- Founded: 1858 as the Durban Regatta Club — the oldest yacht club in Africa and the southern hemisphere (and the 8th oldest “Royal” yacht club in the world).
- It was renamed the Natal Yacht Club in 1863.
- In 1891, it received a royal charter from Queen Victoria and became the Royal Natal Yacht Club.
Key context:
- Yachting in Durban Bay dates back to the late 1840s in settler diaries.
- The first formal regatta was held on 28 May 1858 (postponed from the 24th due to tides).
- Early racing involved a mix of pleasure boats on a challenging bay with sandbanks and limited channels.
- The club has strong ties to Durban’s colonial history and hosted many prominent citizens.
- It moved locations over time and is now at the Yacht Mole in Durban Harbour.
The RNYC is often what people mean by Durban’s primary historic yacht club.
