The clock is ticking on the Rivoli Bay Sailing Club at Southend and it will cease to exist on January 31.
Just three families have been associating with the club over the past five years.
A last-ditch rally to generate interest proved fruitless and the difficult decision to close was made after almost 60 years of sailing.
The sailors had erected their own clubrooms in the 1980s on land leased from Wattle Range Council.
The lease has lapsed and the remaining Rivoli Bay members are hopeful the clubrooms can possibly be used by the community and school groups.
Club life member Phil Golding reflected on its history when he addressed the October monthly meeting in Millicent of the South East Family History Group.
He is sole living life member as John Morris and Rob Reeves are now deceased.
According to Mr Golding, the Rivoli Bay Sailing Club began in the 1960s when locals with a yachting bent were attracted to the sheltered waters of the bay.
The early members included his father Jack Golding, Millicent businessmen Ross Willshire, John Northwood, John Morris and Scottish-born surgeon Norm Erskine.
Among some local identities to sail at Southend over the years were Anglican parish priest Father Keith Chittleborough, bank officer Samantha Wicks and long-serving MP Mitch Williams.
One of the notable events in the early period was a New Year’s Day Regatta in 1967 when the local sailors were joined by yachties from Robe, Kingston and Port MacDonnell.
Over the following decades, the Rivoli Bay Sailing Club concentrated on hosting internal and external competitions, training of youngsters, erecting clubrooms, purchasing boats and fellowship.
Mr Golding said much of the club history has been lost but there is information on honour boards.
The 25 SEFHG members who heard the 30-minute illustrated address by Mr Golding included Millicent couple Sue and David Smith.
The retirees have a special interest in competitive sailing.
They placed the five Olympic rings on their front gate in July along with a message of support for their interstate grandson Brin Liddell and sailing partner Rhiannan Brown
They competed in the Mixed Multihull yacht class at the Paris Olympic games.
The last SEFHG meeting for 2025 will be the customary pre-Christmas party on November 28.
There is an early start at 6.30pm, a shared meal, singing and parlour games.
