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Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron

Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron

Company Profile

The Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron was founded when nineteen yachtsmen met in the office of The Hon William Walker MLC on 8 July 1862, to found a yacht club to be designated ‘The Australian Yacht Club’. An application was made for a Royal Warrant and the Patronage of the Prince of Wales. On 27 June 1863 the Commodore, the Hon William Walker MLC, received a letter from the Colonial Secretary’s Office notifying him of the Prince of Wales’ willingness to become Patron of the ‘Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron’. This letter also issued an Admiralty Warrant authorising the use of the Blue Ensign of Her Majesty’s Fleet. The present Patron is HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. It was not until 1902 that The Squadron was able to lease a property at Wudyong Point on the eastern side of Kirribilli, with a stone cottage, a landing stage and a slipway. The site was formally occupied on 24 January 1903. The whale’s jawbones, forming an archway over the pathway, originally came from a whaling station at Twofold Bay. The flagstaff was salvaged from the collier BELLAMBI and presented by F G W Waley Esq. Over the years the Clubhouse and its facilities have been extended and improved including purchasing the properties on either side of the original site and transforming the waterfront into a hardstand providing dry storage for 52 One Design yachts, as well as an area for yacht maintenance and repair. The slipways were replaced by a 20 tonne straddle lift and two 4 tonne fixed cranes for lifting smaller vessels and breakwater pontoons were installed to provide an area of protected water for rigging and servicing yachts. The construction of underground off-street car parks provided 140 car spaces for members. Since its inception, The Squadron has been active in sailing and yachting. In 1962 The Squadron challenged for the America’s Cup with GRETEL. Subsequent challenges have been made on members’ behalf. The Squadron also conducts World, National and State Championships for One Design classes including Dragons, Etchells, J24s and Ynglings. During the sailing season, ocean and harbour races are conducted for yachts of varying sizes, as well as the One Design classes. Youth Sailing was inaugurated in 1960 to teach the sons and daughters of members to sail. Since then Youth Sailors have graduated to participate in National and International championships. The Youth Sailing Programme has produced a number of State, National and World Champions. The Squadron will be represented in the Australian Olympic Sailing Team in 2000 in the International Soling Class. Two members of the Olympic crew began their sailing careers as Squadron Youth Sailors. The Squadron was asked to participate in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games by providing the on water race management for Course Area B during the Olympic and Paralympic Regattas.