Billdals Kappseglingssällskap
Billdals Kappseglingssällskap (BiKSS) is a Swedish sailing club on Killingsholmen in Billdal on the west coast near Gothenburg. The club was officially founded in 1961 and focuses on enjoying sailing as well as youth and grassroots sport rather than elite results alone. Facilities include a clubhouse (klubbstuga), dinghy berths and Optimist hire; the programme covers sailing-school weeks for children and youth, youth training and Laser/ILCA sailing from juniors upwards. Regular Thursday races (torsdagsseglingar) with spring and autumn series plus larger events such as Juniregattan, Styrsö Runt and Billdalspokalen shape the calendar. Since the sailing school began in 1967 and the 50th anniversary in 2011, the club has become a visitor-friendly meeting place with café service on sailing evenings.
History
Racing sailing has long existed in Billdal; when Billdals KSS was officially founded in 1961, it was to give organised form to activity parents had already run with their children for several years. The first advertised regatta took place in 1960; the fleet included among others 21 Star boats and 39 GKSS ekor. Regattas have been held every year since, usually on the second Sunday in August. Today there are at least two major regattas; the largest start classes are Optimists and Lasers. Training races began as six point races and quickly grew; there are now 13 to 14 events split between a spring and an autumn series. The sailing school started in 1967 and now includes beginner, continuation and racing courses for children and youth, plus adult sailing courses on demand. Billdals KSS has always focused more on youth and breadth than top results, even though SM, EM, WM and Olympic sailors appear in the club register. The clubhouse was deliberately made visitor-friendly and is an outing destination on Thursday evenings for watching sailing, fika and conversation. On Saturday 10 September 2011 the club celebrated its 50th anniversary combined with the club championship, open to guests as well; despite difficult weather it was a well-attended day of sailing and festivities including a brass band. According to club information the association was founded on 1 August 1961; current statutes were adopted in 2013.
Information
Facilities
Clubhouse (klubbstuga) on Killingsholmen, dinghy berths, Optimist hire, café/fika at sailing events
Activities
Sailing school for children and youth, youth training, Thursday races, larger regattas, Laser/ILCA sailing, adult sailing courses on demand
Youth section
Active youth and sailing-school programme with Optimist and Laser/ILCA plus youth training
Parking
Yes, limited P-card spaces