The Club was founded in the year 1882. The following year H.R.H. Princess Louise visited Bermuda and while here granted its Royal Charter.
At that time there was no settled practice with respect to granting of titles. In 1897 the question was reviewed by the Home Office and defines rules were laid down.
In 1916 there was a fire in which the local records of the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club were lost. However, it is considered unlikely that there was any specific document from H.R.H. Princess Louise granting the right to describe the club as “Royal”. In any event the title “Royal” was dropped by the members apparently for fear that the Club was not entitled to use it. “The Hamilton Dinghy Club Act” was passed on 17 March, 1927.
The position was investigated in 1946 and it was decided to apply to H.M. Queen Elizabeth II for her confirmation of the grant by H.R.H. Princess Louise in 1883. Confirmation was received in 1953.
On Thursday 4 June, 1953, at a ceremony at the Club premises in Hamilton, His Excellency the Governor, Lt.-Gen. Sir Alexander Hood, G.B.E., (C.B.E.), K.C.B., (C.B.), K.C.V.O., officiated at the flag breaking ceremony, making this the only “Royal” dinghy club in the world.
The original flag, which is still in the Club premises, was traced to Messrs. Lanff & Neeve, 97 Leadenhall Street, London. They were bombed out during the 1939-45 war and are now out of business.
The original flag was recovered by Mr. Arthur Pitt and returned to the Club and presented by Mr. Edmund Gray to the then Commodore the late Mr. William Frith. The new flag has been made in all respects similar to the original.
The 1927 Act altered by No. 7 of 1954 when the name was changed back from The Hamilton Dinghy Club to “The Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club”.
From its origin on Reid Street, the club moved to Church Street and in 1964 it acquired its present premises overlooking Hamilton Harbour.
In 1977 the Club became co-sponsors of a cruising race held on a biennial basis between Marion, Massachusetts and Bermuda. The arrangements between the Beverly Yacht Club, the Blue Waters Sailing Club and the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club has proved to be a resounding success, the attraction of a cruising and family race encouraging a large number of enthusiastic participants.
In 1990 the Club carried out a major rehabilitation and remodeling to its premises so continuing its status as Bermuda’s premier maritime club.
