Oxford & Cambridge Sailing Society

rdf:langString Oxford & Cambridge Sailing Society

rdf:langString The Oxford & Cambridge Sailing Society is a group of Oxford and Cambridge sailing Blues and Half Blues. Their influence on UK and international sailing, particularly team racing, has been quite disproportionate to their small numbers of just over 300 people. Since the founding of the Oxford & Cambridge Sailing Society (O&CSS) in 1934, members have competed in 13 Sailing Olympics and won eight medals (three gold, three silver, and two bronze). The Society (O&CSS) was formed in 1934 by Cambridge Half Blue Stewart Morris, along with three of his contemporaries; Morris was later to win a gold medal at the 1948 Olympics. The aim of the Society was "to keep members of the two Clubs together after coming down from the University, and encourage team racing throughout the country, at the same time maintaining a high standard of helmsmanship". The two Clubs referred to are the Oxford University Yacht Club (founded in 1884) and the Cambridge University Cruising Club (founded in 1893). The Society has always limited its membership; 24 sailors were elected in the first year and since then four to ten of the best sailors from Oxford and Cambridge have been elected each year as they graduate. Occasionally non-blues are elected because of their later achievements in either competitive sailing or sailing administration. Good histories exist of the Society and of the Oxford University Yacht Club (1884–1994 and 1994–2009) – available in some libraries and from their author. A brief history of the Cambridge University Cruising Club is maintained on that club's website.