The History of the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club

The idea of forming a Club originated from the old Port of Falmouth Regattas, which were held for many years prior to 1871. In that year, the then Mayor of Falmouth sent a "Memorial" to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales begging him to become Patron of the newly-formed Club and the consent of the Prince, later King Edward VII, was given on the 3rd November. There were 47 Founder Members and Lord Wodehouse was elected the first Commodore. In June, 1872, sanction was given by the Admiralty for members of the Club to wear the Blue Defaced Ensign and the Home Office gave permission for the word "Royal" to be incorporated in the title of the Club.

The first Meeting was held in the Old Town Hall but in April 1873, the Meetings were transferred to the Greenbank Hotel. In 1876, the first lady was admitted to Membership but eighteen more years were to pass before the next lady was admitted, and it was not until 1970 that ladies acquired full voting rights.

After 10 years at the Hotel, the Club became tenants of our present premises at a rental of £35 p.a.

Queen Victoria's Jubilee in 1887 was celebrated by a fireworks display and a gas-illuminated crown. The Prince kept in touch with the Club and in 1894 his 221-ton cutter "Britannia" won the premier race. A Special Handicap Race for yachts over 110 tons took place in 1926 and included "Britannia" (HM The King) and "Shamrock" (Sir Thomas Lipton). "Shamrock" won from "Britannia" by 39 seconds.

On the death of Edward VII, George V became Patron. The Club bought the leasehold of our premises in 1910 for £710 and the Freehold in 1945 for £203. The whole of the adjoining beach was purchased in 1953.

In 1936, Sir Philip Hunloke acquired the racing flag of "Britannia" and gave it to the Club. The flag was recognised immediately by H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh when he honoured us with his presence in 1971 on the occasion of our Centenary Celebrations.

It is fitting that H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, whose plume appears on our ensign, should now be the Patron of the Club.

In 1924 the Falmouth Sunbeam was introduced as a dayboat racing class and there has been a fleet in Falmouth ever since. The 80th Anniversary Regatta was celebrated in 2004 with visitors from the sister fleet in the Solent taking part. A fine collection of half models can be seen in the Club.

The two other home fleets are the St Mawes One Design dating from 1923 and more recent arrivals, the J24.

The hosting of regattas has always been important to the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club. Falmouth has long been an important venue for National and International Championships, which the Club has hosted since before the Second World War. In the International 14 Championship of 1938, the trapeze was first used off Falmouth by Peter (later Sir Peter) Scott to win the Prince of Wales's Cup.

More recent major events hosted by the Club have included the World Quarter Ton Championship and the British International 6 Metre Championship while every fourth year since 1975 it has organised a race to the Azores and back for yachts with a crew of one or two. In 1995 and 2000 the Club hosted the Edinburgh Cup for Dragons. In 1997 the Atlantic Challenge Cup, a Transatlantic race for very large sailing cruising yachts from New York to Falmouth, was organised by the New York Yacht Club and hosted by the Club. In 1998 the Club was greatly involved in the visit to Falmouth by the Tall Ships race, and hosted the RYA/BT Match Racing National Finals. 2000 was a notable year when Club member Ben Ainslie won a gold medal in the Laser Class in the Sydney Olympic Games. In 2002 the Club was pleased to welcome back the International 14 class for The Prince of Wales Cup and the highlight of 2003 was the well-supported AZAB race. 2004 saw the return of the Dragon Fleet for the JPMorgan Fleming Dragon Gold Cup and 2005 the J80 World Championships.

On the non-racing side, not only have several members made notable long-distance cruises but also the Club's continued involvement in the South Coast Blind Week organised through Sporting Activities for the Disabled Charitable Trust courses provides a biennial highlight. These highly organised tuition weeks are enjoyed by local volunteer crew and blind or partially sighted students alike, and prove that sailing really is a sport that can be enjoyed by all.

The long tradition of offering hospitality to visiting yachtsmen is continued by the Club, which accepts the responsibility of the senior yacht club in this important port, and yachtsmen visiting by water from the UK and abroad are welcomed as temporary members during their stay in Falmouth.

The Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, whilst proud of the traditions on which it was founded, has adapted to the changing needs of its Members and looks forward with confidence to the twenty first century.

 Last updated April 2 2008