Received wisdom has it that Royal Yacht Club of Victoria was founded in May 1853 as the Port Phillip Yacht Club. Records show that the Club is undoubtedly Australia’s senior yacht club and as such is steeped in decades of yachting history and tradition.
In 1872 the Club was granted the privilege of flying the Blue Ensign of the Colony of Victoria. Queen Victoria, in 1887 granted to the Club the privileges of a royal club and the Admiralty granted a Full Warrant to fly the Blue Ensign of Her Majesty’s Fleet. The Club added the name “Royal” to its name and since 1887 has been know as the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria.
In 1873 the club moved to its present site at 120 Nelson Place, Williamstown, just across the Westgate Bridge on the banks of the picturesque Port
Phillip. The Royal Yacht Club of Victoria has more than 900 members and 300 yachts on its register. The club has a long and proud history of bay and ocean racing as well as long distance ocean cruising.
Many past members of the Club are linked with the development of yachting in Victoria .
In recent times, the Club has been in the forefront of larger keelboat racing and many of the famous yachts that have sailed on Port Phillip have been or are, on the Club’s register.
Membership of the Club is open to all ages, from junior’s learning to sail, to keen sailors who have achieved their ambition and purchased the boat of their dreams, to those who wish to crew on racing yachts or to people who just want to enjoy the company of others on a leisure cruise.
Through the Club’s sailing and social activities, members meet new people from all walks of life and make many new friends amongst people who enjoy the camaraderie that is found amongst those who sail.
