The Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club was formally established in 1847 by Hull businessmen and ship owners. It was originally based in both Hull and Whitby and staged two annual regattas from its inception.
Royal patronage began with Queen Victoria and continues today with the Duke of Edinburgh who last visited the Club during its 150th anniversary year in 1997.
The RYYC was recognised by the Lords of the Admiralty by the issue of a warrant allowing members to wear the red ensign and burgee defaced with the Queen’s crown and white rose of York. This was changed to the current defaced blue ensign and burgee in 1929.
By the turn of the century there was increasing traffic on the Humber and in the Hull Docks making the area less suitable for pleasure yachting. Consequently the Club decided to move its activities to Bridlington, where it occupied various premises until in 1939 the present Clubhouse, previously the Ozone Hotel (right), was acquired and adapted to provide facilities for members and visiting yacht crews, to whom a special welcome has always been extended.
A Regatta has been held in Bridlington Bay almost every year, except for the war years, since the Club moved here. The regatta week attracts boats and sailors from many other yacht clubs and the year 2008 will see the RYYC’s 151st annual event.
