Royal Yacht Squadron
Yacht club in Cowes, Isle of Wight. For harbour, berth and tide information see our The Solent guide.
- Location
- Cowes, Isle of Wight
- Region
- The Solent
- Type
- Yacht club
- Founded
- 1815
- Website
- rys.org.uk
- Details checked
- 2026-10-19
About the club
The Royal Yacht Squadron was founded as 'The Yacht Club' at the Thatched House Tavern in St James's, London, on 1 June 1815. The Prince Regent became a member in 1817, and when he became George IV in 1820 the word 'Royal' was added to the name. In 1826 the club began organising yacht racing at the annual Cowes regatta, and in 1828 it introduced the rule that a boat on port tack gives way to one on starboard.
The Castle
The Squadron's home is Cowes Castle, built in 1539 as part of Henry VIII's chain of Solent defences with Yarmouth, Hurst and Calshot. Stone from the dissolved abbeys at Beaulieu and Quarr went into its construction. The Squadron's start line in front of the Castle is used for many of the Solent's main regattas.
History
In 2016 Unicorn Press published <em>Making Waves: Two Hundred Years of the Royal Yacht Squadron</em>. The club also publishes a shorter history on its website.
Visiting by boat
RYS Lodge & Haven: +44 (0)7720 185862, VHF 37A (M1).
Membership
We did not find a public application process on the club's website, so contact the Squadron directly.
Related guides: Cowes Harbour guide · Cowes Week guideSources
- www.rys.org.uk/the-rys/history
- www.rys.org.uk/the-rys/history/cowes-castle
- www.rys.org.uk/the-rys/contact
Details checked against the club's own website on 19 October 2026. Contact the club to confirm prices, times and visitor arrangements before you go.
Map
Nearby clubs
Club details are facts checked against each club's own website; contact the club to confirm visiting and membership arrangements. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.