What is the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron?

The Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron (RSAYS) is South Australia's original and most historic yacht club, founded in 1869 and based at Outer Harbor, near Adelaide on Gulf St Vincent. As the original home of sailing in the state, it has a long heritage of keelboat and offshore racing, and it remains one of South Australia's leading clubs with a marina and clubhouse close to the open waters of the gulf.

When was the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron founded?

It was founded on 5 November 1869 as the South Australian Yacht Club, with Captain Bloomfield Douglas as its first commodore, and held its first race on 1 January 1870 with four competing yachts. Queen Victoria granted it the title Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron on 25 October 1890, which it has borne ever since — making it one of the oldest yacht clubs in Australia.

Where is the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron?

The Squadron is based at Outer Harbor, at the seaward end of the Port River near Adelaide, on Gulf St Vincent. It was originally located at Birkenhead on the Port River and moved to its current Outer Harbor location in 1926 for better facilities and easier access to the sea. The gulf provides open water for keelboat and offshore racing within reach of the city.

What kind of sailing does the RSAYS do?

The RSAYS has a strong keelboat and offshore focus, running club racing, passage races and championship regattas on Gulf St Vincent, along with cruising and a youth program. As the original home of South Australian sailing, it sits at the heart of the state's racing scene and provides a base for boats racing across the gulf and to destinations such as Port Lincoln and the Yorke Peninsula.

Moored yachts at North Haven Marina at sunset, Outer Harbor near Adelaide

South Australia

Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron

The Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron (RSAYS) is the original home of sailing in South Australia, founded in 1869 and based at Outer Harbor on Gulf St Vincent near Adelaide.

Photo: AlphaLemur, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

2 min read

The Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron (RSAYS) is the original home of sailing in South Australia — founded in 1869 and based at Outer Harbor on Gulf St Vincent, near Adelaide. One of the oldest yacht clubs in the country, it remains a cornerstone of the state's racing.

The club

The Squadron is based at Outer Harbor, at the seaward end of the Port River near Adelaide, with a marina and clubhouse close to the open waters of Gulf St Vincent. It has a strong keelboat and offshore focus — club racing, passage races and championship regattas — along with cruising and a youth program. For the local scene, see our guide to sailing in Adelaide and Gulf St Vincent.

Moored yachts and masts at North Haven Marina, Outer Harbor near Adelaide — Outer Harbor, Adelaide — Photo: AlphaLemur, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

History

The club was founded on 5 November 1869 as the South Australian Yacht Club, with Captain Bloomfield Douglas as its first commodore, and held its first race on 1 January 1870 with four yachts. Queen Victoria granted the Royal title on 25 October 1890. Originally at Birkenhead on the Port River, the Squadron moved to its current Outer Harbor home in 1926 for better facilities and access to the sea.

Where it sails

RSAYS races on Gulf St Vincent — the broad gulf that separates Adelaide from the Yorke Peninsula — which offers open-water racing within reach of the city and a gateway to destinations such as Port Lincoln and the peninsula's popular sailing towns.

Following the club

The RSAYS publishes its racing calendar, history and results through its official website. For the setting, see our guide to sailing in Adelaide and Gulf St Vincent, and the sailing terms glossary for the vocabulary of the sport.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron?: The Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron (RSAYS) is South Australia's original and most historic yacht club, founded in 1869 and based at Outer Harbor, near Adelaide on Gulf St Vincent. As the original home of sailing in the state, it has a long heritage of keelboat and offshore racing, and it remains one of South Australia's leading clubs with a marina and clubhouse close to the open waters of the gulf.
When was the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron founded?: It was founded on 5 November 1869 as the South Australian Yacht Club, with Captain Bloomfield Douglas as its first commodore, and held its first race on 1 January 1870 with four competing yachts. Queen Victoria granted it the title Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron on 25 October 1890, which it has borne ever since — making it one of the oldest yacht clubs in Australia.
Where is the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron?: The Squadron is based at Outer Harbor, at the seaward end of the Port River near Adelaide, on Gulf St Vincent. It was originally located at Birkenhead on the Port River and moved to its current Outer Harbor location in 1926 for better facilities and easier access to the sea. The gulf provides open water for keelboat and offshore racing within reach of the city.
What kind of sailing does the RSAYS do?: The RSAYS has a strong keelboat and offshore focus, running club racing, passage races and championship regattas on Gulf St Vincent, along with cruising and a youth program. As the original home of South Australian sailing, it sits at the heart of the state's racing scene and provides a base for boats racing across the gulf and to destinations such as Port Lincoln and the Yorke Peninsula.

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