What is the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania?

The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania (RYCT) is Tasmania's largest and oldest yacht club, based at Sandy Bay on the River Derwent at Hobart. Founded in 1880, it is best known as the finishing club of the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, which it has hosted since the first race in 1945. It runs keelboat, one-design and off-the-beach racing on the Derwent and is a cornerstone of Tasmanian sailing, with a full racing and social program year-round.

When was the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania founded?

It was founded in 1880 as the Derwent Sailing Boat Club, formed by a group of yachtsmen who met at the Nautilus Hotel in Hobart. In 1910 it was granted royal patronage by King Edward VII and became the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania. That long history makes it one of the older yacht clubs in Australia and the senior club of Tasmanian sailing.

Does the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania host the Sydney Hobart finish?

Yes. Since the inaugural race in 1945, the RYCT has been the finishing club of the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, welcoming the fleet to Hobart at the end of the famous Boxing Day ocean race. The finish on the River Derwent, and the celebrations at the club afterwards, are a central part of the event. It is one of the reasons the RYCT is known well beyond Tasmania.

Where is the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania?

The club is on Marieville Esplanade at Sandy Bay, on the western shore of the River Derwent just south of central Hobart. The Derwent is a broad, deep and often lively stretch of water framed by the city and Mount Wellington, and it is the heart of southern Tasmanian sailing, hosting the club's racing, the Sydney Hobart finish and much of Hobart's summer season.

A racing maxi yacht finishing the Sydney Hobart on the River Derwent off Sandy Bay, Hobart

Tasmania

Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania

The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania (RYCT) is the state's largest and oldest yacht club, founded in 1880 on the River Derwent at Sandy Bay — and, since 1945, the finishing club of the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Photo: JJ Harrison, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

2 min read

The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania (RYCT) is the state's largest and oldest yacht club — founded in 1880 on the River Derwent at Sandy Bay, and, since 1945, the finishing club of the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. It is the senior club of Tasmanian sailing and known well beyond the state.

The club

The RYCT sits on Marieville Esplanade at Sandy Bay, on the western shore of the Derwent just south of central Hobart. As Tasmania's largest club, it runs keelboat, one-design and off-the-beach racing, a strong youth program and a full social calendar — and each summer it plays host to the finish of one of the world's great ocean races. It sails the same Derwent waters as the Bellerive Yacht Club across the river.

Yachts moored at the Sandy Bay marina on Marieville Esplanade, Hobart — Sandy Bay, Hobart — Photo: Gary Houston, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

History

The club was founded in 1880 as the Derwent Sailing Boat Club, formed by yachtsmen who met at the Nautilus Hotel in Hobart. In 1910 it was granted royal patronage by King Edward VII, becoming the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania — one of the older yacht clubs in the country.

The Sydney Hobart finish

Since the inaugural race in 1945, the RYCT has been the finishing club of the Sydney Hobart, welcoming the fleet to Hobart at the end of the Boxing Day classic. The finish on the Derwent and the celebrations at the club afterwards are a central part of the event — see how to watch the Sydney Hobart.

Where it sails

The River Derwent is a broad, deep and often lively arena framed by the city and Mount Wellington. It's the heart of southern Tasmanian sailing, hosting the club's racing, the Sydney Hobart finish and much of Hobart's summer season.

Following the club

The RYCT publishes its racing calendar and results through its official website. For the setting, see sailing in Hobart and the Derwent, and the sailing terms glossary for the vocabulary.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania?: The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania (RYCT) is Tasmania's largest and oldest yacht club, based at Sandy Bay on the River Derwent at Hobart. Founded in 1880, it is best known as the finishing club of the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, which it has hosted since the first race in 1945. It runs keelboat, one-design and off-the-beach racing on the Derwent and is a cornerstone of Tasmanian sailing, with a full racing and social program year-round.
When was the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania founded?: It was founded in 1880 as the Derwent Sailing Boat Club, formed by a group of yachtsmen who met at the Nautilus Hotel in Hobart. In 1910 it was granted royal patronage by King Edward VII and became the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania. That long history makes it one of the older yacht clubs in Australia and the senior club of Tasmanian sailing.
Does the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania host the Sydney Hobart finish?: Yes. Since the inaugural race in 1945, the RYCT has been the finishing club of the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, welcoming the fleet to Hobart at the end of the famous Boxing Day ocean race. The finish on the River Derwent, and the celebrations at the club afterwards, are a central part of the event. It is one of the reasons the RYCT is known well beyond Tasmania.
Where is the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania?: The club is on Marieville Esplanade at Sandy Bay, on the western shore of the River Derwent just south of central Hobart. The Derwent is a broad, deep and often lively stretch of water framed by the city and Mount Wellington, and it is the heart of southern Tasmanian sailing, hosting the club's racing, the Sydney Hobart finish and much of Hobart's summer season.

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