12th November 1890

Guernsey Yacht Club was founded

The Board of Trade issued a warrant on 12 November 1890 to the Guernsey Yacht Club. However, it took some time for the club to get itself organised. It had its first outing the following year, on Wednesday 1st July.

Guernsey Post Office issued a series of stamps commemorating its centenary in 1990, in the covering notes for which it quoted an advert that had been placed in The Star announcing the club’s first event:

Company cruise for yachts belonging to the club to be held on Wednesday 1st July starting from Harbour at 3pm. Rowing members are invited to start with the yachts and follow to Ferman Bay where it is proposed to have the fleet photographed. In the evening of the same day there will be a dinner at the Old Government House Hotel – Tickets (excluding wine) 5s. Club uniform shall be considered full dress.

Naturally, the Yacht Club had to suspend its activities throughout the Second World War as boat use was strictly monitored and severely limited during the Occupation. However, it lost no time in resuming sailing following liberation and, in 1946, it picked up exactly where it had left off in 1939 with an announcement of that year’s prize winners.

Moving to Town

In December 1960, the Yacht Club gained agreement from the States of Guernsey to site its premises close to Castle Cornet at the heart of St Peter Port. Twenty years later, that same building was extended to provide better facilities for the growing club.

What had been set up as a very local affair is now world-renowned for the dozens of events it stages every year, including the Guernsey Regatta, which help to bring visitors to the island.