Details for Mid Warwickshire Yacht Club Return to Clubs List

Club Profile

The Mid Warwickshire Yacht Club (MWYC) was founded in 1961 when a group of people met up on a navigation course at the then Mid Warwickshire FE College. From this small acorn grew an oak tree with three branches: a sail section, a power section and an inland waterways section. The power section was first started by people who had an interest in power boats, some owned them and had to travel to use them – often on trailers on their drives. Later it was kept going by operating ‘virtually’, meeting in members’ houses, and it regularly held an annual meal in our clubhouse, and at least three of our current members belonged to it. Eventually it folded, but the other two divisions continue to thrive. Although we split from the sail section in 2019, it continues in Leamington Spa to this day. In deference to our origins, we retain the words ‘yacht club’ even though there are no yachts moored here.

 Our club (the old inland waterways section) has always been highly active. In the past, members enjoyed rallies, some in co-operation with other nearby clubs such as those in Earlswood, Alvechurch and the Black Buoy Cruising Club. Many people came to celebrations of special occasions, such as the late Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977, when we provided a ‘ferry’ across the canal to save people having to go round via the bridge. There were also club outings, usually to places associated in some way with water, which included visits to Ironbridge Gorge, the Manchester Ship Canal, the River Thames in London and the Kennet and Avon Canal, before the Caen locks were completed. On one famous occasion, a number of our boats made it as far as Peterborough – but then couldn’t get back to base due to canal closures!

 There is much speculation about the origins of Hatton Wharf and its original use – although there is no actual evidence of this. The house over the road from the club used to be a pub called the Beehive and, if you look carefully, you can still see the ghost of a sign there. The old Gallows Bridge is believed to date from the 1920s or 30s. The original bridge was wooden; it became rotten and unsafe and has been replaced by the current metal one.  

 

 

These days, we have around 28 leisure craft, comprising GRP boats and narrowboats, on a linear mooring on the Grand Union Canal. We have facilities such as a clubhouse and parking. Craning in and out has always been one of the features of our Club – made easier by having enough land grassed over to put the boats on. Wildlife has always been important to us and recently we have been home to a pair of nesting swans.

 

 Sue Rivers

Vice Commodore & Secretary

May 2026