificial lake in 1963 having previously sailed on Port Talbot docks.
It has been suggested that the “Club” may be sailing on Holy water. Should this be true then there are many members who have experienced an involuntary baptism.
Stan Williams, December 2013
The Club was founded in 1953 and moved to its present site in 1963 and is a section of to the Tata Steel Sports and Social club. It is open to Tata Steel employees and all members of the public wishing to sail mono hull dinghies and windsurfers throughout the whole year.
Originally with the Steel Company of Wales Sailing Club sailing took place in works holding pools and later moved to the docks of Port Talbot. The Steel Company of Wales became part of British Steel in 1957. Under the stewardship of Mr Fred Cartwright who was the Managing Director of British Steel at the Port Talbot works and Mr Ray Jones who was the Planning Engineer Eglwys Nunydd reservoir was opened in 1963 to service the works. Both keen sailors they were instrumental in moving the works sailing club from the docks to the reservoir.
In 1957 the Porthcawl and Kenfig sailing club was founded using Kenfig pool, now part of Kenfig nature reserve, as a base. During the 1966 season it became clear to the members that the British Steel sailing club provided a size and facilities which would much better suite the development of sailing. Porthcawl and Kenfig sailing club was disbanded and its members joined the British steel sailing club.
As a result of this "merger" there followed a period of close association between Porthcawl and British Steel sailing club which can be seen from the clubs trophy cabinet.
- The Offshore Challenge Shield - originally presented to the club by Porthcawl Town Council. Councilor David Howell-Jones was chair of Porthcawl Town council and was instrumental in providing sponsorship. The offshore race was originally held off Porthcawl and is now awarded to the winning Corus club member at the Llanstephan Offshore Weekend.
- Porthcawl and Kenfig Open Regatta Trophy (awarded between 1957 and 1966)
- Porthcawl Marine Fireball Cup
The association with the steel works is also represented by a number of trophies.
- The Commanders Anchor - engraved SCWYC (Steel Company of Wales Sailing Club) and first awarded in 1966
- The Junior Champion Helmsman Challenge Cup, engraved with the letters SCWYC and first awarded in 1957.
- The Handsome Transom originally awarded for the Enterprise class and being in the shape of a dinghy transom. Presented to the club by Mr Fred Cartwright.
The club began to outgrow the clubhouse which was of wooden construction. Under the clubs longest serving commodore, Arthur Gough, a new clubhouse was constructed. Arthur was a draftsman at British Steel and drew the plans up himself. A loan of £10,000 was arranged with British Steel to be paid back over 10 years. Construction was undertaken by the Borough of Afan Community Program Agency with help from British Steel and club members as part of the Manpower Services Commission Community Program. The new clubhouse was opened on the 14th September 1985 by Mr. D C Williams M.A. J.P. Chairman, Area Manpower Board. A plaque above the kitchen servery commemorates the event. The old wooden clubhouse was removed and rebuild adjacent to the British Steel Sports and Social club where it remains to this day and is used as the Band practice room.
Tata Steel Sailing Club celebrated their 60th anniversary on June 24th 2023 of the time when they started sailing at Eglwys Nunydd reservoir at Margam. The reservoir was constructed by “The Steel Company of Wales” to supply cooling water for the use in the making of steel at the works. It was completed in 1963 and the Sailing Club moved there at this time.
The works has seen a change of owners over the years and the club has adopted the name of the owners on each occasion. It is now owned by “Tata Steel” and the club is now “Tata Steel Sailing Club”.
The club is in the Neath Port Talbot CBC area and the Mayor and Mayoress of the Borough were invited along to unveil a plaque and cut a cake especially commissioned for this 60th Anniversary, along with two VIPs from Tata Steel, Mr Chris Jacques and Mr David Bright, being invited to take part in the celebrations.
In addition to our regular members, we have three groups of people who are members of our club, the Neath and Briton Ferry Sea cadets, the Porthcawl Sea Cadets and the Swansea University Sailing Team who were present at the event.
The Sea Cadets along with their Commanding Officers looked very smart in their uniforms as they formed a line of Honour to greet our VIP visitors.
Our Commodore, Linda Ingram, invited the Mayor of NPT BCC to unveil the plaque commemorating the occasion while the Mayoress was invited to make the first cut of the celebration cake.
On completion of the formalities, it was time to relax a little and the Mayor was asked if he would like to try sailing which he accepted. One of our trainers, Mike Radford, set sail with him, suitably attired, exchanging his Mayoral Chain for sailing gear and buoyancy aid, and it wasn’t before long that he took the helm and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Author - Stan Williams.
Eglwys Nunydd reservoir is fairly shallow averaging about 14 feet below its top level. The depth contour map shows where the deep and shallow areas are.
The map was supplied by Stan Williams July 2009.
Corus was formed out of the 1999 merger of British Steel and Dutch group Hoogovens. Anglo-Dutch steel firm Corus was taken over by Indian rival Tata Steel in October 2006. At the sailing clubs Special General Meeting of 7th November 2010 the sailing sections name was changed to Tata Steel Sailing Club, Margam.
