What is the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron?

The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron (RQYS) is one of Queensland's oldest and most prestigious sailing clubs, founded in 1885 and based at Manly on the shores of Moreton Bay, about 16 kilometres east of the Brisbane CBD. It is a large, full-service club catering to sailors at every level — from juniors in Optimists and Sabots through to elite sailors competing at national, international and Olympic level — and it hosts club, state and national championship racing on the bay.

Where is RQYS and what waters does it sail on?

RQYS is located on the Royal Esplanade at Manly, a bayside suburb of Brisbane, and sails on Moreton Bay — a large, sheltered body of water on Queensland's south-east coast. Moreton Bay's protected waters and reliable breezes make it an excellent year-round sailing venue, and the club's marina and facilities sit right on the waterfront.

When was RQYS founded?

The club was founded in 1885 as the Queensland Yacht Squadron. It received a royal charter in 1902 and formally added 'Royal' to its title in 1961, becoming the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron. That long history makes it one of the oldest and most established sailing clubs in Queensland, with members having competed at the Olympic Games since 1956.

What classes are sailed at RQYS?

RQYS caters to a very wide range, reflecting its size. Juniors and beginners sail Optimists, Sabots and other off-the-beach dinghies; there are strong fleets across Olympic and international dinghy classes; and the club has an active keelboat scene, from club racing to Grand Prix one-designs. This breadth is part of what makes it a genuine pathway club, from a child's first sail to elite competition.

What regattas does RQYS host?

RQYS runs a full calendar of club championship racing for members alongside state, national and international regattas on Moreton Bay. Among its marquee events is Brisbane Race Week, a keelboat regatta on the bay. The club is also the home base of the Invicta Melges 40 Grand Prix campaign that publishes this site.

Queensland

Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron

The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron (RQYS) is one of Queensland's oldest and largest yacht clubs, founded in 1885 and based at Manly on Moreton Bay — a hub for everything from junior dinghies to Olympic and Grand Prix sailors.

Photo: Kgbo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

2 min read

The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron (RQYS) is one of Queensland's oldest and largest sailing clubs — founded in 1885 and based at Manly on Moreton Bay, a short distance east of central Brisbane. It is a genuine pathway club, home to everything from a child's first sail in an Optimist to elite sailors competing at Olympic and Grand Prix level, and it is the home club of the Invicta campaign behind this site.

The club

RQYS is a large, full-service yacht club on the Royal Esplanade at Manly, about 16 kilometres east of the Brisbane CBD. Its marina, boat storage and clubhouse sit right on the waterfront of Moreton Bay, and its membership spans the whole sport — juniors, dinghy racers, keelboat crews and offshore sailors. That breadth is the club's signature: it runs learn-to-sail programs and green-fleet racing at one end, and hosts national and international championships at the other.

Marina berths and moored boats at Manly Boat Harbour on Moreton Bay — Manly, Moreton Bay — Photo: Kgbo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

History

The club was founded in 1885 as the Queensland Yacht Squadron. It was granted a royal charter in 1902, and formally added "Royal" to its title in 1961, becoming the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron. Its members have represented Australia at the Olympic Games since 1956, a measure of the club's long standing at the top of the sport.

Where it sails

RQYS sails on Moreton Bay, the large, sheltered bay on Queensland's south-east coast. The bay's protected waters, islands and reliable sea breezes make it an outstanding year-round venue — forgiving enough for beginners, and big enough to run championship courses for the largest fleets.

Classes and racing

Reflecting its size, RQYS caters to a very wide range of classes:

Juniors and beginners — Optimists, Sabots and other off-the-beach dinghies.
Dinghy racing — strong fleets across Olympic and international classes.
Keelboats — an active scene from club racing to Grand Prix one-designs like the Melges 40.

The club runs a full calendar of club championship racing alongside state, national and international regattas, including the keelboat racing of Brisbane Race Week.

Following the club

RQYS publishes its racing calendar, Notices of Race and results through its official website. For visitors and new sailors, the club is a natural entry point to sailing in Brisbane — see our guide to sailing in Brisbane and Moreton Bay, and the sailing terms glossary for the vocabulary of the sport.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron?: The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron (RQYS) is one of Queensland's oldest and most prestigious sailing clubs, founded in 1885 and based at Manly on the shores of Moreton Bay, about 16 kilometres east of the Brisbane CBD. It is a large, full-service club catering to sailors at every level — from juniors in Optimists and Sabots through to elite sailors competing at national, international and Olympic level — and it hosts club, state and national championship racing on the bay.
Where is RQYS and what waters does it sail on?: RQYS is located on the Royal Esplanade at Manly, a bayside suburb of Brisbane, and sails on Moreton Bay — a large, sheltered body of water on Queensland's south-east coast. Moreton Bay's protected waters and reliable breezes make it an excellent year-round sailing venue, and the club's marina and facilities sit right on the waterfront.
When was RQYS founded?: The club was founded in 1885 as the Queensland Yacht Squadron. It received a royal charter in 1902 and formally added 'Royal' to its title in 1961, becoming the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron. That long history makes it one of the oldest and most established sailing clubs in Queensland, with members having competed at the Olympic Games since 1956.
What classes are sailed at RQYS?: RQYS caters to a very wide range, reflecting its size. Juniors and beginners sail Optimists, Sabots and other off-the-beach dinghies; there are strong fleets across Olympic and international dinghy classes; and the club has an active keelboat scene, from club racing to Grand Prix one-designs. This breadth is part of what makes it a genuine pathway club, from a child's first sail to elite competition.
What regattas does RQYS host?: RQYS runs a full calendar of club championship racing for members alongside state, national and international regattas on Moreton Bay. Among its marquee events is Brisbane Race Week, a keelboat regatta on the bay. The club is also the home base of the Invicta Melges 40 Grand Prix campaign that publishes this site.

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