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Royal Canadian Yacht Club

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The Royal Canadian Yacht Club ( RCYC ) is a private yacht club in Toronto , Ontario , Canada. [1] Founded in 1852, it is one of the world's older and larger yacht clubs. [3] Its summer home is on a trio of islands (RCYC Island, South Island and North Chippewa or Snug Island) in the Toronto Islands . Its winter home since 1984 has been a purpose-built clubhouse located at 141 St. George Street in Toronto (just north of Bloor Street ), which includes facilities for sports and social activities. In 2014, the club had approximately 4700 members, about 450 yachts (95% sail) and a number of dinghies, principally International 14s .

The objects of the club are:

• to encourage members to become proficient in the personal management, maintenance, control and handling of their yachts, in navigation, and in all matters pertaining to seamanship;
• to promote yacht architecture, building and sailing in Canadian waters;
• to promote excellence in competitive sailing; and
• to promote such other sports and social activities as may be desirable in the interest of members generally.

From founding to 1896

At an informal meeting in 1850, eight local citizens laid the foundation for the Toronto Boat Club. The club was formally established in 1852. [4]

In 1853, the club revised its name to the Toronto Yacht Club. On the advice of its patron, Lord Elgin, the club changed its name to the Canadian Yacht Club later in 1853. That same year, the club petitioned the Crown for a Royal warrant. The petition was granted by Queen Victoria , [5] and the club became known as the Royal Canadian Yacht Club. Although there is conflicting evidence about the reason behind the change in name from Toronto Yacht Club to Canadian Yacht Club, the most credible explanation is that the club wished to signify its regional rather than merely local significance. Since the City of Toronto was then located in the Canada West area of the Province of Canada , "Toronto" gave way to "Canadian" in the club's name. [6]

The first clubhouse was established in a building owned by Sir Casimir Gzowski , near the present site of Union Station . After a short tenancy, the club moved to a one-storey building erected on a scow moored just east of Simcoe Street. This served from 1853 until 1858, when it was replaced by the steamer Provincial . The Provincial provided shelter until the end of 1868, when it escaped its mooring, drifted away with the winter ice and was blown up as a hazard to navigation.

In 1869, the club built a clubhouse adjacent to the Parliament Buildings on Front Street. In 1881, a clubhouse by architect Frank Darling of Darling & Curry was completed on the Toronto Islands at the site of the present clubhouse, since “the increasing number of railway tracks had completely changed the character of the Esplanade … originally … flanked by handsome residences and the bright blue waters of the Bay.” [7] [8] [9] To reach the new location, the club purchased the clipper-bowed steam launch Esperanza and secured landing rights at the foot of Yonge Street , which it held until 1953 (evolution of the waterfront led to further moves — to York Street until 1979, then to Parliament Street until 2011, when the present launch station was established on Cherry Street). The 1881 building burned in 1904; at that time, buildings, predominantly built of wood, were heated by coal stoves and lit by lanterns and gas lighting, thus fires were frequent and the building standard was founded on an expected average life of 20 years. [10]

While club buildings were rising up and burning down, the members were engaged in racing. The club challenged for the America’s Cup in 1876, and while the Countess of Dufferin was unsuccessful on the water, her owner was more successful at the negotiating table, and weaned the New York Yacht Club from its habit of requiring the challenger to race against its entire fleet.

In 1878, the club’s yachts were granted the privilege of wearing the Blue Ensign , defaced with a crown in the fly. This endured, with a break for both the First and Second World Wars, until the advent of the new maple leaf flag of Canada in 1965.

As the club’s yachts grew increasingly sophisticated, members’ tastes in designs diverged. Early examples hewed closely to the extreme British plank-on-edge style that relied on ballast, not hull-form, for stability. As the century wore on, Canadian designers such as Alexander Cuthbert and A. Cary Smith began to incorporate more of the features of American yachts, such as form-based stability and centreboards. Members were also looking back to Britain for well-rounded designs from such notables as George Lennox Watson and William Fife .

In 1896, Lincoln Park Yacht Club of Chicago challenged the RCYC to a series of match races. Interest was such that several cities vied for the contest – Toledo, Ohio won with the offer of a large cash prize and a splendid trophy by Tiffany & Co. The RCYC yacht Canada , designed by William Fife and sailed under Æmilius Jarvis , defeated Vencedor and won the cash and cup. The Canada owners’ syndicate then donated the cup to the club for perpetual cross-border competition, and the Canada's Cup has since then been "the Great Lakes’ most prestigious trophy" and an emblem of the club's commitment to yacht racing. [11]

1896 to 1969

The 1881 clubhouse burned in 1904. A new building by Henry Sproatt was completed in 1906 but burned in 1918. The remains served until completion of the present building to a slightly modified version of Sproatt’s design in 1922. [12]

By 1900, yacht design had progressed to the point that a new measurement rule was required. A lakes-specific rule and scantlings were published, but never built to. Eventually, Æmilius Jarvis in 1910 built the very successful Swamba , an R-class by George Owen that was the first vessel built to the new Universal Rule on Lake Ontario. [13] She was followed by Patricia , a P-Boat also designed to the new Rule by Owen. [14] [15]

Like most yacht clubs in Britain and the Empire, the club was conceived as an auxiliary to the Royal Navy (hence the naval titles and uniforms), a source of political support and if the need arose, of men familiar with boats. In the days when the Royal Navy fought under sail and yachting was a new idea, “in the building and racing of fast pleasure craft, the Navy… received the benefit of experience and experiment… not possible… under service conditions”. [16] When the First World War came in 1914, the services were short of lead for weapons, and many members patriotically dismantled their boats and gave their keels to be melted. Canada disappeared at this time.

As elsewhere, there was a rush to enlist; at the peak, over 450 members were in the services. 59 of the club’s members died in service. In commemoration, the club in 1926 installed a large granite, marble and bronze memorial, designed by Charles J. Gibson in the form of a ship’s capstan on a low podium on the front lawn, to honour those who had not returned. [17] (The names of the 23 who did not return from the Second World War were added in 1952.) [18]

The club rebuilt its fleet at the First World War’s end, first with the purchase of four P-Boats in 1919, which were then sold to members, then the acquisition of a number of one-design 25-footers known as the C-Boats. These one-design sloops, designed by TBF Benson, fostered close club and inter-club racing, raising everyone’s skill and pleasure. [19] The Universal Rule’s leaning toward large and costly boats, though, called out for a new approach. The first club boat to the new International Rule was the 6-Metre Merenneito . [20] The new Rule so impressed members that three 8-Metres were built to challenge for the Canada’s Cup: Vision ( Camper & Nicholsons ); Quest (William Fife); and Norseman ( William Roué ). A fourth Eight, Invader II was built but was no more successful. [21] Star boats joined the fleet in 1935. At about that time, the 14-footer fleet, precursor to the International 14 , formed.

The club was quiet through the war years 1939 to 1945, but rebounded with peace (and generous fee rebates to those who had served). Expanding membership required expansion of the leasehold over the whole of South Island. In 1954, Venture II reclaimed the Canada’s Cup, ending 51 years at the Rochester Yacht Club. [22] The same year, Hurricane Hazel badly damaged the Toronto waterfront; yachts were then moved from moorings in the harbour to docks in the lagoons between the islands.

1967 to present

The second objective of the club is to “promote yacht architecture, building and sailing…” In the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, the club’s greatest contribution was through the continuing development of the Fourteen class by TBF Benson, Charlie Bourke, and Fred Buller , making a significant contribution to the present International 14. Buller, who was head of aeronautical design at de Havilland Canada deserves special mention, having realized that the tell-tales used to analyze airflow over aircraft could be used to advantage on sails. Buller is credited with originating and popularizing their use, initially in the 14 class, but the idea spread rapidly. [23]

In 1967, Perry Connolly , a club member asked another member, George Cuthbertson , and his partner, George Cassian , to design "the meanest, hungriest 40-footer afloat." Fibreglass was displacing wood as the material of choice by that time, but hulls and decks were solid glass, thus heavy. The new boat, Red Jacket , was designed and built with a hull and deck cored with balsa, a first in North America; light weight combined with a fin keel and all-movable rudder made her faster and handier than her contemporaries. [24] In her first year on the lake, the new boat took 11 of 13 events entered. In her second year, she took top spot at Florida’s Southern Ocean Racing Circuit. The prestige of this and other high-visibility conquests, such as Manitou ’s defence of the Canada’s Cup was a springboard for a new partnership of designers and builders under the name C&C Yachts . C&C, at one time the largest yacht builder in the world, used balsa core in all of its many models, validating cored-laminate technology that is now used in most yachts, racing or cruising. Yachting use of cored laminates arguably led to aviation’s re-discovery of the concept; after a decades-long hiatus, cored composites are now used in most aircraft. [25] Club members retained a close relationship with the company until the sale of its name to US interests.

In the late 1970s, a group of members engaged designer Mark Ellis and builder George Hinterhoeller to make six 30-foot (9.1 metres) cruising yachts that could comfortably be sailed by one person. The Nonsuch series (named for Henry Hudson ’s vessel) had the beamy looks of a traditional U.S. East Coast cat-boat, the underbody of a modern cruising yacht, much sail and the accommodations of a much larger yacht. Eventually, nearly a thousand were built, from 22 to 36 feet (6.8 to 10.9 metres).

During the first half of the 1980s, the club’s International 14 fleet championed the development of a series of designs by member Jay Cross . Powerful and readily planed, Cross designs dominated the North American 14 fleet.

Sailing wing-sail catamarans designed by former C&C Yachts designer Steve Killing, club member Fred Eaton won the International C-Class Catamaran Championship , sailed at RCYC in 2007 and at New York Yacht Club , Newport, Rhode Island, USA in 2010. [26] Early development included foiling vessels that were unsuccessful against immersed hulls in light Lake Ontario airs. Eaton's team’s development progress and the direct participation or observation by AC team members in the 2010 event significantly influenced the decision to sail the 2013 America’s Cup in wing-sail catamarans. [27]

In the summer of 2015, the club hosted sailing events for the 2015 Pan American Games .

Olympic sailors

Forty-eight RCYC members have qualified for the Olympics; one-third of Canadian Olympic qualifiers have come from the club. Members have gained medals for Canada in four events and for Norway in one event.

In summer, the club occupies three islands in the chain that forms the south side of Toronto harbour. The island clubhouse with its porticoed verandahs, Toronto’s largest wooden building, houses a ballroom, dining rooms and other social spaces. Other buildings house the sailing management offices, the junior club, lockers and workspace for the club’s mechanics, riggers, woodworkers and marine yard workers. Island activities include sailing lessons for juniors and adults, sailing in club-owned boats, tennis, swimming and lawn bowling. [28]

The island clubhouse is linked to the city by a launch service operated by two notable launches, both over a century old and built for the club. The Hiawatha [29] built in 1895 and the Kwasind built in 1912 [30] which sail from a dock on the Ship Channel of the Toronto Harbour where it meets Cherry Street. [28] [31]

With its merger with the Carlton Club in 1974, the club gained a winter home in the city (and the addition of racquet sports to its attractions). [32] Ten years later in 1984, the new city clubhouse, opened at 141 St. George St. in the Annex. It is an all-year facility, and provides dining and social spaces, squash and badminton courts, fitness and other facilities. [28]

Model collection

RCYC possesses one of the finest collections of yacht models in North America, in spite of clubhouse fires in 1896, 1904 and 1918 that consumed many valuable examples. [33] The model of Minota was deliberately preserved with the marks of the 1918 fire. [34]

The collection now includes over 170 models, about half displayed in the City Clubhouse Model Room with the remainder elsewhere in the City Clubhouse or in the Island Clubhouse. The Island’s Flagship Room displays some three dozen models of past Commodores’ yachts while the Eight-Metre Room shows a dozen of the type. Fifteen Fourteen-footer and International 14 models in the City Club bar provide the most comprehensive available guide to the class’s development over a 100-year span.

Notable members

• Edward Blake - Premier of Ontario [35]
• Edward Roper Curzon Clarkson - founding partner of accounting firm Clarkson Gordon
• George Harding Cuthbertson - yacht builder and designer [36]
• Sir John Craig Eaton - businessman and philanthropist [37]
• Jim Flaherty - Finance Minister of Canada [38]
• Sir Joseph Flavelle - Industrialist and Baronet [39]
• George Horace Gooderham - distillery owner and politician [40]
• Sir Casimir Gzowski - Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
• Paul Henderson - Olympic sailor [41]
• Edward Æmilius Jarvis - business magnate [42]
• Allan Lamport - Mayor of Toronto [43]
• Sir John A. Macdonald - Prime Minister of Canada
• Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Godfrey Peuchen - Titanic survivor and military officer [44] [45]
• Paul James Phelan - Chairman of Cara Foods Inc. [46]
• James Henry Plummer - Financier - [47]
• Venues of the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games

Bibliography

• Snider, C. H. J., Ovens, Frank Annals of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club Volume I, 1852-1937: Volume 2, 1938-1954 ; Ovens, Frank, Cuthbertson, G., Mallion, A., Caldwell, C. ‘’Annals of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club Volume 3, 1955-2000’’ (published in a slipcased set) Royal Canadian Yacht Club, 2000
• Snider, C. H. J., Hyland, J. A., Wade, T. K., Bourke, C. W., Kimber, H. A., Sorsoleil, E. G., Reid, G., Standing, H., Wood, S. C., 1852-1952 The Royal Canadian Yacht Club , Royal Canadian Yacht Club, 1952
• Daniel Spurr Heart of Glass - Fiberglass Boats And The Men Who Made Them , International Marine Publishing/McGraw-Hill, 2000
• [2] "Heritage - History of The Royal Canadian Yacht Club" . Retrieved 2014-01-04 .
• [3] World’s Oldest Yacht Clubs
• [4] "Annals of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, 1852-1937   : With a record of the Club's trophies and the contests for them" . 1937.
• [5] Club, Royal Canadian Yacht (1856). Laws and regulations of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club [ microform ] . ISBN   9780665918285 .
• [6] Annals of the RCYC , Vol. I, p. 24.
• [7] Frank Darling, Dictionary of Architects in Canada
• [8] Annals of the RCYC , Vol. I, p. 70.
• [9] RCYC Clubhouse from 1881
• [10] Historian to St. Lawrence Market Bruce Bell, quoted in Rotary Voice , September 2007.
• [11] Helm of the 2011 defender, Heritage , Robert Hughes, quoted in Canada's Cup 2011 in Sail , Jul 6, 2011.
• [12] Henry Sproatt, Dictionary of Architects in Canada
• [13] https://rcyc.ca/Heritage/RCYCModels/rcycmodels_p6
• [14] Guide to the George Owen Collection, MIT Museum
• [15] [ Annals of the RCYC, Vol I , pp. 153-156]
• [16] Annals of the RCYC , Vol. I, p. 9.
• [17] Charles John Gibson, Dictionary of Architects in Canada
• [18] [ 1852-1952 The Royal Canadian Yacht Club , p. 52]
• [19] C-Boats
• [20] https://www.rochesteryc.com/files/LYRA%20History%201884%20to%201962.searchable.pdf
• [21] International Rule models
• [22] "Venture II - $250,000 US" .
• [23] [ Continuous Evolution – The Continuing Journey of the Canadian International 14 , Parts I, II, Rob Mazza, Kwasind , Aug. 2013, pp 12-23, Kwasind , Sept 2013, pp 12-22]
• [24] Red Jacket model and description
• [25] Heart of Glass , Daniel Spurr
• [26] "Steve Clark - Intl. C Class Catamaran Championship 2010 >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News" . 28 June 2010.
• [27] "Out on a Wing" . 26 August 2010.
• [28] "Clubhouses and hours of operation" . Royal Canadian Yacht Club. Archived from the original on 27 June 2019 . Retrieved 27 June 2019 .
• [29] "M.V. Hiawatha" .
• [30] "Polson Iron Works ships built 1912, T.R. Teary, Kwasind, MNCO No 6 Drill Scow" .
• [31] Kuitenbrouwer, Peter (6 August 2011). "Doing water-tight deals" . National Post . Archived from the original on 22 November 2013 . Retrieved 21 December 2011 – via canada.com.
• [32] https://www.qcyc.ca/sites/default/files/QCYC_files/ourspirit/archives/1980s/1980%20Ontario%20Government%20Toronto%20Island%20Commision.pdf p.11
• [33] Simon Stephens, Curator of the Ship Model and Boat Collection, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, UK
• [34] Minota model and description
• [35] "RCYC Models | Panel 1 - Royal Canadian Yacht Club" .
• [36] "George Cuthbertson" .
• [37] "RCYC Models | Panel 3 - Royal Canadian Yacht Club" .
• [38] "Putting middle-class values to work" . Toronto Star . 13 January 2007.
• [39] https://www.maritimeviews.co.uk/british-yachts-yachtsmen/canada-cup-1896/
• [40] "RCYC | Previous Commodores - Royal Canadian Yacht Club" .
• [41] "Canadian sail team could challenge for America's Cup" .
• [42] "RCYC | Previous Commodores - Royal Canadian Yacht Club" .
• [43] "Hansard Issue: L017" .
• [44] "Maj. Arthur Godfrey Peuchen of Toronto was with wealthy friends on Titanic" . Toronto Star . 9 March 2012.
• [45] "The story behind why 12 Toronto streetcar tickets were found in the Titanic wreckage" . 10 May 2023.
• [46] "RCYC | Previous Commodores - Royal Canadian Yacht Club" .
• [47] https://www.maritimeviews.co.uk/british-yachts-yachtsmen/canada-cup-1896/

External links

• Official website

Royal Canadian Yacht Club

The Royal Canadian Yacht Club ( RCYC ) is a private yacht club in Toronto , Ontario , Canada. [1] Founded in 1852, it is one of the world's older and larger yacht clubs. [3] Its summer home is on a trio of islands (RCYC Island, South Island and North Chippewa or Snug Island) in the Toronto Islands . Its winter home since 1984 has been a purpose-built clubhouse located at 141 St. George Street in Toronto (just north of Bloor Street ), which includes facilities for sports and social activities. In 2014, the club had approximately 4700 members, about 450 yachts (95% sail) and a number of dinghies, principally International 14s .

From founding to 1896

1896 to 1969, 1967 to present, olympic sailors, model collection, notable members, bibliography, external links.

The objects of the club are:

• to encourage members to become proficient in the personal management, maintenance, control and handling of their yachts, in navigation, and in all matters pertaining to seamanship;
• to promote yacht architecture, building and sailing in Canadian waters;
• to promote excellence in competitive sailing; and
• to promote such other sports and social activities as may be desirable in the interest of members generally.

At an informal meeting in 1850, eight local citizens laid the foundation for the Toronto Boat Club. The club was formally established in 1852. [4]

In 1853, the club revised its name to the Toronto Yacht Club. On the advice of its patron, Lord Elgin, the club changed its name to the Canadian Yacht Club later in 1853. That same year, the club petitioned the Crown for a Royal warrant. The petition was granted by Queen Victoria , [5] and the club became known as the Royal Canadian Yacht Club. Although there is conflicting evidence about the reason behind the change in name from Toronto Yacht Club to Canadian Yacht Club, the most credible explanation is that the club wished to signify its regional rather than merely local significance. Since the City of Toronto was then located in the Canada West area of the Province of Canada , "Toronto" gave way to "Canadian" in the club's name. [6]

The first clubhouse was established in a building owned by Sir Casimir Gzowski , near the present site of Union Station . After a short tenancy, the club moved to a one-storey building erected on a scow moored just east of Simcoe Street. This served from 1853 until 1858, when it was replaced by the steamer Provincial . The Provincial provided shelter until the end of 1868, when it escaped its mooring, drifted away with the winter ice and was blown up as a hazard to navigation.

In 1869, the club built a clubhouse adjacent to the Parliament Buildings on Front Street. In 1881, a clubhouse by architect Frank Darling of Darling & Curry was completed on the Toronto Islands at the site of the present clubhouse, since “the increasing number of railway tracks had completely changed the character of the Esplanade … originally … flanked by handsome residences and the bright blue waters of the Bay.” [7] [8] [9] To reach the new location, the club purchased the clipper-bowed steam launch Esperanza and secured landing rights at the foot of Yonge Street , which it held until 1953 (evolution of the waterfront led to further moves — to York Street until 1979, then to Parliament Street until 2011, when the present launch station was established on Cherry Street). The 1881 building burned in 1904; at that time, buildings, predominantly built of wood, were heated by coal stoves and lit by lanterns and gas lighting, thus fires were frequent and the building standard was founded on an expected average life of 20 years. [10]

While club buildings were rising up and burning down, the members were engaged in racing. The club challenged for the America’s Cup in 1876, and while the Countess of Dufferin was unsuccessful on the water, her owner was more successful at the negotiating table, and weaned the New York Yacht Club from its habit of requiring the challenger to race against its entire fleet.

In 1878, the club’s yachts were granted the privilege of wearing the Blue Ensign , defaced with a crown in the fly. This endured, with a break for both the First and Second World Wars, until the advent of the new maple leaf flag of Canada in 1965.

As the club’s yachts grew increasingly sophisticated, members’ tastes in designs diverged. Early examples hewed closely to the extreme British plank-on-edge style that relied on ballast, not hull-form, for stability. As the century wore on, Canadian designers such as Alexander Cuthbert and A. Cary Smith began to incorporate more of the features of American yachts, such as form-based stability and centreboards. Members were also looking back to Britain for well-rounded designs from such notables as George Lennox Watson and William Fife .

In 1896, Lincoln Park Yacht Club of Chicago challenged the RCYC to a series of match races. Interest was such that several cities vied for the contest – Toledo, Ohio won with the offer of a large cash prize and a splendid trophy by Tiffany & Co. The RCYC yacht Canada , designed by William Fife and sailed under Æmilius Jarvis , defeated Vencedor and won the cash and cup. The Canada owners’ syndicate then donated the cup to the club for perpetual cross-border competition, and the Canada's Cup has since then been "the Great Lakes’ most prestigious trophy" and an emblem of the club's commitment to yacht racing. [11]

The 1881 clubhouse burned in 1904. A new building by Henry Sproatt was completed in 1906 but burned in 1918. The remains served until completion of the present building to a slightly modified version of Sproatt’s design in 1922. [12]

By 1900, yacht design had progressed to the point that a new measurement rule was required. A lakes-specific rule and scantlings were published, but never built to. Eventually, Æmilius Jarvis in 1910 built the very successful Swamba , an R-class by George Owen that was the first vessel built to the new Universal Rule on Lake Ontario. [13] She was followed by Patricia , a P-Boat also designed to the new Rule by Owen. [14] [15]

Like most yacht clubs in Britain and the Empire, the club was conceived as an auxiliary to the Royal Navy (hence the naval titles and uniforms), a source of political support and if the need arose, of men familiar with boats. In the days when the Royal Navy fought under sail and yachting was a new idea, “in the building and racing of fast pleasure craft, the Navy… received the benefit of experience and experiment… not possible… under service conditions”. [16] When the First World War came in 1914, the services were short of lead for weapons, and many members patriotically dismantled their boats and gave their keels to be melted. Canada disappeared at this time.

As elsewhere, there was a rush to enlist; at the peak, over 450 members were in the services. 59 of the club’s members died in service. In commemoration, the club in 1926 installed a large granite, marble and bronze memorial, designed by Charles J. Gibson in the form of a ship’s capstan on a low podium on the front lawn, to honour those who had not returned. [17] (The names of the 23 who did not return from the Second World War were added in 1952.) [18]

The club rebuilt its fleet at the First World War’s end, first with the purchase of four P-Boats in 1919, which were then sold to members, then the acquisition of a number of one-design 25-footers known as the C-Boats. These one-design sloops, designed by TBF Benson, fostered close club and inter-club racing, raising everyone’s skill and pleasure. [19] The Universal Rule’s leaning toward large and costly boats, though, called out for a new approach. The first club boat to the new International Rule was the 6-Metre Merenneito . [20] The new Rule so impressed members that three 8-Metres were built to challenge for the Canada’s Cup: Vision ( Camper & Nicholsons ); Quest (William Fife); and Norseman ( William Roué ). A fourth Eight, Invader II was built but was no more successful. [21] Star boats joined the fleet in 1935. At about that time, the 14-footer fleet, precursor to the International 14 , formed.

The club was quiet through the war years 1939 to 1945, but rebounded with peace (and generous fee rebates to those who had served). Expanding membership required expansion of the leasehold over the whole of South Island. In 1954, Venture II reclaimed the Canada’s Cup, ending 51 years at the Rochester Yacht Club. [22] The same year, Hurricane Hazel badly damaged the Toronto waterfront; yachts were then moved from moorings in the harbour to docks in the lagoons between the islands.

The second objective of the club is to “promote yacht architecture, building and sailing…” In the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, the club’s greatest contribution was through the continuing development of the Fourteen class by TBF Benson, Charlie Bourke, and Fred Buller , making a significant contribution to the present International 14. Buller, who was head of aeronautical design at de Havilland Canada deserves special mention, having realized that the tell-tales used to analyze airflow over aircraft could be used to advantage on sails. Buller is credited with originating and popularizing their use, initially in the 14 class, but the idea spread rapidly. [23]

In 1967, Perry Connolly , a club member asked another member, George Cuthbertson , and his partner, George Cassian , to design "the meanest, hungriest 40-footer afloat." Fibreglass was displacing wood as the material of choice by that time, but hulls and decks were solid glass, thus heavy. The new boat, Red Jacket , was designed and built with a hull and deck cored with balsa, a first in North America; light weight combined with a fin keel and all-movable rudder made her faster and handier than her contemporaries. [24] In her first year on the lake, the new boat took 11 of 13 events entered. In her second year, she took top spot at Florida’s Southern Ocean Racing Circuit. The prestige of this and other high-visibility conquests, such as Manitou ’s defence of the Canada’s Cup was a springboard for a new partnership of designers and builders under the name C&C Yachts . C&C, at one time the largest yacht builder in the world, used balsa core in all of its many models, validating cored-laminate technology that is now used in most yachts, racing or cruising. Yachting use of cored laminates arguably led to aviation’s re-discovery of the concept; after a decades-long hiatus, cored composites are now used in most aircraft. [25] Club members retained a close relationship with the company until the sale of its name to US interests.

In the late 1970s, a group of members engaged designer Mark Ellis and builder George Hinterhoeller to make six 30-foot (9.1 metres) cruising yachts that could comfortably be sailed by one person. The Nonsuch series (named for Henry Hudson ’s vessel) had the beamy looks of a traditional U.S. East Coast cat-boat, the underbody of a modern cruising yacht, much sail and the accommodations of a much larger yacht. Eventually, nearly a thousand were built, from 22 to 36 feet (6.8 to 10.9 metres).

During the first half of the 1980s, the club’s International 14 fleet championed the development of a series of designs by member Jay Cross . Powerful and readily planed, Cross designs dominated the North American 14 fleet.

Sailing wing-sail catamarans designed by former C&C Yachts designer Steve Killing, club member Fred Eaton won the International C-Class Catamaran Championship , sailed at RCYC in 2007 and at New York Yacht Club , Newport, Rhode Island, USA in 2010. [26] Early development included foiling vessels that were unsuccessful against immersed hulls in light Lake Ontario airs. Eaton's team’s development progress and the direct participation or observation by AC team members in the 2010 event significantly influenced the decision to sail the 2013 America’s Cup in wing-sail catamarans. [27]

In the summer of 2015, the club hosted sailing events for the 2015 Pan American Games .

Forty-eight RCYC members have qualified for the Olympics; one-third of Canadian Olympic qualifiers have come from the club. Members have gained medals for Canada in four events and for Norway in one event.

In summer, the club occupies three islands in the chain that forms the south side of Toronto harbour. The island clubhouse with its porticoed verandahs, Toronto’s largest wooden building, houses a ballroom, dining rooms and other social spaces. Other buildings house the sailing management offices, the junior club, lockers and workspace for the club’s mechanics, riggers, woodworkers and marine yard workers. Island activities include sailing lessons for juniors and adults, sailing in club-owned boats, tennis, swimming and lawn bowling. [28]

The island clubhouse is linked to the city by a launch service operated by two notable launches, both over a century old and built for the club. The Hiawatha [29] built in 1895 and the Kwasind built in 1912 [30] which sail from a dock on the Ship Channel of the Toronto Harbour where it meets Cherry Street. [28] [31]

With its merger with the Carlton Club in 1974, the club gained a winter home in the city (and the addition of racquet sports to its attractions). [32] Ten years later in 1984, the new city clubhouse, opened at 141 St. George St. in the Annex. It is an all-year facility, and provides dining and social spaces, squash and badminton courts, fitness and other facilities. [28]

RCYC possesses one of the finest collections of yacht models in North America, in spite of clubhouse fires in 1896, 1904 and 1918 that consumed many valuable examples. [33] The model of Minota was deliberately preserved with the marks of the 1918 fire. [34]

The collection now includes over 170 models, about half displayed in the City Clubhouse Model Room with the remainder elsewhere in the City Clubhouse or in the Island Clubhouse. The Island’s Flagship Room displays some three dozen models of past Commodores’ yachts while the Eight-Metre Room shows a dozen of the type. Fifteen Fourteen-footer and International 14 models in the City Club bar provide the most comprehensive available guide to the class’s development over a 100-year span.

• Edward Blake - Premier of Ontario [35]
• Edward Roper Curzon Clarkson - founding partner of accounting firm Clarkson Gordon
• George Harding Cuthbertson - yacht builder and designer [36]
• Sir John Craig Eaton - businessman and philanthropist [37]
• Jim Flaherty - Finance Minister of Canada [38]
• Sir Joseph Flavelle - Industrialist and Baronet [39]
• George Horace Gooderham - distillery owner and politician [40]
• Sir Casimir Gzowski - Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
• Paul Henderson - Olympic sailor [41]
• Edward Æmilius Jarvis - business magnate [42]
• Allan Lamport - Mayor of Toronto [43]
• Sir John A. Macdonald - Prime Minister of Canada
• Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Godfrey Peuchen - Titanic survivor and military officer [44] [45]
• Paul James Phelan - Chairman of Cara Foods Inc. [46]
• James Henry Plummer - Financier - [47]
• Venues of the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games
• Snider, C. H. J., Ovens, Frank Annals of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club Volume I, 1852-1937: Volume 2, 1938-1954 ; Ovens, Frank, Cuthbertson, G., Mallion, A., Caldwell, C. ‘’Annals of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club Volume 3, 1955-2000’’ (published in a slipcased set) Royal Canadian Yacht Club, 2000
• Snider, C. H. J., Hyland, J. A., Wade, T. K., Bourke, C. W., Kimber, H. A., Sorsoleil, E. G., Reid, G., Standing, H., Wood, S. C., 1852-1952 The Royal Canadian Yacht Club , Royal Canadian Yacht Club, 1952
• Daniel Spurr Heart of Glass - Fiberglass Boats And The Men Who Made Them , International Marine Publishing/McGraw-Hill, 2000

Related Research Articles

The America's Cup , informally known as the Auld Mug , is a trophy awarded in the sport of sailing. It is the oldest international competition still operating in any sport. America's Cup match races are held between two sailing yachts: one from the yacht club that currently holds the trophy and the other from the yacht club that is challenging for the cup. Matches are held several years apart on dates agreed between the defender and the challenger. There is no fixed schedule, but the races have generally been held every three to four years. The most recent America's Cup match took place in March 2021.

A catamaran is a watercraft with two parallel hulls of equal size. The distance between a catamaran's hulls imparts resistance to rolling and overturning. Catamarans typically have less hull volume, smaller displacement, and shallower draft (draught) than monohulls of comparable length. The two hulls combined also often have a smaller hydrodynamic resistance than comparable monohulls, requiring less propulsive power from either sails or motors. The catamaran's wider stance on the water can reduce both heeling and wave-induced motion, as compared with a monohull, and can give reduced wakes.

The New York Yacht Club (NYYC) is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. As of 2001, the organization was reported to have about 3,000 members. Membership in the club is by invitation only. Its officers include a commodore, vice-commodore, rear-commodore, secretary and treasurer.

The Nepean Sailing Club ( NSC ) is a sailing club located on Lac Deschênes in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The club is based in Dick Bell Park, along Carling Avenue, adjacent to Andrew Haydon Park in the former city of Nepean.

C&C Yachts was a builder of high-performance fiberglass monohull sailboats with production facilities in Canada, Germany, and the United States. C&C designed and constructed a full range of production line cruiser-racer boats, as well as custom one-off and short production run racing and cruising boats. C&C boats ranged in size from as small as 21 ft (6.4 m) to as large as 67 ft (20.4 m). C&C also produced a line of bluewater cruising boats in the 35 ft (10.7 m) to 48 ft (14.6 m) range under its Landfall brand. In addition, C&C designed sailboats for production by a number of other manufacturers such as CS Yachts, Mirage Yachts, Northern Yachts, Ontario Yachts, Paceship Yachts, and Tanzer Industries.

The Canada’s Cup is a silver trophy, deeded in perpetuity in 1896, to be awarded to the winner of a series of match races between a yacht representing a Canadian yacht club and one representing an American yacht club, both to be located on the Great Lakes.

The Island Yacht Club is a proprietary yacht club in Toronto, Ontario Canada. The club is located on 16 acres (6.5 ha) of land on Mugg's Island, one of the islands in the Toronto Islands. The club is accessible from April to October using the club's private boat from downtown. The club has its own marina providing docking and marine services to members. Since 2015, it has been owned by Blockhouse Bay Management Company.

The Royal Vancouver Yacht Club ( RVYC ) is a yacht club located in Vancouver, British Columbia. Royal Vancouver Yacht Club currently operates two marinas, the one at Jericho Beach in English Bay and another in Coal Harbour. The Jericho site includes a clubhouse, two restaurants, and berths enough for 350 as well as a dinghy dock. In 2017 the award-winning Dock Building was completed, designed by Michael Green Architecture, providing offices for the Harbour Master, instruction and amenity space and workshops to maintain boats, sails, and gear. The Coal Harbour site has approximately 350 berths, some with covered moorage, and is the location of the floating restaurant called The Mermaid. The club also has seven offshore stations in BC waters.

M/V Kwasind is a passenger ferry built in 1912 for the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She is 71 feet (22 m) long. She was built by the Polson Iron Works and cost CA$13,000 . Her name was taken from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem about Hiawatha, as the yacht club's previous ferry is Hiawatha .

The St. Francis Yacht Club is a private sailing club located in San Francisco.

The Britannia Yacht Club ( BYC ) is a private social club, yacht club, and tennis club based in Britannia, a neighborhood in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1887 by a group of cottagers.

The Royal Cape Yacht Club is one of South Africa’s most active and oldest yacht clubs. Located in Cape Town, the Club plays host to many important national sailing events, including South Africa’s premier ocean yacht race, the internationally renowned Cape to Rio.

The C&C 37/40 is a Canadian 12.05 metres (39.5 ft) LOA fibreglass monohull sailing yacht, designed in 1988 by Robert W. Ball of Cuthbertson & Cassian as a replacement for the earlier C&C 37 dating from 1981. The C&C 37/40 is a recreational keelboat of moderate displacement, intended as a cruiser/racer or oceangoing racer. The yachts have a masthead sloop rig, with a fin keel and an internally-mounted spade-type rudder. Over 110 of the 37/40 type were built before the Canadian plant closed in 1994. The design is no longer produced.

The C&C 61 is a Canadian sailboat, that was designed by Cuthbertson & Cassian and first built in 1970.

The C&C 44 and the C&C 44 Custom are a series of Canadian sailboats, that were designed by Robert W. Ball and first built in 1985.

Robert Wilson Ball was a Canadian yacht designer, based in Port Credit, Ontario, and later, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Robert Ball was the chief in-house designer and Vice President of Design at C&C Yachts from 1973 to 1991.

George Harding Cuthbertson (1929-2017) was a founding partner of Cuthbertson & Cassian yacht designers, one of four companies that in 1969 formed C&C Yachts, a Canadian yacht builder that dominated North American sailing in the 1970s and early ‘80s.

George Cassian was a yacht designer and founding partner of Cuthbertson & Cassian yacht designers, one of four companies that in 1969 formed C&C Yachts, a Canadian yacht builder that dominated North American sailing in the 1970s and early 1980s. His was the second “C” in C&C, with his design associate George Cuthbertson, being the first. Cassian would continue as a designer with that company until his untimely death in 1980 at the age of 47.

Erich Bruckmann was a boat builder and founder of Bruckmann Manufacturing, one of four companies that in 1969 formed C&C Yachts, a Canadian yacht builder that dominated North American sailing in the 1970s and early 1980s.

The Mark 25 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Canadian George Harding Cuthbertson, as one of the first works under his new design firm Motion Designs Limited after he left C&C Design. The boat was intended as a racer-cruiser and first built in 1984.

• ↑ "Heritage - History of The Royal Canadian Yacht Club" . Retrieved 2014-01-04 .
• ↑ World’s Oldest Yacht Clubs
• ↑ "Annals of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, 1852-1937   : With a record of the Club's trophies and the contests for them" . 1937.
• ↑ Club, Royal Canadian Yacht (1856). Laws and regulations of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club [ microform ] . ISBN   9780665918285 .
• ↑ Annals of the RCYC , Vol. I, p. 24.
• ↑ Frank Darling, Dictionary of Architects in Canada
• ↑ Annals of the RCYC , Vol. I, p. 70.
• ↑ RCYC Clubhouse from 1881
• ↑ Historian to St. Lawrence Market Bruce Bell, quoted in Rotary Voice , September 2007.
• ↑ Helm of the 2011 defender, Heritage , Robert Hughes, quoted in Canada's Cup 2011 in Sail , Jul 6, 2011.
• ↑ Henry Sproatt, Dictionary of Architects in Canada
• ↑ https://rcyc.ca/Heritage/RCYCModels/rcycmodels_p6
• ↑ Guide to the George Owen Collection, MIT Museum
• ↑ [ Annals of the RCYC, Vol I , pp. 153-156]
• ↑ Annals of the RCYC , Vol. I, p. 9.
• ↑ Charles John Gibson, Dictionary of Architects in Canada
• ↑ [ 1852-1952 The Royal Canadian Yacht Club , p. 52]
• ↑ C-Boats
• ↑ https://www.rochesteryc.com/files/LYRA%20History%201884%20to%201962.searchable.pdf
• ↑ International Rule models
• ↑ "Venture II - $250,000 US" .
• ↑ [ Continuous Evolution – The Continuing Journey of the Canadian International 14 , Parts I, II, Rob Mazza, Kwasind , Aug. 2013, pp 12-23, Kwasind , Sept 2013, pp 12-22]
• ↑ Red Jacket model and description
• ↑ Heart of Glass , Daniel Spurr
• ↑ "Steve Clark - Intl. C Class Catamaran Championship 2010 >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News" . 28 June 2010.
• ↑ "Out on a Wing" . 26 August 2010.
• 1 2 3 "Clubhouses and hours of operation" . Royal Canadian Yacht Club. Archived from the original on 27 June 2019 . Retrieved 27 June 2019 .
• ↑ "M.V. Hiawatha" .
• ↑ "Polson Iron Works ships built 1912, T.R. Teary, Kwasind, MNCO No 6 Drill Scow" .
• ↑ Kuitenbrouwer, Peter (6 August 2011). "Doing water-tight deals" . National Post . Archived from the original on 22 November 2013 . Retrieved 21 December 2011 – via canada.com.
• ↑ https://www.qcyc.ca/sites/default/files/QCYC_files/ourspirit/archives/1980s/1980%20Ontario%20Government%20Toronto%20Island%20Commision.pdf p.11
• ↑ Simon Stephens, Curator of the Ship Model and Boat Collection, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, UK
• ↑ Minota model and description
• ↑ "RCYC Models | Panel 1 - Royal Canadian Yacht Club" .
• ↑ "George Cuthbertson" .
• ↑ "RCYC Models | Panel 3 - Royal Canadian Yacht Club" .
• ↑ "Putting middle-class values to work" . Toronto Star . 13 January 2007.
• ↑ https://www.maritimeviews.co.uk/british-yachts-yachtsmen/canada-cup-1896/
• ↑ "RCYC | Previous Commodores - Royal Canadian Yacht Club" .
• ↑ "Canadian sail team could challenge for America's Cup" .
• ↑ "Hansard Issue: L017" .
• ↑ "Maj. Arthur Godfrey Peuchen of Toronto was with wealthy friends on Titanic" . Toronto Star . 9 March 2012.
• ↑ "The story behind why 12 Toronto streetcar tickets were found in the Titanic wreckage" . 10 May 2023.
• Official website

RCYC - Royal Canadian Yacht Club, Island Clubhouse

Customer ratings and reviews.

We were there for a regatta. Nice selection of menu. Nice customer service. Nice view of the city. We want to come back some other time😊. Just one sad thing is that the service charge is almost as high as HST.

Dining at the RCYC overlooking Toronto Harbour has no equal in terms of a city view. Food is excellent as well. Cucumber and gazpacho soup, beet and tomato salad (from their garden) and grilled salmon were fantastic.

Arguably the best view of Toronto. The food at the yacht club is very good. The junior club offers amazing summer camps. There’s a ferry from RCYC’s port in the ports of Toronto. The price for parking in the port is expensive though.

An oasis in the bustling downtown Toronto, it is private, tranquil and picturesque. The newly renovated bar is situated up front with plenty of outdoor seatings on the veranda which overlooks the harbour with the familiar Toronto skyline as back drop. The food is quite outstanding and the drinks more than decent.

Awesome place with awesome view. We were here as a guests from CISS and we're very thankful for a dinner organisation. Everything was on a high level. The landscape is really beautiful. I am glad that there is such a place not far from Toronto - beautiful, quiet and breathtaking.

Photos of RCYC - Royal Canadian Yacht Club, Island Clubhouse

Questions & Answers

What is the phone number for rcyc - royal canadian yacht club, island clubhouse.

The phone number for RCYC - Royal Canadian Yacht Club, Island Clubhouse is (416) 967-7245.

Where is RCYC - Royal Canadian Yacht Club, Island Clubhouse located?

RCYC - Royal Canadian Yacht Club, Island Clubhouse is located at 2 Chippewa Ave, Toronto, ON M5J 2E7, Canada

What is the internet address for RCYC - Royal Canadian Yacht Club, Island Clubhouse?

The website (URL) for RCYC - Royal Canadian Yacht Club, Island Clubhouse is: http://www.rcyc.ca/

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Royal Canadian Yacht Club Island Club

+vg were retained by the royal canadian yacht club to carry out renovations to the clubs’ two clubhouses, the city club located downtown toronto and the island club, located on toronto island..

The historic Island clubhouse (circa 1919) is the home base for the sailing members of the club and is heavily used during the summer months. The clubhouse is predominantly used by members for ‘apres’ sailing dining and socializing. The upper floor banquet space is booked extensively for weddings and receptions. The project involved the restoration of the building exterior, provision of a new elevator serving the inaccessible upper floor, new main floor member washroom facilities and the creation of a new city-facing bar/bistro/dining area. The renovated areas comprised approximately 10,350 ft² not including outdoor verandah areas that were also restored.

Toronto Island, Ontario

Royal Canadian Yacht Club

Heritage Recreational Hospitality

PHOTOGRAPHY

David Whittaker

Clean Slate Canadian Interiors

Learn more about our historic milestones spanning over 160 years.

Once Upon A Time

Toronto was young and raw. But to eight men sitting in a storeroom, that was no reason to be without a boating club. By 1853, the Boat Club became the Toronto Yacht Club. Patriotically - for yacht clubs were naval auxiliaries, the Club applied for a Royal Warrant and was surprised to become, not the Royal Toronto, but the Royal Canadian Yacht Club.

To The Island

No longer so young but just as raw, Toronto’s waterfront was too noisy and industrial for a club. Saying good-bye to its scow-borne and aged-steamer clubhouses, the Club set itself up in a new building on North Island. Open fires and gas lighting ensured a short life for the new home and there were three new clubhouses before the present building rose.

The first Members sailed epic races around the Lakes, but the gloves came off when Canada won the Cup that bears her name. Twenty-four tough series make it one of yachting’s more durable desirables. Newer contests include the NYYC Invitational (two firsts, one second in four regattas), the C-Class championship twice - did we mention that one-third of Canada’s Olympic qualifiers fly our burgee?

The Royal Cornerstone

A Royal Warrant entailed Royal patronage, and well before he met Wallis, the Prince of Wales visited what amounted to a stage set built on the ashes of the past building. The cornerstone he laid still graces the entranceway, and the building has remained fire-free for nearly a century since its completion in 1922. Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh, is the present patron.

New Ways, Always

From the kit-boat-beginnings of Canada, Club boats have been a wellspring of new ideas. In the late forties, a club 14-footer sailor gave the world sail-telltales and the gybing daggerboard. Club Members designed, built and sailed to a stunning win on a yacht that changed the way yachts are built. From International 14’s to cruising catboats to foiling catamarans, RCYC Members have pushed the state of the art.

My God, She Steers!

Once a yacht club for men, RCYC – though still heartily a yacht club – is a club for all. Since embracing the Carlton Club, RCYC has added racquet sports, fitness and swimming within its new winter City home. On the water, women sail as equals in Club and inter-club racing and in our intensely popular women’s social-sailing and women’s racing programs.

The 6 Best Yacht Clubs in Toronto [2022]

Home » Best Of Toronto » The 6 Best Yacht Clubs in Toronto

These Toronto yacht clubs are known as the best in the city and they live up to their reputation! By joining a yacht club, you gain access to other perks like dining rooms and boats other than your own. These clubs can teach you how to boat or for the more experienced, let you participate in yacht sailing competitions.

We selected these Toronto yacht clubs based on customer reviews, location, the events they host, and their high-class boating and racing programs! 

Before you join any of these premier yacht clubs, you need to buy a boat first! Head over to the best boat dealers near Toronto.

If you already have a boat, it’s very important to keep it in tip-top shape. If it’s in need of a fix, take it to the best boat repairs in the city!

• What’s the Average Cost of Joining a Yacht Club in Toronto?
• 1) National Yacht Club
• 2) RCYC – Royal Canadian Yacht Club
• 3) Etobicoke Yacht Club
• 4) Ashbridges Bay Yacht Club
• 5) Lakeshore Yacht Club
• 6) Cathedral Bluffs Yacht Club

FAQs About Yacht Clubs

Final thoughts, what's the average cost of joining a yacht club in toronto.

The average cost of joining a yacht club in Toronto is about $3,000. This does not include the cost of membership dues, which can be an additional $1,200 – $2500 per year.  Some other factors, such as the location of the club and the type of boat you have, can also affect the cost of membership.

For what you’re paying, you’ll have access to the club’s facilities and staff, as well as other members who share your passion for boating. You’ll also be able to take part in club-sponsored activities, like racing and cruising events.

If you’re looking for a more luxurious yacht club experience, you can expect to pay upwards of $10,000 for membership. These clubs offer higher-end amenities and services, like valet parking and concierge service. They also tend to be located in prime real estate, like downtown Toronto or along the city’s waterfront.

The Best Yacht Clubs in Toronto

1. national yacht club.

The National Yacht Club is a boating community that has been around since 1890, and it’s right by the foot of Bathurst Street. It is the perfect destination for you and your crew to take advantage of their beautiful surroundings while taking a break from working hard. They have plenty going on, whether it be social events or just relaxation! 

Their location is equally convenient to the lake with quick access to the inner harbour, Toronto Islands and Lake Ontario – you are on the lake in minutes, and back in the city at the end of the race or cruise just as quickly. 

The National Yacht Club is a great place to find like-minded sailors. With three nights of club racing, organized cruises and power boat enthusiasts that are passionate about their vessels – you’ll be sure not to leave without newfound friends! 

As an NYC member, you’ll have access to their Racing Crew Bank and Weeknight Cruising Program as well as a unique dinghy racing 420 Club. You can also sign up for Boat4U boat share where they provide the vessel!

Fantastic city-side location with a fabulous dining room, best docks, comprehensive learn to sail, cruising and racing programs – you won’t find anything like it anywhere else!

Business Information:

Website: thenyc.com Email: [email protected] Telephone: +14162608686 Address: 1 Stadium Rd, Toronto, ON M5V 3H4, Canada

Customer Review Highlight:

• Photography services are included in some packages
• Professional settings for business meetings
• Offers services in Toronto and Miami
• Catering options were slightly vague

2. RCYC - Royal Canadian Yacht Club, Island Clubhouse

If you’re looking for a private club with unparalleled views of the city, RCYC is your best option. The Royal Canadian Yacht Club is a prestigious club that was established in 1852. In those years, they have built an excellent reputation as sponsors and builders for yacht racing teams across Canada! 

With two Toronto-area locations and boats available from every member in good standing there’s no better place to host an event. They are a community of like-minded individuals who share an interest in yachting, sport and tradition. 

They welcome new members with open arms to their welcoming yacht club! RCYC’s mandate is to promote excellence in all forms of competitive sailing and sports like squash, badminton, tennis and lawn bowling. 

RCYC has a long tradition of competitive excellence in yacht racing. Each year, they host many regattas – provincial, national and international ones! Midweek Racing is held throughout the spring, summer and fall.

 From Club Fleet Championships to International Events, their Toronto Island clubhouse is the place for people who love sailboat racing. RCYC offers a variety of sailing programs for all ages and levels.

 Whether you are just beginning your journey or looking to take it up another notch, there’s something here that will suit every boat!

Website: rcyc.ca Email: [email protected] Telephone: +14169677245 Address: 2 Chippewa Ave, Toronto, ON M5J 2E7, Canada

• Has an app for secure communication and transactions
• Swift response and easy to book
• Offers services in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal
• Offers boat lessons sailing, fishing and watersports
• Some options are unavailable

3. Etobicoke Yacht Club

As you approach the Etobicoke Yacht Club, it is hard to imagine that this location could be any more ideal. With its picturesque views and spacious waters in Humber Bay as well as easy access points near shorelines on western Lake Ontario – you’ll definitely be impressed with what you’ll see! 

Whether it’s rowing a boat around sunset over the water while listening to birds sing; or enjoying live music under the stars every night – they’ve got something perfect just waiting here. They offer a variety of memberships and programs for all ages. 

Whether you’re an experienced sailor or just getting started, their members have something for everyone. They offer competitive racing fleets and vibrant social scenes that will keep your adrenaline pumping all summer long! 

They’re always happy to see their friends from other yacht clubs during the season. The welcoming, social community of sailors with a healthy racing and junior sail program is what you’ll find at the Yacht Club. 

Memberships range from social, crewing, and boating in a very social club, where members work together on events and activities making it a community of like-minded individuals that enjoy the wind!

Website: www.eyc.ca Email: [email protected] Telephone: +14162591159 Address: 300 Humber Bay Park Rd W, Etobicoke, ON M8V 3X7, Canada

• Offers night sails
• 4 membership options with 4 different luxury yachts
• Club options with no commitment for budding sailors
• Does not allow pets onboard
• Guest exceeding 125kilos/275 pounds are rejected without refund
• Smoking is not allowed

4. Ashbridges Bay Yacht Club

The founding members of the Ashbridge’s Bay Yacht Club had one goal in mind: To promote good yachtmanship, tradition and volunteerism. The principles they promoted have remained true today, over 80 years since its inception.

The ABYC is a great place for those who love boat racing. They offer weekly club races from May through September, and these always have exciting finals! 

Their weekend cruises provide an opportunity for socializing and making new friends around the lake. This is one area of boating which attracts power boats as well sail-driven vessels! 

ABYC has always been dedicated to ensuring the safety and satisfaction of its members, which is why they’re such a popular club among visitors. The club has a friendly and courteous staff that makes you feel at home. 

The members are also great people who make the environment enjoyable for everyone to enjoy!

Website: abyc.ca Email: [email protected] Telephone: +14166984498 Address: 30 Ashbridges Bay Park Rd, Toronto, ON M4L 3W6, Canada

• Swift service
• Slight to no delay for long lines
• Children under 2 years ride for free
• Longer hours during weekends
• Requires $30 minimum for the boat to depart

5. Lakeshore Yacht Club

Lakeshore Yacht Club believes that safe and fun boating is an essential part of the countless memories you’ll make together. At their facility, they are dedicated to providing a safe and fun environment for all of the members who visit. 

They take great pride in maintaining an environmentally sound structure that will provide you with many years worth of memories! By choosing them, you can feel confident that your boat will be in tip-top shape and comply with all standards of safety. 

Lakeshore Yacht Club is a great place to meet new people and learn about the surrounding area. The boats are tiny, but also well-designed and convenient with everything in pristine condition! 

Plus the environment is such a clean, friendly space that you can’t help feeling happy when visiting this place for experienced pleasures!

Website: lsyc.com Email: [email protected] Telephone: +14162553701 Address: 76 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Dr, Etobicoke, ON M8V 4B7, Canada

6. Cathedral Bluffs Yacht Club

Nestled at the base of beautiful Scarborough Bluffs, Cathedral Bluffs Yacht Club has its own paradise island that is easily accessible from across the region. You’ll soon forget all about city life as you relax on your boat amidst fabulous scenery!

The beautiful surroundings and great facilities make them an attractive destination for club members looking to book their own cruise vacation! With events throughout summer including cruising & racing along with wintertime activities like fishing trips in between races – they have it all! 

They’re a unique organization, with member-built and maintained facilities. They offer the full suite of services at reasonable rates that you can afford, so whether you’re looking for a place to socialize or enjoy the scenic views of Lake Ontario, they have something that will suit your needs!

Website: cbyc.ca Email: [email protected] Telephone: +14162617627 Address: Brimley Rd S, Scarborough, ON M1M 3W3, Canada

• Very large capacity with upto 500 people
• Catering provided by a world class chef
• Large variety of alcohol and spirits are available
• In-house DJ with music amenities
• Website is very vague
• Can get stuffy at large events

The best yacht clubs in Toronto are open for membership! They have world-class facilities and excellent programs for racing and cruising boats.  Yacht clubs are also a great way to meet new people. The members of these Toronto clubs are as enthusiastic about yachting as you are. If you’re looking for a yacht club to join, become a member of any of the best yacht clubs in Toronto!

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Become a Member at RCYC

One of the premier private clubs in toronto.

With its two Clubhouses, one in the heart of the city and the other on Toronto Island, RCYC is one of the premier private clubs in Toronto. Join our welcoming community of active sailors and like-minded individuals who share an interest in yachting, sport and tradition.  

Where Friends become Family

Growing friendships since 1852.

Our story, passed through generations of RCYC Sailors, tells us that sometime in 1850s a small group of Torontonians seated themselves on flour barrels to discuss forming a local sailing Club. Today, that same spirit that brought them together persists in our community united by its passion for the sport. Whether you are an experienced sailor or looking to learn the ropes, our Club offers camaraderie on and off the water.

One Membership, Two Clubhouses

Toronto island & downtown toronto.

Escape the hectic pace of the city by taking a short private ferry ride from the downtown core to the relaxing, panoramic shores of our historic Toronto Island Clubhouse. Here, you can enjoy sailing, dining, tennis, outdoor swimming, children’s programs, lawn bowling and other activities.

Our City Clubhouse caters to your active lifestyle year-round. It is a place where you can break a sweat in our fitness centre, play squash or badminton, dine and socialize with friends.

Worldwide Private Club Access

150+ reasons to travel.

As a Member of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, you will be welcome at exclusive reciprocal clubs around the world. RCYC is affiliated with an international network of over 150 Private Clubs in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

The top 15 sailing clubs in Toronto

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Sailing clubs are a plenty in Toronto because we're lucky enough to have easy access to Lake Ontario. These clubs offer a safe place to moor your boat and almost all of them offer lessons . If you're new to the sport, one of the below clubs is a good place to start your journey.

Here are my top picks for sailing clubs in Toronto:

Toronto Sailing & Canoe Club  

Non-profit and volunteer-run sailing club, this club is located on three acres of land on Humber Bay along the north shore of Lake Ontario.  Although membership is required to use the club's fleet, one need not be a member to enter the club's Learn to Sail Program. 

Water Rats Sailing Club

This 200-member sailing and paddling club on Regatta Road is volunteer-run and a non-profit co-op. This club is more of a small boat club, keelboats and boats with cabins aren't allowed. Their membership and initiation fees are also lower than other clubs. 

Aquatic Park Sailing Club

Located within Tommy Thompson park, this sailing club is a self-described "boat self-help" and "urban wilderness sailing club" where members adopt a DIY attitude. There are no monthly bar and restaurant fees and the clubhouse is run on solar power. 

Toronto Island Sailing Club  

This sailing club is, you guessed it, right on Centre Island, west of the Toronto Island Marina on the north shore. Membership allows for complete access to the club's fleet. Members can take part in the club's lessons, clinics, and racing programs.

Mooredale Sailing Club  

This sailing club is just east of downtown, near Cherry Beach. Membership includes CYA (Canadian Yachting Association) certified beginner lessons to Level CANSail II. Members enjoy unlimited use of the club's sailing fleet.

Westwood Sailing Club

Located just next door to Mooredale, this club offer a wide variety of sailing courses, but full membership is a requirement. They're also a non-profit and it's not a requirement to own a boat to sail there. 

National Yacht Club

Opposite Billy Bishop Airport, this is more of a keelboat (bigger boat) club, but they also offer an adult learn to sail program for instruction in smaller, more responsive sailboat handling. Courses here are open to non-members.

Island Yacht Club 

From the people behind King West's Spoke Club is the Island Yacht Club on the Toronto Islands. For a pretty penny you have access to a full range of amenities including 140 docks, tennis courts and a swimming pool. They also run a sailing school. 

Ashbridge's Bay Yacht Club

This east-side club near the Beaches has a pretty unique membership structure, so if you're interested in joining take a look at which type of membership works best for you. The club offers a licensed restaurant, patio and lounge.

Humber Bay Sailing Centre

Both a sailing club and school, this is a great place in Humber Bay Park to make new friends at the club, write your exam to get the Toronto Harbour License and take a course in basic keelboat cruising. 

St. James Town Sailing Club  

This sailing club is nestled amid the other sailing clubs beyond the port on Regatta Road. The club offers lessons to members only, but membership gets you unlimited access to the fleet. 

Port Credit Yacht Club

This sailing club is further west than most, but also boasts prime amenities like winter storage facilities and a mobile marine lift. They also offer lessons for everyone — no matter the skill level. 

Queen City Yacht Club

Self-described as "one of Toronto's oldest and friendliest sailing clubs", this sailing club on the Toronto Islands has plenty of opportunities for members to sail and make friends while they're at it during their Wednesday night racing series. They've even got a club magazine. 

The Royal Canadian Yacht Club

This is one wide-reaching sailing club. They have clubhouses for members in the  city and on the Toronto Islands. They also have programs for adults who are brand new to the sport that can be taken by non-members. 

Alexandra Yacht Club

Across from Billy Bishop airport, this sailing club boasts interconnected floating docks, swing moorings, Thursday night Race Nights, an "informal winter program" and Wi-Fi. 

Ben Aerssen . With contributions from Tristan Steiner. 

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Royal Canadian Yacht Club

Stay more than one night and receive one night complimentary.

The RCYC is pleased to offer your Members Reciprocal Yachting when docks are available. We are currently accepting visiting yachts only with limited availability and by reservation only .  To request anchorage please email [email protected]  or telephone 416-967-7245 ext. 521.

Reservation must be made up to 4-days in advance. All visiting boats must contact the RCYC dockmaster at 416-967-7245 ext. 521 a minimum of two days prior to visit to confirm availability.

The Royal Canadian Yacht Club is a sailing club with a tradition that dates back to 1852. The Club provides yachting activities for racers and cruisers alike from our Island facilities.  Fine dining is available in a formal setting as well as casual eating areas for Members, Yachtsmen, and children of all ages.

RCYC is located on the beautiful Toronto Islands. It is one of the premier private clubs in the world. Our welcoming community consists of active sailors and like-minded individuals who share an interest in yachting, sport, and tradition. RCYC accepts VISA and MasterCard credit cards in the dining spaces, the Sailing Office and Chandlery.

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