History

The Royal City Yacht Club officially started on October 22, 1941 with the filing of the formal Bylaws and registration as a non-profit society. The membership met at their clubhouse on Dyke Road, New Westminster on the South Arm of the Fraser River in what is now called the Royal City Marina, for 60 years! During the height of the Second World War the club remained inactive, reconvening in 1946. Eventually the clubhouse was sold and rented back to RCYCin an arrangement that prevailed until the new millennium.

For a short while an agreement was made with the Navy league to house the meetings and club paraphernalia at the Sea Cadet Base on Annacis Island. In 2002 negotiations began with Airport Yacht Club to cohabitate in their facility on the Middle Arm of the Fraser River in Richmond. By 2003 terms were reached between the parties and RCYC moved into their new home.

Royal City Yacht Club continues to maintain its relationship with New Westminster and remains an active member of that community.

An Outstation was established on Saltspring Island in 2001 at Ganges Marina. RCYC was proud to claim 100 feet of uninterrupted dock space in the heart of one of the most popular destinations in the Gulf Islands its “home away from home”! Club members enjoyed daily use of their outstation and marina facilities 12 months of the year! In 2010, RCYC is in transition again. The club has changed its outstation to Salt Spring Marina. Currently, the club is in negotiations with Salt Spring Marina and has a temporary arrangement where the club prepays moorage as per the “Outstation rules”. It is hoped that dedicated dock-space will be negotiated after Salt Spring Marina completes its scheduled reconstruction. The club has the same type of arrangement with Garden Bay Marina in Pender Harbour. These two outstations are available by “reservation only!” and members must pay for their power.

Currently, our General Meetings are held in upstairs at Tugboat Annie’s Pub in Shelter Island, and our Bridge meetings are held at the Queensborough Community Centre.

Royal City Yacht Club is administered by an elected Bridge with the approval of the membership. Women have equal status in all aspects of the club and its operation. An Annual General Meeting is held in November when the incoming Bridge is announced. The outgoing officers pass over their responsibilities during the monthly Bridge Meeting in December and the club is administered by the new Bridge in January.

In 1994, in an ambitious undertaking, the RCYC bylaws were rewritten. On November 17th of the same year the membership voted to accept these changes. These changes were approved by the membership. The club continues to operate, to update and to modernize, at the A.G.M., as the need arises.

The Royal City Yacht Club is a spirited, unpretentious yacht club. The fleet consists of a mix of power and sailing vessels and her members include a multi cultural mix of people from all walks of life. The emphasis of the club is on conscientious, enjoyable boating and maintaining and celebrating a family atmosphere within the membership that continues to reflect the community RCYC is so well known for among boaters of the Pacific Northwest.