Royal Belgian Sailing Club
The Royal Belgian Sailing Club (RBSC) is a historic sailing club founded in 1863 with over 2,000 active members on the beach and on the water. The club operates five bases in Belgium: the marinas of Zeebrugge and Langerbrugge, the beach clubs Duinbergen and Het Zoute in Knokke-Heist, and Damslootmeer in Heusden. Facilities and offer include berths for motor and sailing yachts, dinghy and catamaran berths, clubhouse t Werftje, a sailing school with summer camps, catamaran and dinghy lessons, plus kitesurf and wakeboard. Youth and racing programmes with Youth Team Multihull and Dinghies and national and international events shape club life. A distinctive feature is the long history from the Leie beginnings via Langerbrugge to modern coastal and inland sailing infrastructure.
History
The Royal Belgian Sailing Club (R.B.S.C.) was founded in 1863 by a group of Ghent sailing enthusiasts. Club life began on the Leie with five sailing boats and grew to 41 units by 1893. In 1906 the club opened to motor yachts; in 1912 sailing races followed on the Ghent–Terneuzen canal. After World War I the club moved in 1921 from the Leie to the Ghent–Terneuzen canal and later to Langerbrugge, where a clubhouse was built in 1926 under Commodore Marcel De Clercq. Glorious years followed with national 5 m and 6 m classes, international 12-foot dinghies and major events such as the Coupe Marseillaise and Schelde Trophy. After World War II, Terneuzen marina was founded in 1947 with Dutch yachtsmen under Commodore Henri C. Leten; in 1951 RBSC was entrusted with managing Zeebrugge marina. The club introduced Firefly and Finn, sailed the first major Belgian offshore race Light Vessel Race in 1953, and as the first club on the European mainland introduced the youth two-person Cadet. In 1958 a base at Braakman was added. In 1963 the club celebrated its centenary with a fleet parade in Zeebrugge before honorary president the Prince of Liège (King Albert II). After industrialisation and the loss of Braakman in 1974, Commodore Leten established the Damslootmeer Heusden base; one-design and multihull activity shifted to beach clubs Duinbergen and Het Zoute. In 1980 a shed and clubhouse were built in Heusden; 1985 saw the new sea lock at Zeebrugge and the Tour de l Europe finish; 1988 the 125th anniversary; 1995 the Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race. From 1995/96 Zeebrugge marina was modernised under Commodore Pierre Vanderhaeghen; in 1999 the club purchased Damslootmeer. After Vanderhaeghen's death André Annicq became Commodore. Since 1863 RBSC has grown into one of Belgium's leading sailing clubs with five bases and over 2,000 members.
Information
Facilities
Five bases: Zeebrugge marina with visitor pontoon, clubhouse t Werftje, sanitary facilities and fuel; beach clubs Duinbergen and Het Zoute with over 500 berths, jeep and rescue service, clubhouse and beach lounge; Damslootmeer Heusden with 38 ha, 50 indoor berths and clubhouse; Langerbrugge marina; sailing school, catamaran and dinghy hire, kite schools, wakepark, weather stations and webcams.
Activities
Summer camps, private lessons and hire of catamaran and dinghy, group sailing from age 18, kitesurf and wingfoil, wakeboard, incentives and school sports days, Watersports Mix, national and international regattas, club championships, youth programmes and club trips.
Youth section
Active Youth RBSC Sailing Team with multihull and dinghy groups, training camps and race coaching; Dragoon and Nacra 15 groups plus Youth Team Dinghies and YoungStars.
Guest berths
Yes, visitor pontoon Zeebrugge