royal natal yacht club

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Sun-soaked coasts

Royal natal yacht club, durban: push the boat out in style.

T T he Royal Natal Yacht Club (RNYC) in Durban is the perfect place to sip on a gin and tonic as you watch the yachts in the harbour , revelling in KwaZulu-Natal’s balmy subtropical weather . Once known as the Durban Regatta Club, this esteemed yacht club is a recognised mainstay of the Durban social scene .  

The RNYC  is situated at the Yacht Mole in Durban harbour and dates back to early colonial days in Port Natal, whe n the gentlemanly pursuit of yachting was high on the social and sporting agenda – the earliest mentions of yachting in Durban (as the Port Natal settlement was renamed in 1835) crop up in diaries from the 1840s . Much of the history of early Durban can be linked to this club , and the early regattas were always popular occasions.  

The club’s fascinating history began in 1858 , when the Durban Regatta Club was formed to host Durban ’s first official sailing regatta – making it the oldest yacht club in Africa (and the fifth-oldest in the southern hemisphere). In 1863, it became the Natal Yacht Club and in 1891, much to the delight of the many British emigrants who had settled in the port city, it was officially granted a royal charter (the eighth club in the world to be so designated) and declared the Royal Natal Yacht Club.   

These days, the RNYC is an active yacht club with racing on offer. Wednesday evenings in summer are good for sundowner sailing, while dinghy racing takes place on Saturday afternoons – and Sundays are for keelboat racing.  

Th e club is open to the general public , not members only , and guests can enjoy the grandeur of yachting with a modern twist , as the c lubhouse is available for a delicious meal or drinks at the end of the day. The Britannia Room is situated on the upper level of the club with incredible views over the Durban Marina. Sunday carvery lunches here are legendary , and the kitchen is known to serve a good Indian curry.  

The Lower Deck is where diners can enjoy relaxed meetings, breakfasts or lunches , and it opens onto the lawns, where visitors enjoy alfresco dining on the grass overlooking Durban's harbour.  

There is also a swimming pool and a jungle gym for the children.  

There are regular regattas , and the sight of yachts in full sail out on the Indian Ocean or coming into the harbour is certainly something to behold.  

T T ravel tips & Planning  info  

Who to contact

Royal Natal Yacht Club   Yacht Mole, Durban Harbour   KwaZulu-Natal   South Africa  

Telephone: +27 (0)31 301 5425   Email:  [email protected]  

How to get here

From the M4, take the offramp onto Margaret Mncadi Avenue (previously named Victoria Embankment ) . At the third set of traffic lights follow the signage to t he Yacht Mole.  

Best time to visit

Breakfast starts at 7am on the Lower Deck. The Brittania Room opens from 11 am. Durban weather is temperate all year round, except in the depths of summer (late November to mid-March), when it can get very hot and humid.  

Around the area

The famous Roma Revolving Restaurant, at the top of John Ross House, is just a few hundred metres down Margaret Mncadi Avenue from the Yacht Mole entrance . It makes a great spot for dinner after a day at the Royal Natal Yacht Club , if you really want to understand the geography of Durban .   

Roma serves an Italian menu that hasn’t changed – or declined in popularity – since the 1970s, while diners are entertained by the room making a slow pirouette throughout their meal, allowing them to take in the full 360⁰ panorama of the downtown CBD and Durban North, the extensive Berea Ridge, the harbour , the Bluff and the Point, and the Indian Ocean seafront .  

Tours to do

Take a cruise round Durban harbour. Various operators offer boat trips and sundowner cruises.  

Where to stay

Durban is a great holiday destination , and there is a lot of accommodation available. You might want to stay at the famous Royal Hotel , a block up from the yacht basin.  

What to eat

The Sunday carvery in the Brita n nia Room is a must. Or treat yourself to breakfast on the Lower Deck. The Royal Natal Yacht Club also boasts the best fish and chip s in town.  

Related l inks  

• Royal N a tal Yacht Club  
• City o f Durban  
• Sailing in Sout h Africa  
• Durban T o urism  

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SailRSA Royal Natal Yacht Club

The Royal Natal Yacht Club is the oldest Yacht Club in Africa, and is the fifth oldest Yacht Club in the Southern Hemisphere. It was constituted in May, 1858, when the first Regatta was held in Durban, and the Durban Regatta Club was formed. It later became known as the Natal Yacht Club, and in 1891 received its charter, and from henceforth received the treasured title The Royal Natal Yacht Club.

SITUATION (how to get there) RNYC is situated in the Durban Marina, on the Victoria Embankment, Durban harbour. Access is via the Esplanade road. As you cross over the railway line, the club is on the right (PYC is on the left).

Map reference: 29° 54' 43" S 31° 01' 2" E

CLASSES CATERED FOR All types of keelboats, dinghies and catamarans. Keelboats at the club range from the Flying 15 and up.

Yacht racing and cruising, restaurant, bar.

ADDRESS PO Box 2946 Durban Kwazulu Natal South Africa 4000 South Africa

CONTACT PERSONS Tel : +27 31 301 5425 EMail :

Club Website : www.rnyc.org.za

Royal Natal Yacht Club

The Royal Natal Yacht Club is the oldest Yacht Club in Africa, and is the fifth oldest Yacht Club in the Southern Hemisphere. It was constituted in May, 1858, when the first Regatta was held in Durban, and the Durban Regatta Club was formed. It later became known as the Natal Yacht Club, and in 1891 received its charter, and from henceforth received the treasured title The Royal Natal Yacht Club.

For many years the club had no home, and from the outset their meeting place was the Princess Café. It was only in 1891 that the first thoughts of a Club House crystallized, and plans were proposed for the erection of a building, 30 feet long by 20 feet wide and 10 feet high. The cost for the imposing edifice built of "wood and iron" was �150, and a further sum of �20 was spent on furniture.

Through good times and bad, the Royal Natal Yacht Club has striven to uphold the best traditions of yachtmanship and provide its members with the means for enjoying a sport second to none in the world. Members of the Club have carried its burgee to all parts of the world, and have competed successfully in many waters, in many types of boats.

Some of the clubs highlights over the years include having more representatives then any other South African Club participate in the Olympic games; until last year holding the most wins in the Lipton Cup Challenge; having Martin Lambrecht and Alex Langhom - Love win the 1994 Fireball World Championships under our burgee; Anthony Steward sailing under RNYC colours in his record feat of sailing the smallest open yacht around the world; and blind yachtsman Jeff Hilton Barbour sailing single handled from Durban to Freemantle, Australia; while in the new millennium RNYC members have launched the most 40" plus size yachts thereby allowing so many new participants to enjoy the sport.

2008, the clubs sesquicentennial anniversary represents enormous opportunities and challenges. A full programme of events commensurate with the occasion has been planned. The club needs to seize the moment. It is a unique opportunity to leverage the clubs brand and position as the premier blue water and small keelboat club on the continent.

Mission and Vision

The Council's mission is to foster closer relations between selected yacht clubs around the world in order to improve the quality of the yachting and other services they provide to their members, including a proper awareness of the environment and responsibility toward it.

The Council operates at the level of Commodores and other present and former Flag Officers of the member clubs. It shall provide an effective platform for the exchange of ideas and experience among this group, and among General Managers.

Present Objectives of the Council:

To build on the synergy that already exists between member clubs and develop new links by the use of contemporary communication tools and the organization of annual forums. To identify areas of interest and concern among member clubs and to share information on these topics. To foster fellowship and informal communications among member clubs by encouraging participation in joint venture events such as cruises, rallies, youth exchanges, interport regattas and social activities.

Clubs that are admitted to membership of the Council are primarily the senior yacht clubs in the various key yachting locations. They share the finest yachting traditions and are of sufficient size, with a sufficient range of activities, to be able to contribute to the deliberations of the Council. Other yachting organizations may be permitted on an ad hoc basis if the Council can help them and vice versa.

The Royal Natal Yacht Club represents much of what they should be proud of: camaraderie, friendly competition, the pursuit of excellence and the taking of some responsible risk along with the braving of danger and above all, the ability to have fun.

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Yacht Clubs

St. Petersburg Yacht Club

Rich in history and tradition, the St. Petersburg Yacht Club is one of the oldest yacht clubs in the United States. Established in 1909 and having been completely renovated in the early 1990s, the Club is located on the beautiful waterfront in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. A gathering place for avid boaters, it is also one of Tampa Bay’s most prestigious social venues. The yacht club is famous for its standard of race management and events are run almost all year round. Juniors learn to sail. Sailors have represented the club all over the world.

Stories from St. Petersburg Yacht Club

St Petersburg’s city fathers had ambitious plans for their commercial docks: create waterfront parks and a yacht club. The St Petersburg Yacht Club was founded in 1909. Following the reclamation and completion of the waterfront, the clubhouse was inaugurated on its current site in 1917. Two years later, 6 Fish Class sailboats were acquired and one design racing began. Several classes have returned annually for over 60 years. Offshore racing started with the Havana Race in 1930. As forerunner of SORC, both brought sailors from all over the world to Tampa Bay.

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