The Royal Cape Yacht Club is one of South Africa’s most active and oldest yacht clubs. Located in

Cape Town Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...

, the Club plays host to many important national sailing events, including South Africa’s premier ocean yacht race, the internationally renowned

Cape to Rio A cape is a clothing accessory or a sleeveless outer garment which drapes the wearer's back, arms, and chest, and connects at the neck. History Capes were common in medieval Europe, especially when combined with a hood in the chaperon. Th ...

History

Founded in 1905 as the Table Bay Yacht Club, and after merging with the Alfred Rowing Club, the name was later changed to the Cape Yacht Club in January 1914. In March 1914, the newly-named Cape Yacht Club applied for a Royal Warrant via the South African Governor-General, Viscount Gladstone. In reply, the Governor-General informed the Club that His Majesty King George V was “graciously pleased to approve the title Royal to the Cape Yacht Club”. In June, Viscount Gladstone further approved a recommendation that the RCYC be issued with an Admiralty Warrant, authorising the use of the plain

Blue Ensign The Blue Ensign is a flag, one of several British ensigns, used by certain organisations or territories associated or formerly associated with the United Kingdom. It is used either plain or defaced with a badge or other emblem. The ev ...

, however the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

suspended such Warrants. In April 1920, the authorisation was again recommended, with the Club committee agreeing to adopt the Blue Ensign defaced with the club coat of arms. To fly a Blue Ensign was, and still is, considered a great honour and a privilege for a yacht club, certifying British maritime guardianship. Admiralty Warrants were later suspended once again during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

, along with wider South African yachting. In 1960, a successful referendum had called for South Africa to become a republic, which was constituted in 1961 and in which South Africa also left the

British Commonwealth The Commonwealth of Nations, simply referred to as the Commonwealth, is a political association of 56 member states, the vast majority of which are former territories of the British Empire. The chief institutions of the organisation are the Co ...

. As legal and heraldic changes occurred, the RCYC relinquished its Admiralty Warrant, although the Club decided to keep its Royal Warrant. The RCYC’s defaced Blue Ensign was flown from the flagstaff at the Clubhouse until 1966, being replaced by the South African national flag.

Activities

The RCYC hosts and organises numerous sailing events, including the Lipton Challenge Cup and South Africa’s premier ocean yacht race, the

Cape to Rio

First undertaken in 1971, the Cape to Rio is the leading South African ocean yacht race and is internationally popular. Held roughly every three years, the Cape to Rio is the only transatlantic race in the Southern Hemisphere and covers nearly 4,000 miles of the South Atlantic Ocean. Although traditionally finishing at

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro ( , , ; literally 'River of January'), or simply Rio, is the capital of the state of the same name, Brazil's third-most populous state, and the second-most populous city in Brazil, after São Paulo. Listed by the GaWC as a ...

in Brazil, two other locations in Brazil and Uruguay have also previously been used.

Lipton Challenge Cup

Established in 1909,

Sir Thomas Lipton Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton, 1st Baronet (10 May 18482 October 1931) was a Scotsman of Ulster-Scots parentage who was a self-made man, as company founder of Lipton Tea, merchant, philanthropist and yachtsman who lost 5 straight America's Cup ...

donated the Challenge Cup to the then Table Bay Yacht Club so as to foster and encourage yachting in South Africa. The Cup remains an annual inter-club contest that is off-shore during the months of July and August, involving three ‘traditional courses’. The winning club defends the Cup the following year on its home waters. Today, the Lipton Challenge Cup is widely seen as the domestic trophy most South African sailors would most like to win.

Other events

The Cape Town Race Week, the Myknonos and West Coast Offshore Races, Cape to St Helena, Round Robben Island, and the Cape 31 Regatta, among others, are hosted by the Royal Cape Yacht Club. For the

2007 America’s Cup The 2007 America's Cup was the thirty-second challenge for the America's Cup and was won by Alinghi in the 7th race. The Cup is the most famous and most prestigious regatta and '' Match Race'' in the sport of sailing. As per the Deed of Gift ...

qualifying competition, the

Louis Vuitton Cup The Louis Vuitton Cup was the name of the Challenger Selection Series sailing competition from 1983, named after its sponsor, Louis Vuitton. The winner of the competition became the challenger to compete with the defender of the America's Cu ...

, Team Shosholoza represented the RCYC as their entry, finishing seventh. Given the Club’s favourable location on the southern tip of Africa, the RCYC has been a feature of many international races, such as the Whitbread Race, the BT Global Challenge, the Volvo Race and the Hong Kong Challenge.

References

{{reflist Royal yacht clubs Yacht clubs in South Africa Sailing in South Africa 1905 establishments in South Africa