History of LLSC
Origins on the Gare Loch
In 1873 a group of enthusiasts of the newly popular sailing canoes formed the Clyde Canoe Club and built a club house on the shore of the Gare Loch at Rosneath. Activity centered on adventurous cruising, although any cruising was adventurous in such tiny craft. Visits to neighbouring lochs were favourite weekend jaunts and The Lomond Round otherwise known as the three lochs cruise was a popular trip.
Starting from Rosneath, the voyage rounded the point into Loch Long and followed it to its head at Arrocher. Here, a local cart and horse, or 'carter' was engaged to haul the vessel overland to Tarbert on Loch Lomond. The homeward route zig-zagged through the islands of Loch Lomond as far as Balloch, followed the river Leven to its confluence with the Clyde and finished with a brisk passage down the Clyde back to Rosneath.
The old clubhouse at Rosneath, Gare Loch
An early Sailing Canoe
The move to Loch Lomond
In 1898 following a short period when the club fell into abeyance, an influx of new members reinvigorated the club. An elegant new clubhouse was built near the steamer pier at Balloch. Loch cruising and camping trips were still the most popular pastimes, but occasional races were also now being held.
During the early years of the 20th century the club introduced more formal design regulations for canoes,including compulsory buoyancy in 1909. Members continued to make adventurous canoe cruises but increasing age made some think of more stable vessels, and in 1925 the first canoe yawl was introduced. Although relatively small at 25ft overall they had two berths and, by virtue of their shape and light construction, were fast by the standards of the day.
Adventurous cruising on The Lomond Round
Larger boats start to appear
Present Day
In 1933 the club moved to its current location at Blair near Cashel, on the eastern shore of the Loch and racing had become the main activity. The new lightweight dinghies becoming available as a result of wartime advances in sail-cloth and wood technology provided exciting sailing. In 1999 the Clyde Canoe Club membership voted to change it's name to Loch Lomond Sailing Club to better represent it's true location.
Although the club maintains a close affinity with sailing canoes, both old and new, over the years the fleet has come to resemble that of most modern clubs with a diverse mixture of cruising dinghies, catamarans and performance racing dinghies as well as keelboats of various sizes. This includes a number of modern 'International Canoes' which race regularly
A modern International Canoe at LLSC
For a more detailed look at the Loch Lomond Sailing Club history, there is a fantastic publication celebrating the first 150 years of the club available for download here, and there is a three part publication available on the Vale of Leven website.
Last updated 16:01 on 25 July 2025
